God is a safe place in life’s storms.

上帝是生命暴风中的安全之地。

The name of the  is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. Proverbs 18:10

耶和华的名是坚固台，义人奔入，便得安稳。-箴言18章10节

My daughter and I were arranging to attend an extended family gathering. Because she was nervous about the trip, I offered to drive. “Okay. But I feel safer in my car. Can you drive it?” she asked. I assumed she preferred her more spacious vehicle to my compact one so I responded, “Is my car too cramped?” “No, it’s just that my car is my safe place. Somehow I feel protected there.”

我和女儿正安排旅程，打算驾车到另一个城市参加家庭聚餐。由于她对这趟旅程有些紧张，我就提议由我来开车。“好啊，但我在自己的车里会感觉比较安全，你可以开我的车吗？”她提出要求。我以为她比较喜欢她宽敞的车，而非我小巧的车，所以我问：“是我的车太小吗？”“不是，只是因为我的车是我的安全之地。不知怎地，总觉得我的车能保护我。”

Her comment challenged me to consider my own personal “safe place.” Immediately I thought of Proverbs 18:10, “The name of the  is a fortified tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” In Old Testament times, the walls and watchtower of a city provided warning of danger from without and shielding for its citizens within. The writer’s point is that God’s name, which stands for His character, person, and everything that He is, provides true protection for His people.

她的解释使我不禁思想，我自己的安全之地在哪里。我立即想到箴言18章10节：“耶和华的名是坚固台，义人奔入，便得安稳。”在旧约时代，当外来的危险出现时，人们能在城楼上发出警示，城墙也能保护城里的居民。这节经文的重点在于上帝的名是坚固台，代表着祂的属性、祂的位格，以及祂是谁，祂为祂的子民提供了真实的保护。

Certain physical places promise longed-for safety in moments that seem dangerous. A sturdy roof overhead in the midst of a storm. A hospital offering medical care. The embrace of a loved one.

在看似危险的时刻，有些地方能提供人们所渴求的安全，例如：暴风中坚固的屋顶、提供医疗的医院，或至亲的拥抱。

What is your “safe place”? Wherever we seek safety, it is God’s presence with us in that place that provides the strength and protection we really need.

你的“安全之地”是什么？不论我们的安全之地在哪里，别忘了只有上帝的同在，你我才能得到我们真正需要的力量与保护。

Dear God, thank You that no matter what worries

 and concerns we have today,

 when we think about You, we find safety in Your presence.

亲爱的上帝，谢谢祢，
不论今日我们有什么担心或挂虑，
只要我们想到祢，就能在祢的同在中得到平安。

Proverbs 18:10-11New International Version (NIV)

10 The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;
    the righteous run to it and are safe.

11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;
    they imagine it a wall too high to scale.

箴言 18:10-11Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

10 耶和华的名是坚固台，义人奔入便得安稳。 11 富足人的财物是他的坚城，在他心想，犹如高墙。

INSIGHT

One of the greatest biblical descriptions of a truly “safe place” is found in the familiar words of Psalm 23. Some scholars envision David writing this Shepherd-psalm while still a young boy, perhaps lying under a star-filled night sky. Others see so much maturity and wisdom in the song that they imagine Psalm 23 as the reflections of an elderly person who has lived long and learned much. Either way, the song clearly describes David’s “safe place.” It was a place of provision (v. 1); a place of green pastures and quiet, relaxing waters (v. 2); and a place for spiritual restoration and spiritual guidance (v. 3). But, most of all, it was a place where David experienced the presence of God, who removed all his fear and provided deep comfort (v. 4).

灵粮透视

众所周知的诗篇23篇描绘了一个真正的“安全之地”，是圣经中很棒的一个描述。不少学者揣测，大卫在写这篇牧者之诗时，应该还是年轻的男孩，也许当时他还躺卧在灿烂的星空下。但另有学者认为，诗篇23篇流露出卓越超群的成熟和智慧，应该是一位饱经沧桑的老人所作的反思。但无论如何，这首诗歌都清楚描绘出大卫的“安全之地”。它是一个没有缺乏的地方（1节）；一个青草地和宁静可安歇的水边（2节）；也是灵命复兴、得蒙指引的地方（3节）。但最重要的是，大卫在这个地方体会到上帝的同在，经历了上帝消除他一切的恐惧，并赐给他极大的安慰（4节）

整理：于姊妹