父母会教导他们的儿女，小心不要触摸火焰或热炉灶、过马路要先向左右望、等等事项。我们希望儿女安全和受到保护；不过，如果儿女因不听话受伤，我们会不会拒绝安慰他们呢？当然不会。
以色列民向耶和华呼求，因为他们没有听从神，结果又再受苦了。神垂听他们的呼求，于是差派一个满有灵力的拯救者来解救他们的困苦。事实上，以色列人并不需要有人拯救他们脱离逼害他们的君王，他们真正的需要，乃是离弃他们反叛和不假思索以致闯祸的本性。
遇到不正直的邻居或嘲笑你的信仰的人，我们求神施行公义，是合情合理的。然而，假若我们受伤害是咎由自取的，又怎样呢？如果是我们自己的行为导致我们陷入极大的困苦呢？我们是否会一样热切坚决地求神以公义对待我们、就像对待那不正直的邻居那样？
当求神救我们脱离困境时，我们最好先弄清楚是谁在伤害我们-特别是如果我们自己是我们受苦的罪魁祸首。
有一个好消息，就是神会垂听祂子民的所有呼求的。凡求告耶稣的，祂都会拯救他们脱离愁苦，我们也需要求祂帮助我们看到，哪些时候是我们咎由自取的，并且愿意承认这个事实。
父啊，求你藉着你的儿子和祢的灵的能力，保守我不会把烦恼带到自己的生命中，又帮助我忠心为祢而活。奉耶稣名祈求，阿们。
士师记 3:7-11; 路加福音 18:1-8
7以色列人行耶和华眼中看为恶的事，忘记耶和华他们的神，去侍奉诸巴力和亚舍拉，
8所以耶和华的怒气向以色列人发作，就把他们交在美索不达米亚王古珊利萨田的手中。以色列人服侍古珊利萨田八年。
9以色列人呼求耶和华的时候，耶和华就为他们兴起一位拯救者救他们，就是迦勒兄弟基纳斯的儿子俄陀聂。
10耶和华的灵降在他身上，他就做了以色列的士师，出去争战。耶和华将美索不达米亚王古珊利萨田交在他手中，他便胜了古珊利萨田。
11于是国中太平四十年。基纳斯的儿子俄陀聂死了。
1耶稣设一个比喻，是要人常常祷告，不可灰心。
2说：“某城里有一个官，不惧怕神，也不尊重世人。
3那城里有个寡妇，常到他那里，说：‘我有一个对头，求你给我申冤。’
4他多日不准，后来心里说：‘我虽不惧怕神，也不尊重世人，
5只因这寡妇烦扰我，我就给她申冤吧，免得她常来缠磨我。’”
6主说：“你们听这不义之官所说的话。
7神的选民昼夜呼吁他，他纵然为他们忍了多时，岂不终久给他们申冤吗？
8我告诉你们：要快快地给他们申冤了。然而，人子来的时候，遇得见世上有信德吗？”
“Grant me justice against my adversary.” - Luke 18:3
Parents teach their children to be careful and not touch a flame or a hot stove, to look both ways when crossing the street, and so on. We want children to be safe and protected. But if a child disobeys and gets hurt, do we refuse to comfort them? Of course not.
Israel cried out to the Lord because they had failed to listen and were suffering again. God heard their cry and sent a Spirit-empowered savior to treat their distress. In truth, though, Israel didn’t need saving from the king who was oppressing them. They needed saving from their own wayward tendency to flirt with trouble.
It’s fair to ask God to be just with an unrighteous neighbor or someone who mocks your faith. But what if we ourselves are the instigator of our hurts? What if our own behavior lands us in terrible distress? Will we, with equal fervor, insist that God be as just with us as with that unrighteous neighbor?
When we ask God to rescue us from distress, it’s good to know who did us wrong—especially if we’re the cause of our own misery.
The good news is that God hears all the cries of his people. Jesus rescues from misery all who call on him, and we need to ask him to help us see when we are the cause of our own suffering—and confess it.
Father, by the power of your Son and Spirit, keep me from bringing trouble into my life. Help me to live faithfully for you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
