詩篇一百四十一篇

大衛的詩。

1 耶和華啊,我曾求告祢,求祢快快臨到我這裡!我求告祢的時候,願祢留心聽我的聲音。
2 願我的禱告如香陳列在祢面前,願我舉手祈求,如獻晚祭。
3 耶和華啊,求祢禁止我的口,把守我的嘴。
4 求祢不叫我的心偏向邪惡,以致我和作孽的人同行惡事,也不叫我吃他們的美食。
5 任憑義人擊打我,這算為仁慈,任憑他責備我,這算為頭上的膏油,我的頭不要躲閃。正在他們行惡的時候,我仍要祈禱。
6 他們的審判官被扔在巖下,眾人要聽我的話,因為這話甘甜。
7 我們的骨頭散在墓旁,好像人耕田刨地的土塊。
8 主耶和華啊,我的眼目仰望祢。我投靠祢,求祢不要將我撇得孤苦。
9 求祢保護我脫離惡人為我設的網羅,和作孽之人的圈套。
10 願惡人落在自己的網裡,我卻得以逃脫。

大衛的詩是給想學習禱告的人一個很好的範本。大衛的禱告是迫切的,一點也不畏縮,就好像一個孩子在跟父親說話。

大衛禱告的時候,他很直接地說;“快快臨到我這裡,留心聽我的聲音。”不是可有可無,不是客氣地說“若你方便”,而是要神快快來,留心聽,是非常迫切,毫無懷疑的呼求。也表達了他和神關係的密切。一個和神疏遠的人,斷斷不敢如此祈求。

3 Ways to Respond to Criticism

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Job 18:1-21.  Let’s go!

Job 18:1-4 (NIV) 
1  Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2  “When will you end these speeches? Be sensible, and then we can talk.
3  Why are we regarded as cattle and considered stupid in your sight?
4  You who tear yourself to pieces in your anger, is the earth to be abandoned for your sake? Or must the rocks be moved from their place?

On verses 1-21:  Bildad keeps making the same mistake despite receiving feedback from Job.  Job has already repeatedly expressed, with directness and clarity, how he wishes his friends would talk to him differently (Job 6:25-26; Job 13:3-4; 16:2-4).  Yet instead of giving real consideration to what Job is saying, instead of recognizing the error of his ways and adjusting, Bildad at first gets defensive (v3-4) and then continues on with his same mistaken approach.  Bildad continues to attack Job and uses his indirect but not so subtle way of linking what has happened to Job with what happens to wicked people (v5-21).

詩篇一百四十篇

大衛的詩,交於伶長。

1 耶和華啊,求祢拯救我脫離凶惡的人,保護我脫離強暴的人。
2 他們心中圖謀奸惡,常常聚集要爭戰。
3 他們使舌頭尖利如蛇,嘴裡有虺蛇的毒氣。(細拉)
4 耶和華啊,求祢拯救我脫離惡人的手,保護我脫離強暴的人,他們圖謀推我跌倒。
5 驕傲人為我暗設網羅和繩索,他們在路旁鋪下網,設下圈套。(細拉)
6 我曾對耶和華說:「祢是我的神。」耶和華啊,求祢留心聽我懇求的聲音!
7 主耶和華,我救恩的力量啊,在爭戰的日子,祢遮蔽了我的頭。
8 耶和華啊,求祢不要遂惡人的心願,不要成就他們的計謀,恐怕他們自高。(細拉)
9 至於那些昂首圍困我的人,願他們嘴唇的奸惡陷害自己。
10 願火炭落在他們身上,願他們被丟在火中,拋在深坑裡,不能再起來。……

我覺得這是一篇很重要的祈禱文。因為在簡短的主禱文裡,主耶穌就己經為我們祈求:“救我們脫離凶惡”。天父知道我們的軟弱和有限。有位弟兄說起他看過一個異象,神讓他看到在所有的凶惡和強暴背後都有撒旦的作為。我們怎能逃脫撒旦的邪惡呢?

大衛形容惡人:他們心中圖謀奸惡,常常聚集要爭戰;他們使舌頭尖利如蛇,嘴裡有虺蛇的毒氣;他們暗設網羅和繩索,在路旁鋪下網,設下圈套。勇猛如大衛知道敵人的可怕,知道敵人的心思何等可怕。

The Best Security for You

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Job 17:1-16.  It is one of the harder passages in Job so far to interpret, but the lessons are worth digging for.
 
Job 17:1-3 (NIV) 
1  My spirit is broken, my days are cut short, the grave awaits me. 
2  Surely mockers surround me; my eyes must dwell on their hostility. 
3  “Give me, O God, the pledge you demand. Who else will put up security for me? 

On Job 16:22 to 17:3:  Job feels like his life is slipping away (v1).  He is bothered by those who mock him (v2).  So Job looks to God as his back up (v3).  In verse 3 Job says to God, “Lay down a pledge for me with you; who is there who will put up security for me?” (Job 17:3 (ESV))  What does Job mean?  Job is boldly asking God to put up security on his behalf.  When I put up security for a friend, I’m saying, “If my friend doesn’t perform what he said he would perform, I will perform it for him.  If he owes you anything, take it from me instead.”  The Bible actually warns about the dangers of putting up security for others.  For example, Proverbs 11:15 says, “He who puts up security for another will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to strike hands in pledge is safe.”

When Job Saw Jesus. Also, Why God Allows Attacks

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Job 16:1-22.  Let’s go!

Job 16:1-6 (NIV) 
1  Then Job replied: 
2  “I have heard many things like these; miserable comforters are you all! 
3  Will your long-winded speeches never end? What ails you that you keep on arguing? 
4  I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could make fine speeches against you and shake my head at you. 
5  But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief.
6  “Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved; and if I refrain, it does not go away.
 
On verses 1-6:  Job is in such physical and emotional torment that neither him speaking out nor him trying to stay silent helps (v6).  Job has learned first hand that when a person is experiencing such great pain and loss, what that person needs is to be comforted and encouraged by others, not lectured, judged, accused or argued with him as Job’s friends did with him.  Even if that person’s own poor decisions brought about their suffering, even if their character leaves much to be desired, in the moment of their agony, don’t take that moment to tear them down even more, but hold them up with God’s love.  In so doing, your gentle actions will teach them something about God’s love and grace that your lectures never could.  Save your sermon for later when the pain is less piercing and the grief less agonizing.  
 

詩篇一百卅九篇

大衛的詩,交於伶長。

1 耶和華啊,祢已經鑒察我,認識我。
2 我坐下,我起來,祢都曉得,祢從遠處知道我的意念。
3 我行路,我躺臥,祢都細察,祢也深知我一切所行的。
4 耶和華啊,我舌頭上的話,祢沒有一句不知道的。
5 祢在我前後環繞我,按手在我身上。
6 這樣的知識奇妙,是我不能測的;至高,是我不能及的。
7 我往哪裡去躲避祢的靈?我往哪裡逃躲避祢的面?
8 我若升到天上,祢在那裡;我若在陰間下榻,祢也在那裡。
9 我若展開清晨的翅膀,飛到海極居住,
10 就是在那裡,祢的手必引導我,祢的右手也必扶持我。……

有一個阿拉伯人的故事說道:在巴爾克(即今阿富罕北邊)有一位君王名叫以布拉因,家財萬貫,無人可比;但他一心一意想要成為靈性上非常富足的人。有一天午夜,當他正睡得方酣時,被屋頂上踩踏的聲音所驚醒,他驚恐地問:“誰在屋頂上?”屋頂上的人回答:“是一位朋友。我在尋找迷失的駱駝!”以布拉譏笑他:“傻瓜,在屋頂上怎能找到迷失的駱駝?”屋頂上的人反唇相譏:“你才是傻瓜!你穿細絲衣躺在金床上怎能找到上帝呢?”

這句話像針一般刺入以布拉因王的心,讓他看出他是在錯誤的地方,用錯誤的方法來尋找上帝,因此他感受不到上帝的同在。所以他離開了舒適的王宮,來到受苦的人中間,提供食物和衣服給那些不幸的人。就在他謙卑地服事那些社會上不幸、被遺忘的人們時,他感受到上帝的臨在;在人們受苦的聲音中,他听到了上帝的聲音。

Wisdom Is More About EQ Than IQ

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Job 15:17-35.

Job 15:20-26 (NIV) 
20  All his days the wicked man suffers torment, the ruthless through all the years stored up for him.
21  Terrifying sounds fill his ears; when all seems well, marauders attack him.
22  He despairs of escaping the darkness; he is marked for the sword.
23  He wanders about–food for vultures; he knows the day of darkness is at hand.
24  Distress and anguish fill him with terror; they overwhelm him, like a king poised to attack,……..

On verses 17-35:  Here Eliphaz, harking back to what he claims to have seen in the past and heard from other wise men (v17-19), tries to paint a picture for Job with his words.  Eliphaz describes a “wicked man” (v20) who “suffers torment” (v20), who is haunted by terrifying sounds (v21), who has been attacked (v21b), who lives in great fear (v22), who wanders without purpose or hope (v23), and who is filled with distress (v24) all “because he shakes his fist at God” (v25).  

詩篇一百卅八篇

大衛的詩。

1 我要一心稱謝祢,在諸神面前歌頌祢。
2 我要向祢的聖殿下拜,為祢的慈愛和誠實稱讚祢的名;因祢使祢的話顯為大,過於祢所應許的。
3 我呼求的日子,祢就應允我,鼓勵我,使我心裡有能力。
4 耶和華啊,地上的君王都要稱謝祢,因他們聽見了祢口中的言語。
5 他們要歌頌耶和華的作為,因耶和華大有榮耀。
6 耶和華雖高,仍看顧低微的人,祂卻從遠處看出驕傲的人。
7 我雖行在患難中,祢必將我救活。我的仇敵發怒,祢必伸手抵擋他們,祢的右手也必救我。
8 耶和華必成全關乎我的事。耶和華啊,祢的慈愛永遠長存,求祢不要離棄祢手所造的。

大衛說他要一心稱謝神,我們都明白,但是為何要在諸神面前歌頌神?難道除了耶和華之外還有神嗎?

這裡是引用〈撒母耳記〉上第26章裡的一句話。那時掃羅在西弗地區追殺大衛,晚上安營睡覺時,大衛和幾個從人到了掃羅的營,從他的頭旁拿走槍和水瓶,然後跑到與他們相距甚遠的一個山頂上,呼叫押尼珥,掃羅的元帥,問他為何沒有好好保護掃羅。然後把掃羅的槍和水瓶拿出來,證明押尼珥的失職。

詩篇一百卅七篇

1我們曾在巴比倫的河邊坐下,一追想錫安就哭了。
2 我們把琴掛在那裡的柳樹上。
3 因為在那裡,擄掠我們的要我們唱歌,搶奪我們的要我們作樂,說:「給我們唱一首錫安歌吧!」
4 我們怎能在外邦唱耶和華的歌呢?
5 耶路撒冷啊,我若忘記你,情願我的右手忘記技巧!
6 我若不記念你,若不看耶路撒冷過於我所最喜樂的,情願我的舌頭貼於上膛!
7 耶路撒冷遭難的日子,以東人說:「拆毀!拆毀!直拆到根基!」耶和華啊,求你記念這仇!
8 將要被滅的巴比倫城啊,報復你像你待我們的,那人便為有福!
9 拿你的嬰孩摔在磐石上的,那人便為有福!

這是一首很悲傷的流浪者之歌。當時猶大被滅,許多猶大人被擄到巴比倫。當他們走到迦巴魯河邊坐下來休息時,那些巴比倫的士兵要求他們彈唱作樂,因為猶太人善於歌唱跳舞。這些巴比倫之囚被強迫,在外邦異地做亡國奴,怎能強顏歡唱?當他們回想錫安故土,以及曾經享有的榮耀就忍不住哭了,為何會落到這樣的地步呢?

在〈以西結書〉裡,以西結在異象中看到神怎樣一步步被趕離聖殿。猶大人在聖殿裡拜偶像,拜太陽,污穢聖殿,以致神無法駐留,只得遠離,成為流浪的神(結8-10章)。“耶和華的榮耀從殿的門檻那裡出去(結10:18a )”,當神在聖殿中不再有地位時,祂就走了。猶大人以為乭以倚靠所拜的偶像和假神,卻嚐到呼天天不應,叫地地不靈的情況。

You Stop Being a Blessing When You Do THIS

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Job 15:1-16.  Let’s go!

Job 15:4-9 (NIV) 
4  But you even undermine piety and hinder devotion to God. 
5  Your sin prompts your mouth; you adopt the tongue of the crafty. 
6  Your own mouth condemns you, not mine; your own lips testify against you. 
7  “Are you the first man ever born? Were you brought forth before the hills? 
8  Do you listen in on God’s council? Do you limit wisdom to yourself? 
9  What do you know that we do not know? What insights do you have that we do not have?
 
On verses 1-16:  Even after Job has lost virtually everything and has told his friends exactly what he needs from them – he needs them to shut up and just listen to him (Job 13:5-6) – Eliphaz cannot help himself.  Eliphaz insists on speaking up one more time.  With even more vitriol and accusation on his tongue than before, Eliphaz accuses Job of being foolish (v2-3), undevoted to God (v4), sinful (v5), self-condemning (v6), prideful and arrogant (v7-9), ungrateful to God (v11), rageful (v12-13), vile and corrupt (v14-16).