God of Justice 公义的上帝
Dexu Xia
I trust in your unfailing love. Psalm 13:5
She was perhaps the greatest “scapecow” in history. We don’t know if her name was Daisy, Madeline, or Gwendolyn (each name has been suggested), but Mrs. O’Leary’s cow was blamed for the 1871 Great Chicago Fire that left every third resident of the city homeless. Carried by strong winds through wooden structures, the fire burned for three days and took the lives of nearly three hundred people.
For years, many believed the fire began when the cow knocked over a lantern left burning in a shed. After further investigation—126 years later—the city’s Committee on Police and Fire passed a resolution exonerating the cow and her owners and suggesting the activities of a neighbor warranted scrutiny.
Justice often takes time, and Scripture acknowledges how difficult that can be. The refrain, “How long?” is repeated four times in Psalm 13: “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?” (vv. 1–2). But in the middle of his lament, David finds reason for faith and hope: “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation” (v. 5).
Even when justice is delayed, God’s love will never fail us. We can trust and rest in Him not just for the moment but for eternity.
In what ways has God shown you His unfailing love? How will you demonstrate trust in Him today?
Loving God, help me to trust You even when I can’t see what You’re doing. I’m thankful I can rest in Your goodness and faithfulness today.
公义的上帝
我倚靠祢的慈爱。—诗篇13篇5节
它或许是历史上最著名的“替罪牛”。我们不知道它的名叫黛西、玛德琳或格温朵琳（这些名字都有人提过），但在1871年造成三成居民无家可归的芝加哥大火，欧立瑞太太饲养的一头母牛被指为罪魁祸首。当时木材建造的房屋加上强风助燃，使火势延烧了3天，夺去了近300人的性命。
多年来，很多人都认为火灾的起因是这头母牛踢翻了在牛棚内的油灯。但经过深入调查，在126年之后，芝加哥市警察与消防委员会通过一项决议，免除了这头母牛和它主人的罪责，并建议仔细审查当时附近一个邻居的活动。
彰显公义往往需要时间，圣经也认同这并非易事。在诗篇13篇，“要到几时呢？”这句话就重复了4次。1-2节说：“耶和华啊，祢忘记我要到几时呢？要到永远吗？祢掩面不顾我要到几时呢？我心里筹算，终日愁苦要到几时呢？我的仇敌升高压制我要到几时呢？”但大卫在哀叹中，找到信心和盼望的理由：“但我倚靠祢的慈爱，我的心因祢的救恩快乐。”（5节）
然而，即使公义未能及时彰显，上帝的爱也不会叫我们失望。我们可以全然信靠并安歇在祂里面，不单是此刻，更是直到永远。
上帝以什么方式向你显明祂不止息的慈爱？
你今天如何表现出对祂的信靠？
慈爱的上帝，求祢帮助我信靠祢，
即便看不到祢在动工，也能全然相信祢。
感谢祢让我今天就可以放心地仰赖祢的良善和信实