经文：一日太阳平西，大卫从床上起来，在王宫的平顶上游行。（撒母耳记下11：2）

在那时刻，大卫看到了拔示巴。试探总是寻找机会来抓住我们。无论在家或在外，我们常处于遇见罪恶诱惑的危险中。早晨始于危险，黄昏的黑阴仍使我们处于危险中。蒙神保守的人有平安，但是那些投入世界中的人，即使只在自己家中行走却不戒备的仍是有祸的。自以为完全的人较其它人更容易暴露在危险中。

大卫应该在前线为神争战，却流连于耶路撒冷，贪恋奢华中的安歇，直至太阳平西才起床。慵懒和奢华是魔鬼的走狗，它们为牠提供许多掠食之对象。啊，但愿耶稣约束的爱保守我们勤奋工作！当我看到以色列的王在傍晚才怠惰地离开他的寝塌，随即立刻堕入了试探的时候，让我心立即儆醒，提醒自己儆醒把守门户。

国王上了屋顶，是否是为了安息和祈祷？若是，我们应当何等小心，知道不论多么隐密，没有一处是远离罪恶的圣所！我们的心如同打火匣，火光四溢。我们必须随时努力避免烈火燃起。撒但可以爬上屋顶，也能进入内室。即使能拒绝邪恶的恶魔于门外，自己的腐败也足以摧毁我们，除非是神的恩典制止我们。

朋友啊！要谨防黄昏的试探。太阳下山了，罪恶升起了。我们需要一位夜间的守望者，如同白天需要一位保守者一样。赐福的圣灵啊，求祢今晚保守我们脱离各种罪恶！阿门！

Scripture: “And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house.”(2 Samuel 11:2)

At that hour David saw Bathsheba. We are never out of the reach of temptation. Both at home and abroad we are liable to meet with allurements to evil; the morning opens with peril, and the shades of evening find us still in jeopardy. They are well kept whom God keeps, but woe unto those who go forth into the world, or even dare to walk their own house unarmed. Those who think themselves secure are more exposed to danger than any others. The armour-bearer of Sin is Self-confidence.
David should have been engaged in fighting the Lord’s battles, instead of which he tarried at Jerusalem, and gave himself up to luxurious repose, for he arose from his bed at eventide. Idleness and luxury are the devil’s jackals, and find him abundant prey. In stagnant waters noxious creatures swarm, and neglected soil soon yields a dense tangle of weeds and briars. Oh for the constraining love of Jesus to keep us active and useful! When I see the King of Israel sluggishly leaving his couch at the close of the day, and falling at once into temptation, let me take warning, and set holy watchfulness to guard the door.
Is it possible that the king had mounted his housetop for retirement and devotion? If so, what a caution is given us to count no place, however secret, a sanctuary from sin! While our hearts are so like a tinder-box, and sparks so plentiful, we had need use all diligence in all places to prevent a blaze. Satan can climb housetops, and enter closets, and even if we could shut out that foul fiend, our own corruptions are enough to work our ruin unless grace prevent. Reader, beware of evening temptations. Be not secure. The sun is down but sin is up. We need a watchman for the night as well as a guardian for the day. O blessed Spirit, keep us from all evil this night. Amen.