Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 21

Introduction...

Day 21 Psalm 73:1-5,16-28 Grievances because of the wicked going well whereas the righteous being plagued
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 25-26）

1 Truly God is good to Israel,
To such as are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
My steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious of the boastful,
When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no pangs in their death,
But their strength is firm.
5 They are not in trouble as other men,
Nor are they plagued like other men.

16 When I thought how to understand this,
It was too painful for me—
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God;
Then I understood their end.
18 Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!
They are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awakes,
So, Lord, when You awake,
You shall despise their image.
21 Thus my heart was grieved,
And I was vexed in my mind.
22 I was so foolish and ignorant;
I was like a beast before You.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with You;
You hold me by my right hand.
24 You will guide me with Your counsel,
And afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.
26 My flesh and my heart fail;
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
27 For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;
You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,
That I may declare all Your works.


[Sharing] We often feel unfair that others did not receive what they deserve. This is especially true when we see how those who have done evil go unpunished; these thoughts make our footsteps on the path of righteousness unsure. The author of this particular psalm, Asaph, was suffering due to having these exact thoughts. That is, until he went into the sanctuary of God, and, in the light of God, he saw what he did not understand before - the end of the ungodly is truly terrible. He humbly came before God to admit his ignorance and foolishness. He realized that God is continually with him. God holds him by hand, guides him with counsel, and will receive him to glory. My God, “Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (vv. 25-26) Let me not carry grievances in my heart any longer. Let the ungodly receive their end! As for me, I will draw near to God; He is my refuge (NASB), and I will declare all His works.

【簡介】...

Day 21 詩篇73:1-5,16-28 為惡人享福，義人遭災抱不平
(背誦25-26節)
1 神實在恩待以色列那些清心的人。
2 至於我，我的腳幾乎失閃，我的腳險些滑跌。
3 我見惡人和狂傲人享平安，就心懷不平。
4 他們死的時候沒有疼痛，他們的力氣卻也壯實。
5 他們不像別人受苦，也不像別人遭災。
......
16 我思索怎能明白這事，眼看實係為難，
17 等我進了 神的聖所，思想他們的結局。
18 袮實在把他們安在滑地，使他們掉在沉淪之中。
19 他們轉眼之間成了何等的荒涼，他們被驚恐滅盡了。
20 人睡醒了怎樣看夢，主啊，袮醒了也必照樣輕看他們的影像。
21 因而我心裡發酸，肺腑被刺。
22 我這樣愚昧無知，在袮面前如畜類一般。
23 然而，我常與袮同在，袮攙著我的右手。
24 袮要以袮的訓言引導我，以後必接我到榮耀裡。
25 除袮以外，在天上我有誰呢？除袮以外，在地上我也沒有所愛慕的。
26 我的肉體和我的心腸衰殘，但 神是我心裡的力量，又是我的福分，直到永遠。
27 遠離袮的必要死亡，凡離棄袮行邪淫的袮都滅絕了。
28 但我親近 神是與我有益！我以主耶和華為我的避難所，好叫我述說袮一切的作為。


【心得分享】我們往往為著 神在他人身上不同的待遇而不平，尤其是看見作惡的人沒有受到該受的報應，走在義路上的腳步不禁動搖。這篇詩的作者，亞薩，正是因為如此而在困苦的環境中越發地受折磨。直到他進入聖所敬拜 神，在 神的光中看見之前不明白的，就是惡人從 神的同在中沉淪的結局原來如此可怕！他謙卑的在 神面前承認自己的愚昧無知，原來 神一直與他同在，攙著他的手，用聖言引導他，還要接他到榮耀裡。我的 神啊！「除袮以外，在天上我有誰呢？除袮以外，在地上我也沒有所愛慕的。我的肉體和我的心腸衰殘，但 神是我心裡的力量，又是我的福分，直到永遠。」（v25-26) 我再也不要心懷不平，讓惡人去收取他們的結局吧！至於我，我要親近 神，以祂為我的避難所，並且述說祂一切的作為。