双语灵修（葛培理牧师） ：2月5日 云彩背后

2月5日

云彩背后

“耶和华啊，你的慈爱上及诸天；你的信实达到穹苍。”

诗篇36:5

我家的房子坐落在海拔四千英尺的山上。我们经常可以看到山谷里的云彩。有时候早晨醒来，我们看见山上阳光明媚，山谷中却是乌云密布。还有些时候山下电闪雷鸣，我们山上却是风和日丽。

很多次我坐在前廊，看着山下的云彩，默想上帝的恩典。

那些沮丧和痛苦的乌云只是暂时掩盖了上帝慈爱的光芒。许多人生活在愁云惨雾之中。有的人卧病在床，有的人意志消沉或正经历丧亲之痛。

圣经里也多次提到云彩。因为它有时象征阻挡我们看见上帝的某种属灵力量。但是，圣经表明，云彩赐给我们有特殊的意义。在云彩的背后，正是上帝的荣光。出埃及记16:10中写道：“亚伦正对以色列全会众说话的时候，他们向旷野观看，不料，耶和华的荣光在云中显现。”如果没有云层，就无法遮挡烈日。就不会有华美的落日余晖，不会有雨，不会有光，不会有壮丽如画的风景。

作家查尔斯·金斯利（Charles Kinsley）领会这个真理，他写道：没有一片云彩能够遮住阳光，我们终将再次得见上帝的荣面。诗人朗费罗（Longfellow）也看到了人生的乌云所蕴藏的意义，他说：“安静吧，忧伤的心！不要抱怨；乌云背后，太阳依然灿烂光明。”

圣经中说，上帝在云中向祂的百姓说话。出埃及记19:9：“耶和华对摩西说：我要在密云中临到你那里，叫百姓在我与你说话的时候可以听见，也可以永远信你了。”出埃及记24:16：“耶和华的荣耀停于西奈山；云彩遮盖山六天，第七天他从云中召摩西。”

我们人生时而乌云压顶，时而云淡风轻，时而如黑夜笼罩。然而，云层之上，总有阳光。

今日祷告：

天父，在基督里，没有任何云层可以阻挡我们见到你的面。我们感谢你使我们与你建立关系。你的信实达到穹苍。奉耶稣的名，阿们。

February 5

BEHIND THE CLOUDS

Thy mercy.O Lord,is in the heavens,and thy faithfulness reachth unto the clouds.Psalm 36:5

 My home is on a mountain nearly four thousand feet high.Many times we can see below us the clouds in the valley.Some mornings we wake up to find that we are in lovely sunshine but the valley below is covered with clouds.At other times thunderstorms come up,and we can see the lightning flash and hear the thunder roar down below,while we are enjoying beautiful sunlight and clear skies above.

Many times I have sat on our rustic front porch and watched the clouds below.I have thought of the clouds of discouragement and suffering that temporarily veil the sunlight of God’s love from us.Many people live with a cloud hanging over their lives.Some may be in hospital beds;others are suffering discouragement and bereavement.A heavy cloud hangs over them.

The Bible has a great deal to say about clouds,for they sometimes symbolize the spiritual forces which obscure the face of God.The Bible indicates that clouds are given to us for a purpose and that there is glory in the clouds and that every cloud has a silver lining.It is written in Exodus 16:10,“They looked…and,behold,the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.”Without the clouds there would be no shield from the burning sun.There would be no lavish sunsets,no rain,no light,no beautiful,picturesque landscapes.

Charles Kinsley sensed this truth when he wrote:“No cloud across the sun but passes at the last and gives us back the face of God once more.”Longfellow also saw meaning in life’s clouds when he said:“Be still,sad heart,and cease repining;Behind the clouds is the sun still shining.”

The Bible says that God was in the cloud and that He spoke to His people through a cloud.The Lord said,“Lo,I come unto thee in a thick cloud”(Exodus 19:9).Again,God called to Moses“out of the midst of the cloud”(Exodus 24:16).There are clouds in our lives shadowing,refreshing,and oftentimes draping them in the blackness of night,but there is never a cloud without its bright light.

Pray for the Day:

Father,in Jesus,there is no cloud overshadowing us or keeping us from seeing You.And we’re thankful that You brought us into relationship with You.Your faithfulness reaches to the sky;in Jesus’Name,Amen.