“地上百花开放，百鸟鸣叫的时候已经来到；斑鸠的声音在我们境内也听见了。” – 歌 2:12
在地球上的某些地方，冬天天气凉爽，有大量的雨水。而在另外一些地方，伴随冬天日照时间变短，空气变冷，雨水化为冰雪，鸟儿迁徙，直到春天再次来临。这段时期感觉就像一个漫长而沉闷的季节。即使是喜欢冬天的人，也会因为终于看到春天复苏的迹象而高兴，那时花儿又绽放了，鸟儿们也从遥远的地方飞回来。
盛开的鲜花和歌唱的鸟儿可以激起人们对某个时间和地点的记忆，它是诱人的、生机勃勃的。雅歌中这幅充满希望的画面触动了一种普遍的体验：使人内心充满希望，尤其是希望与另一个人面对面相见。对一段往日重要关系的回忆，或者是对拥有一段新的关系的憧憬，都能激发出渴求爱和被爱的强烈情感。经历这样的爱就像漫漫长冬之后的春回大地。
我们被造是为了与他人亲密相处，虽然这在今生不能完美实现，但等待冬天结束的期盼有点像对天堂的渴望——那时我们的救主将亲自迎接我们，祂极其喜悦与我们同在。在等候期间，无论我们是否面临漫长的冬季，我们都在不断寻找春天希望的迹象。
祷告
主啊，我们渴望我们所有的荒凉和困苦的季节都过去。让我们心中充满希望，直到我们进入你永远的同在。阿们。
雅歌 2:3-13
3我的良人在男子中，如同苹果树在树林中。我欢欢喜喜坐在他的荫下，尝他果子的滋味，觉得甘甜。
4他带我入筵宴所，以爱为旗在我以上。
5求你们给我葡萄干增补我力，给我苹果畅快我心，因我思爱成病。
6他的左手在我头下，他的右手将我抱住。
7耶路撒冷的众女子啊，我指着羚羊或田野的母鹿嘱咐你们：不要惊动，不要叫醒我所亲爱的，等她自己情愿。
8听啊，是我良人的声音！看哪，他蹿山越岭而来。
9我的良人好像羚羊，或像小鹿。他站在我们墙壁后，从窗户往里观看，从窗棂往里窥探。
10我良人对我说：“我的佳偶，我的美人，起来，与我同去！
11因为冬天已往，雨水止住过去了。
12地上百花开放，百鸟鸣叫的时候已经来到，斑鸠的声音在我们境内也听见了。
13无花果树的果子渐渐成熟，葡萄树开花放香。我的佳偶，我的美人，起来，与我同去！
Love Birds
“See! The winter is past. . . . Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land.” – Song of Songs 2:12
In some parts of the globe, winter brings cooler weather and lots of rain. In other parts, the sunlight hours grow much shorter, the air gets cold, rain turns to snow and ice, and birds fly away till spring comes again. It can feel like a long, dreary season. Even people who like winter weather are eventually glad to see signs of spring, when flowers appear again and lots of birds return from far-off places.
Blooming flowers and singing birds can stir up visions of a place and time that is inviting and flourishing. This hopeful picture in the Song of Songs touches on a universal experience: having one’s heart light up with hope, especially in the presence of another person. Even the memory of a significant relationship, or the hope of having one, can spark the important feeling of wanting to love and be loved. And experiencing such love is like the refreshing return of spring after a long winter.
We were created for intimacy and closeness with others, and although this is not perfectly realized in this lifetime, the imagery of waiting for winter to be over is a bit like longing for heaven—when we will be lovingly received by our Savior, who takes great delight in us. Meanwhile, whether or not we face a long winter ahead, we look for signs of hope.
Prayer
Lord, we long for the time when all our seasons of bleakness and struggle will be past. Keep hope alive in our hearts till we can rejoice in living with you forever. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
