November 1

“When the cloud tarried…then the children of Israel…journeyed not” (Num. 9:19)

This was the supreme¹ test of obedience². It was comparatively easy to strike tents, when the fleecy folds of the cloud were slowly gathering³ from off the Tabernacle, and it floated majestically⁴ before the host. Change is always delightful⁵; and there was excitement and interest in the route, the scenery, and the locality of the next halting-place. But, ah, the tarrying.

Then, however uninviting and sultry the location, however trying to flesh and blood, however irksome to the impatient disposition⁶, however perilously⁷ exposed to danger--there was no option but to remain encamped.

The Psalmist says, "I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry." (Ps.40:1) And what He did for the Old Testament⁸ saints He will do for believers throughout all ages.

Still God often keeps us waiting. Face to face with threatening foes⁹, in the midst of alarms, encircled by perils¹⁰, beneath the impending¹¹ rock. May we not go? Is it not time to strike our tents? Have we not suffered to the point of utter collapse¹²? May we not exchange the glare and heat for green pastures and still waters?

There is no answer. The cloud tarries, and we must remain, though sure of manna, rock-water, shelter, and defense¹³. God never keeps us at post without assuring us of His presence, and sending us daily supplies.

Wait, young man, do not be in a hurry to make a change! Minister, remain at your post! Until the cloud clearly moves, you must tarry. Wait, then, thy Lord's good pleasure! He will be in plenty of time!--Daily Devotional Commentary

An hour of waiting !

Yet there seems such need

To reach that spot sublime¹⁴ !

I long to reach them━but I long far more

To trust HIS time !

“Sit still, my daughter”—(Ruth3:18)

Yet the heathen die,

They perish while I stay !

I long to reach them━but I long far more

To trust HIS way !

‘Tis good to get,

‘Tis good indeed to give !

Yet is it better still—

O’er breadth, thro’length, up height,

To trust HIS will !

━F.M.N.

十一月一日

「云彩……停留……以色列人……不起行。」（民九:19）

「不起行」比「起行」更难顺服。为甚么呢？因为人的天性都是喜欢动的──拆帐棚、探新奇；云彩缓缓地收上去，威风凛凛地行在他们前头….啊，多么威武！路上有兴奋、有美景，多么有趣！可是一到了云彩停留的时候，他们也只得停留了。

无论云彩停留的的地方多么讨厌、多么炎热；他们的肉体多么难堪、多么急躁；停留的地方多么危险、多么荒凉；他们没有选择的权利，他们只得耐性等候。

戴维说：「我曾耐性等候耶和华。祂垂听我的呼求。」（诗四十:1）戴维得到耶和华的「垂听」，是「曾耐性等候」的。神怎样对待旧约时代的信徒，也会照样对待新约时代的信徒。

眞的，神常喜欢叫我们等候，当我们面对面遇见可怕的仇敌的时候在惊恐之中，危险之下，我们就求问神说：「神阿，我们可不可以跑开一点呢？现在岂不是拆帐棚的时候了么？我们岂不已受尽了痛苦和失败么？我可不可以暂时逃避一下炎热，往青草地上和可安歇的水边去休息一下呢？」

没有回音！云彩停留了，我们也只得停在那里；但是无论如何，路上吗哪、活水、保护、安慰是一定有的。神从来不叫我们停在一个地方，而不给我们祂的同在和日常的供给的。

小子哪，你当耐性等候，不要匆匆向前冲去！停留在你原来的地位上！直到云彩清清楚楚地向上收去。因为这是你的主所喜悦的！祂是不会使你「太迟」的！──译自日诚报

再等一个钟头的时间,

而我好像急需,

到达了那荣耀的顶巅,

我虽渴望如此,

但我更愿遵从祂的时间。

“女儿啊!你只管安坐等待”,(得三:18)

在等待之时,我愿

清除邪教徒的战役奏凯,

我虽渴望如此,

但我更愿遵从祂是主宰。

不论是取,还是给,

都有它的优点,

但更好的是:

用你的全心全力,

遵从祂的旨意。

━F.M.N.

1 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

2 obedience   

n.服从，顺从

参考例句：

• Society has a right to expect obedience of the law.社会有权要求人人遵守法律。
• Soldiers act in obedience to the orders of their superior officers.士兵们遵照上级军官的命令行动。

3 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

4 majestically   

雄伟地； 庄重地； 威严地； 崇高地

参考例句：

• The waters of the Changjiang River rolled to the east on majestically. 雄伟的长江滚滚东流。
• Towering snowcapped peaks rise majestically. 白雪皑皑的山峰耸入云霄。

5 delightful   

adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的

参考例句：

• We had a delightful time by the seashore last Sunday.上星期天我们在海滨玩得真痛快。
• Peter played a delightful melody on his flute.彼得用笛子吹奏了一支欢快的曲子。

6 disposition   

n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署

参考例句：

• He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。
• He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。

7 perilously   

adv.充满危险地，危机四伏地

参考例句：

• They were perilously close to the edge of the precipice. 他们离悬崖边很近，十分危险。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• It'seemed to me that we had come perilously close to failure already. 对我来说，好像失败和我只有一步之遥，岌岌可危。 来自互联网

8 testament   

n.遗嘱；证明

参考例句：

• This is his last will and testament.这是他的遗愿和遗嘱。
• It is a testament to the power of political mythology.这说明，编造政治神话可以产生多大的威力。

9 foes   

敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They steadily pushed their foes before them. 他们不停地追击敌人。
• She had fought many battles, vanquished many foes. 她身经百战，挫败过很多对手。

10 perils   

极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境）

参考例句：

• The commander bade his men be undaunted in the face of perils. 指挥员命令他的战士要临危不惧。
• With how many more perils and disasters would he load himself? 他还要再冒多少风险和遭受多少灾难？

11 impending   

a.imminent, about to come or happen

参考例句：

• Against a background of impending famine, heavy fighting took place. 即将发生饥荒之时，严重的战乱爆发了。
• The king convoke parliament to cope with the impending danger. 国王召开国会以应付迫近眉睫的危险。

12 collapse   

vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。

13 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

14 sublime   

adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的

参考例句：

• We should take some time to enjoy the sublime beauty of nature.我们应该花些时间去欣赏大自然的壮丽景象。
• Olympic games play as an important arena to exhibit the sublime idea.奥运会，就是展示此崇高理念的重要舞台。