Praising Scripture - Dec 10

Introduction...

Psalm 84:1-12 Praise God’s Kingdom/God’s Dwelling Place
To the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath.A Psalm of the sons of Korah.
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 1-4）
1 How lovely is Your tabernacle,
O Lord of hosts!
2 My soul longs, yes, even faints
For the courts of the Lord;
My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
And the swallow a nest for herself,
Where she may lay her young—
Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts,
My King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;
They will still be praising You. Selah
5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You,
Whose heart is set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
They make it a spring;
The rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength;
Each one appears before God in Zion.
8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah
9 O God, behold our shield,
And look upon the face of Your anointed.
10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord will give grace and glory;
No good thing will He withhold
From those who walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts,
Blessed is the man who trusts in You!



[Sharing]
This psalm is prized among Christians to sing about being in God’s presence, however it was written by the descendents of people (the sons of Korah) who once were so far off from God. This is powerful testimony to God’s amazing grace. Through all of the shame and sorrow they experienced through God’s chastening, the Korahites learned to answer and serve God in such a new, positive way. They found the presence of God so precious that they could sincerely proclaim to God, “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” (v10)
They came before God with such a humble attitude. Acknowledging lowly state by comparing themselves with sparrows and swallows, they give thanks that such a mighty and holy God would allow sparrows and swallows to make a home in His holy altars. It is this that leads the psalmist to burst forth in praise, “Blessed are those who dwell in Your house”. (v4)
May we too so eagerly long to be in His presence - How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints. For the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. (vv.1-2)

【簡介】...

12/10 讚美 神的國/ 神的居所

詩篇84:1-12 〔可拉後裔的詩，交與伶長。用迦特樂器。〕
(背誦1-4節)
1 萬軍之耶和華啊，祢的居所何等可愛！
2 我羨慕渴想耶和華的院宇，
我的心腸、我的肉體向永生 神呼籲（註：或作“歡呼”）。
3 萬軍之耶和華，我的王、我的 神啊，
在你祭壇那裡，麻雀為自己找著房屋，
燕子為自己找著菢雛之窩。
4 如此住在祢殿中的，便為有福，
他們仍要讚美祢！〔細拉〕

5 靠祢有力量、心中想往錫安大道的，
這人便為有福！
6 他們經過流淚谷，叫這谷變為泉源之地，
並有秋雨之福蓋滿了全谷。
7 他們行走，力上加力，
各人到錫安朝見 神。
8 耶和華萬軍之 神啊，求祢聽我的禱告！
雅各的 神啊，求祢留心聽！〔細拉〕

9 神啊，祢是我們的盾牌，求祢垂顧觀看祢受膏者的面。
10 在祢的院宇住一日，勝似在別處住千日；
寧可在我 神殿中看門，不願住在惡人的帳棚裡。

11 因為耶和華 神是日頭，是盾牌，
要賜下恩惠和榮耀。
祂未嘗留下一樣好處
不給那些行動正直的人。

12 萬軍之耶和華啊，倚靠你的人便為有福！



【心得分享】
這首流傳千古的詩歌，卻是由一群曾經背叛 神的人留下的後裔而寫的，他們被稱為可拉的後裔，這個名字本身就是在見證 神的恩典。在經過許多的羞辱、痛苦和 神的管教之後，他們學習用一個全新的、更積極的態度來回應 神、事奉 神！他們在乎 神的同在，因此向 神宣告說：在祢的院宇住一日，勝似在別處住千日；寧可在我 神殿中看門，不願住在惡人的帳棚裡。
他們帶著一個謙卑的態度來到 神的面前，用麻雀、燕子來比喻自己的渺小、沒有價值；同時也在這裏向 神感恩 - 這麽偉大聖潔的 神，居然允許渺小的麻雀、燕子來到祂聖潔的祭壇那裡築窩居住！因此，詩人忍不住在那裡稱頌 神說：如此住在祢殿中的，便為有福，他們仍要讚美祢！
盼望今天我們也同樣強烈地渴慕 神的同在！萬軍之耶和華啊，祢的居所何等可愛！我羨慕渴想耶和華的院宇，我的心腸、我的肉體向永生 神呼籲！