God delights in saving His children.

上帝乐意帮助祂的儿女脱离困境。

He reached down from on high and took hold of me. 2 Samuel 22:17

祂从高天伸手抓住我，把我从大水中拉上来。-撒母耳记下22章17节

I scanned the water intently, on alert for signs of trouble. During my six-hour shifts as a lifeguard, I watched from the side of the pool to ensure the safety of those swimming. Leaving my post, or even becoming lax in my attentiveness, could have grave consequences for those in the pool. If a swimmer was in danger of drowning due to injury or lack of skill, it was my responsibility to pluck them from the water and return them to safety on the pool deck.

我专注地观察水中的状况，留意每一个危险的迹象。身为救生员，在6小时值班的时间内，我都会目不转睛地守护在泳池旁，确保泳客们的安全。要是我离开了岗位，或是注意力稍有松懈，都有可能让那些泳池里的嬉水者陷入危险。只要有人因受伤或泳术不佳而溺水，我就有责任把他们从水中拉上来，将他们带回安全的池畔。

After experiencing God’s aid in battle against the Philistines (2 Sam. 21:15–22), David likens his rescue to being drawn out of “deep waters” (22:17). David’s very life—and that of his men—was in serious danger from his enemies. God buoyed David as he was drowning in disaster. While lifeguards are paid to assure the safety of swimmers, God, on the other hand, saved David because of His delight in him (v. 20). My heart leaps for joy when I realize that God doesn’t watch over and protect me because He’s obliged to but because He wants to.

在以色列人与非利士人的战役中，大卫经历了上帝的援助（撒母耳记下21章15-22节），过后他将得着拯救的经历描述为从“大水”中被拉上来（22章17节）。在与仇敌争战时，大卫与士兵们陷入危险，在那生死存亡之际，上帝拯救大卫脱离危险。救生员是受雇去确保泳客们的安全，但上帝拯救大卫，却是出于对大卫的喜悦（20节）。当我明白上帝对我的看顾及保守，并非出于责任和义务，而是出于祂对我的爱，我的心就充满喜乐。

When we feel overcome by the troubles of life, we can rest in the knowledge that God, our Lifeguard, sees our struggle and, because of His delight in us, watches over and protects us.

当生活中的困境快将我们淹没时，我们可以倚靠那位爱我们的上帝。祂就如我们的救生员，看见我们的挣扎，必看顾及保护我们，因祂爱我们。

Thank You, Lord, for seeing my struggles and 

standing ready to save me. 

Help me to trust Your rescuing love more fully.

主啊，感谢祢，

因祢看见我的苦楚，
且随时预备救我脱离深水。
求祢帮助我，

能完全倚靠祢拯救的大爱。

2 Samuel 22:17-20New International Version (NIV)

17 “He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
    he drew me out of deep waters.
18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
    from my foes, who were too strong for me.
19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
    but the Lord was my support.
20 He brought me out into a spacious place;
    he rescued me because he delighted in me.

撒母耳记下 22:17-20Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified) (CUVMPS)

17 他从高天伸手抓住我，把我从大水中拉上来。 18 他救我脱离我的劲敌和那些恨我的人，因为他们比我强盛。 19 我遭遇灾难的日子，他们来攻击我，但耶和华是我的倚靠。 20 他又领我到宽阔之处；他救拔我，因他喜悦我。

整理：于姊妹