(箴言 13:12)
“所盼望的遲延未得，令人心憂．所願意的臨到，卻是生命樹。”
說到盼望，所盼望的「遲延未得」，在希伯來的語境裡，是說我們很想得到那樣東西，卻一直在等、一直等、一直等，等到頸都長了都還沒有。我們可以想像這就像一條橡筋，一直拉、一直拉，拉得很長，很擔心它會斷掉。那種心急如焚、不上不下的感覺，真的很難受。
接下來說到「令人心憂」。這個詞的原文是指「病了」，非常軟弱。不只是心裡不舒服，這裡是指意志和生命力，整個人都頹廢了，沒有力氣，沒有動力，病得很重。我們可能都試過等一些很希望得到的東西，但等了很久都沒有出現，就是這種很慘、很軟弱、很無力的感覺。
而「所願意的」臨到，這種願意不是普通想買件衫、食餐飯那種欲望，而是心靈中一種很大的渴望。當這個深層的渴望終於來到、得到了，經文形容那是「生命樹」。這是整節經文最精彩的地方，生命樹讓我們聯想到創世記伊甸園裡的那棵生命樹。聖經提到生命樹的葉子可以醫治萬民，這意味著我們等了很久，心都等病了，意志都沒了，但當那個盼望真正實踐、實現的時候，我們的心就完全被醫治。而且這棵生命樹代表生機蓬勃，整個人會容光煥發，連臉色都會發光似的。
你可能會說，我也知道如果願望實現、等到想等的東西當然開心，但現在還在等，該怎麼辦？其實這節經文告訴我們一個現實：等太久意志會消沉。但最重要的一點是告訴我們神的信實。如果我們是等候神的幫助，我們是不會失望的。雖然現在好像等了很久，橡筋拉得很緊，快要斷了，但不用擔心，因為我們的神是信實的神。祂應許過的事情就一定會實現。只要我們所等候的是在神的旨意和心意裡面，我們不需要擔心，生命樹一定會出現。
因此，我們必須把盼望放在神裏。
(Proverbs 13:12)
“Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.”
Speaking of hope, “hope deferred” in the Hebrew context refers to a situation where we desperately desire something, yet we keep waiting and waiting, and even after waiting for an eternity, it still hasn’t arrived. We can imagine this like a rubber band being pulled and stretched continuously; it is stretched so long that we worry it might snap. That kind of anxious, restless feeling of being suspended in mid-air is truly difficult to bear.
Next, it mentions “maketh the heart sick.” The original word for this refers to being “ill” or extremely weak. It is not just about feeling uncomfortable in one’s heart; it refers to the willpower and vital energy. The entire person becomes despondent, lacking strength and motivation, as if suffering from a severe illness. We might have all experienced waiting for something we deeply desired, only for it not to appear after a long time—it is that miserable, frail, and powerless feeling.
And when “the desire” comes, this desire is not a common craving like wanting to buy a piece of clothing or eat a meal, but rather a profound longing within the soul. When this deep yearning finally arrives and is fulfilled, the scripture describes it as a “tree of life.” This is the most wonderful part of the entire verse. The tree of life reminds us of the one in the Garden of Eden in Genesis. The Bible mentions that the leaves of the tree of life can heal all nations, which means that though we have waited so long that our hearts have grown sick and our willpower has vanished, when that hope is truly realized and fulfilled, our hearts are completely healed. Furthermore, this tree of life represents vibrant vitality; the entire person will become radiant, as if their very face is glowing.
You might say, “I also know that I would be happy if my wishes came true or if I got what I was waiting for, but I am still waiting now—what should I do?” In fact, this verse tells us a reality: waiting for too long will cause one’s spirit to sink. But the most important point is that it tells us of God’s faithfulness. If we are waiting for God’s help, we will not be disappointed. Although it feels like we have waited a long time and the rubber band is stretched so tight it is about to snap, do not worry, because our God is a faithful God. What He has promised will surely come to pass. As long as what we are waiting for is within God’s will and heart, we do not need to worry; the tree of life will certainly appear.
Therefore, we must remember to place our hope in God. Amen.
