“因为当强暴人催逼人的时候，如同暴风直吹墙壁，你就作 … 困乏人急难中的保障，作躲暴风之处 …。” - 赛 25:4

当我们教导小孩在遭到霸凌时仍然保持镇静，古语“棍棒和石头可能会打断我的骨头，但言语伤害不了我”可能会有帮助。纵然如此，苛刻的言语会大大影响我们一生。我们看作是朋友的人出乎意外对我们说了抨击和恶意的论断、或者是家人的一句随便评论，都有可能深深伤害我们的心灵、并且日渐恶化。而令我们汗颜的就是，我们自己往往也会用恶言恶语来还击。

以赛亚书25章说：“当强暴人催逼人的时候，如同暴风直吹墙壁。”神的子民被强暴的言语逼得走头无路和招架不住。他们不能单凭自己的力量继续支撑下去了。

然而先知提醒他们，神是他们在风暴中的避难所。以赛亚书25章是以这个欢乐的宣告开始的：“耶和华啊，你是我的神，我要尊崇你，我要称赞你的名！因为你以忠信诚实行过奇妙的事，成就你古时所定的。”神从起初已经定意要保护和带领我们、赐我们盼望和将来与衪同在的应许 — 祂还在每天的生活中赐给我们诸般的福气。

你或许被暴力的言语击垮、感到走投无路，要记住主可以做你的避难所，祂会赐你平安、激励你的心灵去回想和歌颂祂曾为你行过的大事。

祷告

宝贵的主，求你开我们的口，好叫我们能歌颂你，又帮助我们用话语带来和平，而不是用它来引起风暴。阿们。

以赛亚书 25章

1耶和华啊，你是我的神！我要尊崇你，我要称赞你的名，因为你以忠信诚实行过奇妙的事，成就你古时所定的。
2你使城变为乱堆，使坚固城变为荒场，使外邦人宫殿的城不再为城，永远不再建造。
3所以刚强的民必荣耀你，强暴之国的城必敬畏你。
4因为当强暴人催逼人的时候，如同暴风直吹墙壁，你就做贫穷人的保障，做困乏人急难中的保障，做躲暴风之处，做避炎热的阴凉。
5你要压制外邦人的喧哗，好像干燥地的热气下落；禁止强暴人的凯歌，好像热气被云影消化。
6在这山上，万军之耶和华必为万民用肥甘设摆筵席，用陈酒和满髓的肥甘，并澄清的陈酒设摆筵席。
7他又必在这山上，除灭遮盖万民之物和遮蔽万国蒙脸的帕子。
8他已经吞灭死亡，直到永远，主耶和华必擦去各人脸上的眼泪，又除掉普天下他百姓的羞辱，因为这是耶和华说的。
9到那日，人必说：“看哪，这是我们的神，我们素来等候他，他必拯救我们。这是耶和华，我们素来等候他，我们必因他的救恩欢喜快乐。”
10耶和华的手必按在这山上。摩押人在所居之地必被践踏，好像干草被践踏在粪池的水中。
11她必在其中伸开手，好像洑水的伸开手洑水一样，但耶和华必使她的骄傲和她手所行的诡计一并败落。
12耶和华使你城上的坚固高台倾倒，拆平直到尘埃。

Singing In The Storm

"You have been . . . a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm. . . . For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall. . . ." - Isaiah 25:4

The old saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” can be helpful for teaching kids to remain calm in the face of a bully. Even so, harsh words can have a striking effect on our lives. Unexpected criticism, hateful comments by a supposed friend, or an offhand remark from a family member can cut deep into our hearts and fester. To our shame, we often retaliate with spiteful words of our own.

Isaiah 25 says that “the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall.” God’s people had been cornered and overwhelmed by ruthless words. They could not keep going in their own strength.

But the prophet reminds them that God is their shelter in the storm. Isaiah 25 begins with this joyful proclamation: “Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things you planned long ago.” God has planned from the beginning to protect and guide us, giving us hope and a future with him—as well as many blessings in our lives each day.

Maybe you feel trapped in a corner as ruthless words bear down on you. Know that the Lord can be your shelter. He can give you peace, lifting your heart to remember and sing about the great things he has done for you.

Prayer

Precious Lord, open our mouths so that we can sing your praises. Help us to use our words to bring peace rather than a storm. Amen.