「有時來了獅子。」－撒母耳記上17:34
每次當我們細讀年輕的大衛如何信靠神的故事，我們總能受到鼓舞，重新得著加力。
因著信，他擊敗了熊和獅子；因著信，他擊敗了巨人歌利亞。
「有時來了獅子」；每當獅子攻擊羊群的時候，大衛都視為訓練自己絕佳的機會。若他失去了這些和野獸搏鬥的經驗，若他逃避閃躲，那他很可能永遠無法成為神所揀選的以色列王。
但一般人絕不會將來襲的獅子視為神的祝福！
人總覺得這是可怕倒楣的事，不覺得原來每一頭獅子都是神化過妝的祝福。每一件我們遇到的難處，臨到的試誘，若能正確面對，都是神所賜與不可多得的機會。
不論牠的外表多麼凶狠可怖，當「獅子」攻擊我們時，要將牠當作神所恩賜的機會。
神榮耀的會幕，是用海狗皮和公羊毛遮蓋起來的；從外面看來，沒有人會認為神的榮耀居住在其中。然而神正是顯現在如此看似粗糙、簡陋的會幕中。
願神開啟我們的眼，在一切的試探、試驗、危險和厄運中，看見祂榮耀的顯現。－C. H. P.
"And there came a lion" (1 Sam. 17:34).It is a source of inspiration and strength to come in touch with the youthful David, trusting God. Through faith in God he conquered a lion and a bear, and afterwards overthrew the mighty Goliath. When that lion came to despoil that flock, it came as a wondrous opportunity to David. If he had failed or faltered he would have missed God's opportunity for him and probably would never have come to be God's chosen king of Israel. "And there came a lion."
One would not think that a lion was a special blessing from God; one would think that only an occasion of alarm. The lion was God's opportunity in disguise. Every difficulty that presents itself to us, if we receive it in the right way, is God's opportunity. Every temptation that comes is God's opportunity.
When the "lion" comes, recognize it as God's opportunity no matter how rough the exterior. The very tabernacle of God was covered with badgers' skins and goats' hair; one would not think there would be any glory there. The Shekinah of God was manifest under that kind of covering. May God open our eyes to see Him, whether in temptations, trials, dangers, or misfortunes.
--C. H. P.
