“你来投靠耶和华-以色列 神的翅膀下,愿你满得他的赏赐。” – 得 2:12
有时候神会特意地看顾我们,而有时候我们也需要特意地寻求被神看顾。坦然说出我们的需要并不那么容易,尤其是当别人对帮助我们可能持保留态度的时候。
但路得是个大有胆量的人。她知道自己和婆婆需要什么,于是她请求许可在伯利恒的地主波阿斯的一块田里拾取麦穗。
波阿斯是路得婆婆拿俄米的亲戚,他听说过路得的经历,但以前没有见过她。波阿斯并没有对路得不屑一顾或漠不关心,而是对路得表示欢迎,并邀请她继续跟着自家田里收割的仆人拾穗。更重要的是,他赞赏路得孝敬她的婆婆,并评价路得是一个可敬的女人。他说:“你来投靠……神的翅膀下,愿你满得他的赏赐。”这句话反映了神的慈爱和护理的属性,有助于我们明白神对我们的大爱。
神信实地看顾我们,供应我们,祂常常藉着他人的仁慈和慷慨来成就供应。无论我们需要他人帮助还是能够帮助他人,我们都可以确信,神会施恩给那些请求的人,并激励那些施舍的人。
祷告
主啊,请帮助我们信靠你,让我们知道可以奉你的名寻求庇护,也相信你会祝福我们去与人分享和帮助他人。阿们。
路得记 2:1-13
1拿俄米的丈夫以利米勒的亲族中,有一个人名叫波阿斯,是个大财主。
2摩押女子路得对拿俄米说:“容我往田间去,我蒙谁的恩,就在谁的身后拾取麦穗。”拿俄米说:“女儿啊,你只管去。”
3路得就去了,来到田间,在收割的人身后拾取麦穗。她恰巧到了以利米勒本族的人波阿斯那块田里。
4波阿斯正从伯利恒来,对收割的人说:“愿耶和华与你们同在!”他们回答说:“愿耶和华赐福于你!”
5波阿斯问监管收割的仆人说:“那是谁家的女子?”
6监管收割的仆人回答说:“是那摩押女子,跟随拿俄米从摩押地回来的。
7她说:‘请你容我跟着收割的人,拾取打捆剩下的麦穗。’她从早晨直到如今,除了在屋子里坐一会儿,常在这里。”
8波阿斯对路得说:“女儿啊,听我说,不要往别人田里拾取麦穗,也不要离开这里,要常与我使女们在一处。
9我的仆人在哪块田收割,你就跟着他们去。我已经吩咐仆人不可欺负你。你若渴了,就可以到器皿那里喝仆人打来的水。”
10路得就俯伏在地叩拜,对他说:“我既是外邦人,怎么蒙你的恩,这样顾恤我呢?”
11波阿斯回答说:“自从你丈夫死后,凡你向婆婆所行的,并你离开父母和本地到素不认识的民中,这些事,人全都告诉我了。
12愿耶和华照你所行的赏赐你。你来投靠耶和华以色列神的翅膀下,愿你满得他的赏赐。”
13路得说:“我主啊,愿在你眼前蒙恩。我虽然不及你的一个使女,你还用慈爱的话安慰我的心。”
Coming To Take Refuge
“May you be richly rewarded by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” – Ruth 2:12
Sometimes God goes out of his way to care for us, and sometimes we need to go out of our way to be cared for. It’s not always easy to ask for what we need, especially when others might have reasons to be cautious about helping us.
But Ruth is a bold person. She knows what she and her mother-in-law need, and she asks for permission to glean barley in a field that belongs to Boaz, a landowner from Bethlehem.
Now, Boaz is a relative of Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi, and he has heard about Ruth but hasn’t met her before. And rather than being dismissive or indifferent, Boaz welcomes Ruth and invites her to keep following along after the harvesters. What’s more, he blesses her for supporting her mother-in-law and indicates that Ruth is an honorable woman. “May you be richly rewarded by the Lord,” he says, “. . . under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” This statement reflects the caring, providing nature of God’s character, and it helps us to understand God’s love for us.
God faithfully cares for and provides for us, and often he does this through the kindness and generosity of others. And whether we need help or we are able to help someone else, we can be assured that God empowers and celebrates both the one who asks and the one who gives.
Prayer
Lord God, help us to trust in you, knowing that we can seek refuge in your name and that you have blessed us to share with and help others. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳