音频  （22.8.8）

“耶和华是我的岩石，我的山寨，我的救主，我的神，我的磐石，我所投靠的…” - 诗 18:2

受膏成为以色列王的大卫曾经有过很多敌人，他写下诗篇18篇的时候，神刚刚救他脱离仇敌，包括他将要取代其位的扫罗王（见撒下 22章）。

有时，大卫被他的敌人逼迫得喘不过气来，以至于他感到好像有“死亡的绳索缠绕”他。他觉得仿佛自己的末日快要到了。那时，大卫便呼求唯一能帮助他的那一位主。“我要求告当赞美的耶和华。这样我必从仇敌手中被救出来。”

大卫表现出巨大的勇气，是基于他对神——他的岩石和拯救者的信靠。大卫曾被主教导，也亲自经验到，主总是与他同在。没有任何仇敌能使他脱离神的看顾。

我们若像大卫一样，知道我们所有的好处都不在神以外，我们就会明白，呼求神就会使我们得着所需要的答案。这并不意味着我们要忽略应急服务，或其他我们需要时可以获得的帮助。神为了每个人的好处在我们周边的社区配置了这些资源。但是意识到我们可以倚靠神来满足我们所有的需要，这在今天是对我们的一个极大的安慰，就像它当年对大卫一样。让我们确保在我们需要任何帮助时都能首先来呼求神。

祷告

神啊，我们常常忘记在需要帮助时向你求助。教导我们在寻求保护、指引和所需要的一切供应上倚靠你，因为一切的美善都是出于你。阿们。

诗篇 18:1-6, 16-19

1耶和华我的力量啊，我爱你！
2耶和华是我的岩石，我的山寨，我的救主，我的神，我的磐石，我所投靠的。他是我的盾牌，是拯救我的角，是我的高台。
3我要求告当赞美的耶和华，这样我必从仇敌手中被救出来。
4曾有死亡的绳索缠绕我，匪类的急流使我惊惧，
5阴间的绳索缠绕我，死亡的网罗临到我。
6我在急难中求告耶和华，向我的神呼求。他从殿中听了我的声音，我在他面前的呼求入了他的耳中。

God Is My Rock

"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. . . ." - Psalm 18:2

David, who was anointed to become king of Israel, had many enemies, and he wrote the words of Psalm 18 at a time when God delivered him from those enemies, including Saul, the king he would replace (see 2 Samuel 22).

At times David was so overwhelmed by his enemies that he felt as if "the cords of death entangled" him. He felt that his end was near. In response, David called on the only one who could help. "I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies."

David displayed great courage based on his trust in God, his rock and deliverer. David had been taught and had learned from experience that the Lord was always present for him. No enemy could separate him from the care of the Lord.

When we know that we depend on God for all good things, as David did, we know that calling on God will help to bring the solutions we need. This doesn't mean we should ignore emergency services or other kinds of help that are available when we might need them. God provides those resources in our communities for the good of everyone. But realizing that we can rely on God to help us with all our needs is a great comfort today just as it was for David. Let's be sure to call on God whenever we need help of any kind.

Prayer

O God, often we forget to look to you for help when we need it. Teach us to lean on you for protection, guidance, and all that we need, knowing you provide all good things. Amen.