五月廿七日

於是米非波設住在耶路撒冷，常與王同席吃飯。他兩腿都是瘸的。（撒下9：13）

米非波設並算不得是王的貴賓，可是他卻常與大衛同席，因為王看他的容貌像他所愛的約拿單。我們和米非波設一樣，也能對榮耀的王說：“僕人算什麼，不過如死狗一般，競蒙王這樣眷顧?”但神仍使我們就近他，因為他在我們的臉上看到了他的愛子耶穌的像。主的民所以可貴乃是為了另一位的緣故。這就是父對他的獨生愛子的愛，神為他的緣故，把他的卑賤的弟兄從困苦、寒微中高舉起來，得進王前，得居高位，得享王膳。他們的殘疾不能奪去他們的權利。瘸腿並不妨礙兒子的名分，跛腳和善跑如飛的亞撤黑一樣都可成為後嗣。我們的身體雖然殘廢無力，我們的權利卻是完整的。王的筵席可以遮蔽瘸腿，我們雖有殘疾，但也可在福音的筵席上享受殊榮，因為基督的能力護庇了我們。話雖如此，嚴重的殘廢卻能損毀最可愛的聖徒們。這裡有一位雖得與大衛同席，但他兩腿都瘸，不能與王一同逃亡出城，因此受他僕人洗巴的讒諂和傷害。信心軟弱、知識淺薄的聖徒常大受虧損，他們常遇到很多仇敵，不能如意地跟隨王走。這種殘疾常是因為跌倒而得。屬靈的嬰孩因為營養不足，當跌到失望的泥淖中之後便不容易康復，罪或其他原因常使信徒骨頭折斷。主啊！求你幫助瘸腿的人像鹿一樣隨意跳躍，願你用你筵席上的飲食餵養你一切的民。

May 27

"So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet." -- 2 Samuel 9:13

Mephibosheth was no great ornament to a royal table, yet he had a continual place at David's board, because the king could see in his face the features of the beloved Jonathan. Like Mephibosheth, we may cry unto the King of Glory, "What is Thy servant, that Thou shouldst look upon such a dead dog as I am?" but still the Lord indulges us with most familiar intercourse with Himself, because He sees in our countenances the remembrance of His dearly-beloved Jesus. The Lord's people are dear for another's sake. Such is the love which the Father bears to His only begotten, that for His sake He raises His lowly brethren from poverty and banishment, to courtly companionship, noble rank, and royal provision. Their deformity shall not rob them of their privileges. Lameness is no bar to sonship; the cripple is as much the heir as if he could run like Asahel. Our right does not limp, though our might may. A king's table is a noble hiding-place for lame legs, and at the gospel feast we learn to glory in infirmities, because the power of Christ resteth upon us. Yet grievous disability may mar the persons of the best-loved saints. Here is one feasted by David, and yet so lame in both his feet that he could not go up with the king when he fled from the city, and was therefore maligned and injured by his servant Ziba. Saints whose faith is weak, and whose knowledge is slender, are great losers; they are exposed to many enemies, and cannot follow the king whithersoever he goeth. This disease frequently arises from falls. Bad nursing in their spiritual infancy often causes converts to fall into a despondency from which they never recover, and sin in other cases brings broken bones. Lord, help the lame to leap like an hart, and satisfy all Thy people with the bread of Thy table!