【双语灵修】一日的路程 A Day's Journey
在我们自己的生活中,我们也可以指望神在我们痛苦和崩溃的时候款待我们,使我们振作起来。
“以利亚见这光景就起来逃命,到了犹大的别是巴,将仆人留在那里, 自己在旷野走了一日的路程。” - 王上 19:3-4
在前往弗吉尼亚州马卡姆附近的威士忌谷(Whiskey Hollow)的为期一天的徒步旅行中,我走了大约20英里,相当于圣经中“一日的路程”。虽然我抵达的时候已经精疲力尽了,但我很高兴自己已经前进了一段距离。
经过一天的漫长路程,以利亚的感受就完全不同了。他精疲力尽,倒在树下。他的身体、情感和精神都崩溃了。在入睡前,他恳求神说:“我受够了……杀了我吧……”
以利亚刚在迦密山与巴力的祭司打了一场胜仗回来(王上 18章)。现在他却在躲避邪恶的亚哈王和王后耶洗别的追杀。在以利亚极度的疲惫和绝望中,神派了一个天使来为他提供了饮用水和可口的热点心。以利亚醒了,又行走了四十昼夜,到了何烈山。在那里,神对以利亚说话,与他会面,告知祂对以利亚以及其他一些人的计划。神使以利亚对未来有了新的盼望。
在我们自己的生活中,我们也可以指望神在我们痛苦和崩溃的时候款待我们,使我们振作起来。事实上,神已经藉着耶稣为我们成就了这些,祂给了我们灵魂的安息和赐新生命的救恩(太 11:28-30)。我们前行的每一步都可以信任祂。
祷告
主耶稣,在人生旅途中,当我们遭遇绝望和需求的时候,求你更新和扶持我们。阿们。
列王纪上 19:1-18
1亚哈将以利亚一切所行的和他用刀杀众先知的事都告诉耶洗别。
2耶洗别就差遣人去见以利亚,告诉他说:“明日约在这时候,我若不使你的性命像那些人的性命一样,愿神明重重地降罚于我!”
3以利亚见这光景就起来逃命,到了犹大的别是巴,将仆人留在那里。
4自己在旷野走了一日的路程,来到一棵罗腾树下,就坐在那里求死,说:“耶和华啊,罢了!求你取我的性命,因为我不胜于我的列祖。”
5他就躺在罗腾树下,睡着了。有一个天使拍他,说:“起来吃吧!”
6他观看,见头旁有一瓶水与炭火烧的饼,他就吃了喝了,仍然躺下。
7耶和华的使者第二次来拍他,说:“起来吃吧!因为你当走的路甚远。”
8他就起来吃了喝了,仗着这饮食的力,走了四十昼夜,到了神的山,就是何烈山。
9他在那里进了一个洞,就住在洞中。耶和华的话临到他说:“以利亚啊,你在这里做什么?”
10他说:“我为耶和华万军之神大发热心。因为以色列人背弃了你的约,毁坏了你的坛,用刀杀了你的先知,只剩下我一个人,他们还要寻索我的命。”
11耶和华说:“你出来站在山上,在我面前。”那时耶和华从那里经过,在他面前有烈风大作,崩山碎石,耶和华却不在风中;风后地震,耶和华却不在其中;
12地震后有火,耶和华也不在火中;火后有微小的声音。
13以利亚听见,就用外衣蒙上脸,出来站在洞口。有声音向他说:“以利亚啊,你在这里做什么?”
14他说:“我为耶和华万军之神大发热心。因为以色列人背弃了你的约,毁坏了你的坛,用刀杀了你的先知,只剩下我一个人,他们还要寻索我的命。”
15耶和华对他说:“你回去,从旷野往大马士革去。到了那里,就要膏哈薛做亚兰王,
16又膏宁示的孙子耶户做以色列王,并膏亚伯米何拉人沙法的儿子以利沙做先知接续你。
17将来躲避哈薛之刀的,必被耶户所杀;躲避耶户之刀的,必被以利沙所杀。
18但我在以色列人中为自己留下七千人,是未曾向巴力屈膝的,未曾与巴力亲嘴的。”
A Day's Journey
"Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness." - 1 Kings 19:3-4
On a day’s hike to Whiskey Hollow, near Markham, Virginia, I clocked about 20 miles, the equivalent of a “day’s journey” in the Bible. Though worn out when I arrived, I was pleased to have put some distance behind me.
Elijah’s experience after a day’s journey was quite different. Entirely spent, he collapsed under a bush. He was physically, emotionally, and spiritually shattered. Before sinking into sleep, he pleaded with God, “I have had enough. . . . Take my life. . . .”
Elijah had just come from a fierce battle with the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18). Now he was fleeing for his life from the wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. In response to Elijah’s utter exhaustion and desperation, God sent an angel to provide water and warm cakes. When Elijah finally revived, he walked another 40 days and nights to Mount Horeb. There God spoke to Elijah and met with him, telling him the plans he still had for Elijah and for others to do. God gave Elijah renewed hope for the future.
In our own lives, we too can count on God to meet and refresh us in our times of distress and collapse. In fact, God already has done that for us through Jesus, who offers us rest for our souls and salvation to new life (Matthew 11:28-30). We can trust him with every step we take.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, in our times of desperation and need, renew and sustain us as we journey through this life. Amen.
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