六月十七日[mp3_embed playlst=”/downloading/audio/evening/06/0617.mp3″]
经文: 当时,以色列人唱歌说,井阿,涌上水来。你们要向这井歌唱。(民数记二十一:17)
这旷野中的井是有名的,因为它是应许之主题。“从前耶和华吩咐摩西说,招聚百姓,我好给他们水喝,说的就是这井。”(民二十一:16)百姓需要水,他们恩典的上帝就应允赐给他们。我们需要天国恩典的清新供应,主以自己承诺保证赐我们所有需要。井成为歌唱之缘由。水尚未涌出,喜乐的信心促使百姓歌唱。当他们看到清莹之水涌出来时,歌声更为欢乐。我们相信上帝的应许,应当为灵里被祂复兴而欢呼;当我们经历上帝的应许时,对祂的喜乐更应满溢出来。口渴吗?不要埋怨,只要歌唱。属灵的干渴是难以忍受的,但上帝应许给我们一口井。让我们受此激励去找寻它。井也是祷告的中心。“井啊,涌上水来。”我们必须寻求上帝应许要赐的,不然就是表示我们既不渴望又无信心。今晚让我们寻求所读的经文和培灵的文章不致成为空虚的形式。进一步,让它们成为恩典进入我们心灵的管道。井更是努力的对象。“尊贵人……所挖所掘的。”(民二十一:18)主要我们主动去得恩典。不能忽略祈祷,与其他信徒之交通亦不可以中断,敬拜上帝不能掉以轻心。主将丰丰富富赐我们祂的恩典,但绝不是对我们怠惰之赏赐。让我们来寻求主吧,祂是我们所有清新的喜乐之泉。
Evening, June 17
Scripture: “Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it.”(Numbers 21:17)
Famous was the well of Beer in the wilderness, because it was the subject of a promise: “That is the well whereof the Lord spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water.” The people needed water, and it was promised by their gracious God. We need fresh supplies of heavenly grace, and in the covenant the Lord has pledged himself to give all we require. The well next became the cause of a song. Before the water gushed forth, cheerful faith prompted the people to sing; and as they saw the crystal fount bubbling up, the music grew yet more joyous. In like manner, we who believe the promise of God should rejoice in the prospect of divine revivals in our souls, and as we experience them our holy joy should overflow. Are we thirsting? Let us not murmur, but sing. Spiritual thirst is bitter to bear, but we need not bear it-the promise indicates a well; let us be of good heart, and look for it. Moreover, the well was the centre of prayer. “Spring up, O well.” What God has engaged to give, we must enquire after, or we manifest that we have neither desire nor faith. This evening let us ask that the Scripture we have read, and our devotional exercises, may not be an empty formality, but a channel of grace to our souls. O that God the Holy Spirit would work in us with all his mighty power, filling us with all the fulness of God. Lastly, the well was the object of effort. “The nobles of the people digged it with their staves.” The Lord would have us active in obtaining grace. Our staves are ill adapted for digging in the sand, but we must use them to the utmost of our ability. Prayer must not be neglected; the assembling of ourselves together must not be forsaken; ordinances must not be slighted. The Lord will give us his peace most plenteously, but not in a way of idleness. Let us, then, bestir ourselves to seek him in whom are all our fresh springs.