March 30

"Behold¹, all ye that kindle² a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled³. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow." (Isa. 50:11)

What a solemn warning to those who walk in darkness and yet who try to help themselves out into the light. They are represented as kindling⁴ a fire, and compassing themselves with sparks. What does this mean?

Why, it means that when we are in darkness the temptation is to find a way without trusting in the Lord and relying upon Him. Instead of letting Him help us out, we try to help ourselves out. We seek the light of nature, and get the advice of our friends. We try the conclusions of our reason, and might almost be tempted⁵ to accept a way of deliverance which would not be of God at all.

All these are fires of our own kindling; rushlights that will surely lead us onto the shoals. And God will let us walk in the light of those sparks, but the end will be sorrow.

Beloved, do not try to get out of a dark place, except, in God's time and in God's way. The time of trouble is meant to teach you lessons that you sorely need.

Premature⁶ deliverance may frustrate⁷ God's work of grace in your life. Just commit the whole situation to Him. Be willing to abide⁸ in darkness so long as you have His presence. Remember that it is better to walk in the dark with God than to walk alone in the light. --The Still Small Voice.

Cease meddling⁹ with God's plans and will. You touch anything of His, and you mar¹⁰ the work. You may move the hands of a clock to suit you, but you do not change the time; so you may hurry the unfolding of God's will, but you harm and do not help the work. You can open a rosebud¹¹ but you spoil the flower. Leave all to Him. Hands down. Thy will, not mine. --Stephen Merritt.

HIS WAY

God bade me go when I would stay

('Twas cool within the wood);

I did not know the reason why.

I heard a boulder¹² crashing by

Across the path where I stood.

He bade me stay when I would go;

"Thy will be done," I said.

They found one day at early dawn,

Across the way I would have gone,

A serpent with a mangled¹³ head.

No more I ask the reason why,

Although I may not see

The path ahead, His way I go;

For though I know not, He doth know,

And He will choose safe paths for me.

--The Sunday School Times.　

　 三月三十日

　　“凡你们点火用火把围绕自己的，可以行在你们的火焰里，并你们所点的火把中。这是我手所定的；你们必躺在悲惨之中”(赛五十：11)。

　　这是一个严重的警告，对付那行在黑暗中而想设法自救的人们的。神说他们好象自己点火，用火把围绕自己。这是什么意思呢？

　　这意思说：当我们在黑暗中遭遇试炼的时侯，我们总想自谋出路，不肯信神靠神。我们本该让他施行拯救，可是我们顶喜欢自己筹划。我们寻求理由的结论，亲友的劝告。结果，就会采纳一个不出于神的方法。这些都是我们自己点的火焰和火把，凡匆促的引导，必定会把我们引导错误入了歧途，若想这种光亮前进，结果却是悲惨。

　　所以，亲爱的，不要想用自己的谋算逃出黑暗，我们该等候神的时间和神的方法。受试炼，试炼是学习我们所需要的功课。

　　不成熟的拯救会阻挠神在我们身上的工作。我们应该把一切的难处交给神。只要有他的同在，就该甘心等在黑暗中。请记得在黑暗中与神同在，强如在光明中单独行走。——译自微小的声音

　　我们不该干预神的计划和旨意。什么时候我们摸一摸他的事情，我们立刻会弄坏他的工作。我们尽可以把钟拨到我们所要的时间，但是我们不能改变实在的时间；我们尽可以擘开玫瑰的花蕾，可是我们擘坏了那花。照样，我们尽可以自己谋算来躲避神所要我们经过的遭遇，但是于事无补。所以我们该将一切完全交给他。让我们住手罢。让我们对神说：“只要照你的旨意，不要照我的旨意。”——麦力德

山林里寒冷阴冥，

我想停步，神却要我前行，

我不明白为了什么原因。

忽在意欲停步的地方，

传出了岩石崩塌的巨声。

我要前进，神吩咐我停止，

我说：“遵照你的意旨”。

一大清晨有人发现，

在我要去的路上，

躺着斫死的毒蟒。

我或许不明究竟，

但我不再计问，什么缘故，

他指点我的路径，我就走去，

我虽无知，却有数，

总为我…选择全安道路。

1 behold   

v.看，注视，看到

参考例句：

• The industry of these little ants is wonderful to behold.这些小蚂蚁辛勤劳动的样子看上去真令人惊叹。
• The sunrise at the seaside was quite a sight to behold.海滨日出真是个奇景。

2 kindle   

v.点燃，着火

参考例句：

• This wood is too wet to kindle.这木柴太湿点不着。
• A small spark was enough to kindle Lily's imagination.一星光花足以点燃莉丽的全部想象力。

3 kindled   

（使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光

参考例句：

• We watched as the fire slowly kindled. 我们看着火慢慢地燃烧起来。
• The teacher's praise kindled a spark of hope inside her. 老师的赞扬激起了她内心的希望。

4 kindling   

n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• There were neat piles of kindling wood against the wall. 墙边整齐地放着几堆引火柴。
• "Coal and kindling all in the shed in the backyard." “煤，劈柴，都在后院小屋里。” 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子

5 tempted   

v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）

参考例句：

• I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。
• I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。

6 premature   

adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的

参考例句：

• It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
• The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。

7 frustrate   

v.使失望；使沮丧；使厌烦

参考例句：

• But this didn't frustrate Einstein.He was content to go as far as he could.但这并没有使爱因斯坦灰心，他对能够更深入地研究而感到满意。
• They made their preparations to frustrate the conspiracy.他们作好准备挫败这个阴谋。

8 abide   

vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受

参考例句：

• You must abide by the results of your mistakes.你必须承担你的错误所造成的后果。
• If you join the club,you have to abide by its rules.如果你参加俱乐部，你就得遵守它的规章。

9 meddling   

v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He denounced all "meddling" attempts to promote a negotiation. 他斥责了一切“干预”促成谈判的企图。 来自辞典例句
• They liked this field because it was never visited by meddling strangers. 她们喜欢这块田野，因为好事的陌生人从来不到那里去。 来自辞典例句

10 mar   

vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟

参考例句：

• It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
• Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

11 rosebud   

n.蔷薇花蕾，妙龄少女

参考例句：

• At West Ham he was thought of as the rosebud that never properly flowered.在西汉姆他被认为是一个尚未开放的花蕾。
• Unlike the Rosebud salve,this stuff is actually worth the money.跟玫瑰花蕾膏不一样，这个更值的买。

12 boulder   

n.巨砾；卵石，圆石

参考例句：

• We all heaved together and removed the boulder.大家一齐用劲，把大石头搬开了。
• He stepped clear of the boulder.他从大石头后面走了出来。

13 mangled   

vt.乱砍（mangle的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• His hand was mangled in the machine. 他的手卷到机器里轧烂了。
• He was off work because he'd mangled his hand in a machine. 他没上班，因为他的手给机器严重压伤了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 seethe   

vi.拥挤，云集；发怒，激动，骚动

参考例句：

• Many Indians continue to seethe and some are calling for military action against their riotous neighbour.很多印度人都处于热血沸腾的状态，很多都呼吁针对印度这个恶邻采取军事行动。
• She seethed with indignation.她由于愤怒而不能平静。