Scorching Heat and Cold Wind: Read King David's Story
感谢上帝，渐入老年的妻子和我闭门在家平安地度过了本地有史以来最热的一天：最高气温47℃！一样怕热的Killua，女儿托我们寄养的5个月大的小猫，一会儿在地板砖上把带壳的Almond玩得象打冰球，一会儿躲进一块帆布里用它的小肉爪快速地触摸在旁边掰杏仁的妻子的手。因为有空调运转，大家都怡然自得。
Thank God, my wife and I entering senior ages have safely spent, behind closed doors, the hottest day on record in our local history: a high of 47°C! Also afraid of heat, Killua, a 5-month-old kitten that our daughter entrusted to us, played an Almond with shell-on on the tile floor like ice hockey one moment. Another moment, Killua hid in a canvas and touched quickly my wife's hand that was splitting almonds, with the flesh part of its small paws. Because the air conditioner is running, everyone is happy.
圣经把我带到了3千多年前的以色列：“一位二十几岁的千夫长，名叫大卫，带着六百壮士，被昏君岳父追杀。大卫是个义人，虽然流亡，也不偷不抢。听说附近一位有3千只羊的财主正在过剪羊毛节，就派几位年轻士兵去向那财主礼貌地讨点食物。不料，那财主虽然身为与著名的约书亚齐名的勇士迦勒的后代，却落井下石。恶财主首先指控大卫背叛主人，即因猜疑嫉妒便不顾大卫曾立了奇功的事实而要杀他的扫罗王。接着，恶财主无视上帝差派先知撒母耳膏立大卫作王的事实，无视大卫曾勇敢地战胜巨人歌利亚的奇迹，竟侮辱大卫和他生父的出身卑微。听了空手而归的年轻士兵们的报告后，大卫义愤填膺，挑选了四百人立即动身，要杀尽那恶财主和他家的所有男丁。
The Bible took me to the scenes of ancient Israel more than 3,000 years ago: "A commander of a thousand in his twenties named David, with six hundred strong men, was pursued by the evil king who was his father-in-law. David was a righteous man. He neither stole nor robbed during the exile. After heard that a nearby rich man with 3,000 sheep was celebrating the sheep shearing festival, he sent several young soldiers to politely ask the rich man for some food. Unexpectedly, although the rich man was a descendant of the mighty warrior Caleb who was as famous as Joshua, he maltreated David badly: The wicked rich man first accused David of betraying his master, King Saul, who tried to kill David out of suspicion and jealousy regardless of the fact that David had made extraordinary combat contributions. Next, the wicked rich man disdained David and his father, while ignoring the fact that Samuel, as the prophet and high priest, had anointed David as king, and ignoring the miracle of David's courageous victory over the giant Goliath. After listened to the reports of the young soldiers who returned empty-handed, David was indignant and selected four hundred soldiers to set off immediately, vowed to kill the wicked rich man and all males in his family.
那恶财主家牧羊的少年们，平时耳闻目睹大卫的亲民军纪，听了恶财主的不当言论后，按捺不住，急告女主人。幸好，女主人是位才德的妇人，火速带人向大卫送礼赔罪，并称赞大卫过去现在都在为耶和华打仗。大卫接受了女主人的道歉，取消了军事行动，并感谢上帝阻止了一次殃及无辜的杀戮。不料，十天后，上帝收取了恶财主的性命。大卫纪念女主人的仁义，收纳了她。”
Several young shepherds for the wicked rich man heard his inappropriate remarks to David’s soldiers. As they had benefited from the protection by David’s soldiers, they couldn’t hold back and rushed to the hostess. Fortunately, the hostess was a wise and virtuous woman. She hurriedly brought large amounts of gifts to David to make amends, and commended David for fighting for Jehovah in the past and the present. David accepted the hostess' apology, called off the military operation, and thanked God for preventing a slaughter that would also shed the blood of innocents. Unexpectedly, ten days later, God took the life of the wicked rich man. David remembered the righteousness of the hostess and adopted her as a wife."
圣经箴言形容合适的话语就像金苹果落在银盘子上。那恶财主的诽谤无疑点燃了正在患难中的年轻大卫的暴怒，差点让大卫犯下得罪上帝的滥杀无辜的罪、还可能殃及义人迦勒家敬虔的后代。多亏上帝感动女主人，赐给她话语，好像酷暑中的冷风，使大卫安静下来。值得一提的是，根据圣经记载，大卫王直到晚年，也不再易被辱骂激怒。上帝是公义的，及时地审判了恶财主，印证了他的应许：“伸冤在我，我必报应”。
The Proverb of the Bible describes right words as gold apples falling on silver plates. The slander of the wicked rich man undoubtedly ignited the wrath of the young，dismayed David. It almost caused David to commit a sin against God by killing innocents that possibly include some godly descendants of the righteous Caleb. Thanks to God who moved the hostess, and gave her the words like the cold wind in scorching heat to quiet David down. It is worth mentioning that, according to the Bible, King David was no longer easily provoked by verbal insults after that, even to his last day of life. God is just, and judged the wicked rich man in time, which confirmed his promise: "Vengeance is mine, and I will repay."
再过两天，这次连续十天超高温的热浪就要结束了。但愿上帝的话语及其在他的忠仆大卫王生命中的印证就象酷暑中的冷风珍藏在投靠他的人们的心中，在灵里溢出芬芳，结出善果。
In two days, the ten-day ultra-high heat wave will end. May the words of God and its testimony in the life of his faithful servant King David be like the cold wind in scorching heat, cherished in the hearts of those who take refuge in him, producing overflowing fragrance and good fruit spiritually.
Songs: “God So Loved”（by We The Kingdom, 2020； YouTube），“Words”(by Hawk Nelson, 2012; YouTube)。
Gold Verse: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”（Ephesians 4:29）