2016年1月28日
打電話前 Before the Phone
读经: 詩篇18篇1-6節
Reading: Psalm 18:1-6
我在急難中求告耶和華。-詩篇18篇6節
In my distress I called to the Lord. - Psalm 18:6
全年读经: 出埃及記19-20章;馬太福音18章21-35節
Bible in a Year: Exodus 19–20; Matthew 18:21-35
我的孩子們還小，遇到突發狀況時我很容易恐慌。通常，我第一個反應就是趕快打電話給母親，問她我該怎麼處理兒子的過敏，或是女兒突如其來的咳嗽。
母親的確會給我很好的建議，但當我讀到詩篇時，就不禁讓我想起，很多時候，我們所需要的幫助無法從人得到。就如在詩篇18篇，那時大衛身陷極大的危難：面對恐懼、瀕臨死亡，並且極其傷痛，他就呼求主名。
大衛對上帝說：「耶和華……我愛祢。」因為他知道上帝不僅是他的山寨、巖石以及救主 （1-2節） ，也是他的盾牌、拯救和高台。或許我們無法體會大衛的頌讚，因為我們還沒經歷過上帝的幫助。這可能是我們在尋求上帝的建議和幫助之前，已經先打電話找別人幫忙了。
當然，上帝會藉著許多人來幫助並安慰我們，但是我們也要禱告，因為上帝聆聽我們的呼求。如同大衛的詩歌說：「祂從殿中聽了我的聲音，我在祂面前的呼求入了祂的耳中」 （6節） 。當我們尋求上帝，就能與大衛同聲頌揚，並歡喜得享上帝就是我們的巖石、山寨和救主。
下次打電話前，記得也要禱告。
親愛的主啊，求祢讓我記得祢就是我的救主，
祢也總是垂聽我的呼求。
禱告是邁向平安的橋梁。
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As a mom of young children I'm sometimes susceptible to panic. My first reaction is to call my mom on the phone and ask her what to do with my son's allergy or my daughter's sudden cough.
Mom is a great resource, but when I read the Psalms, I'm reminded of how often we need the kind of help that no mortal can give. In Psalm 18 David was in great danger. Afraid, close to death, and in anguish, he called on the Lord.
Jesus always hears our cries.
David could say, "I love you, Lord" because he understood God was a fortress, a rock, and a deliverer (vv. 1-2). God was his shield, his salvation, and his stronghold. Maybe we cannot understand David's praise because we have not experienced God's help. It may be that we reach for the phone before going to God for advice and help.
Surely God puts people in our lives to give us help and comfort. But let's also remember to pray. God will hear us. As David sang, "From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears" (v. 6). When we go to God, we join David's song and enjoy Him as our rock, our fortress, and our deliverer.
Next time you reach for the phone, remember also to pray.
Dear Lord, help me to remember You are my deliverer, and You always hear my cry.
Prayer is the bridge between panic and peace.