Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 18

Thanksgiving Month Introduction...

Psalm 20:1-9
（Memorization Scripture 5,7-9）
1 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble;
May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;
2 May He send you help from the sanctuary,
And strengthen you out of Zion;
3 May He remember all your offerings,
And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah
4 May He grant you according to your heart’s desire,
And fulfill all your purpose.
5 We will rejoice in your salvation,
And in the name of our God we will set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.
6 Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven
With the saving strength of His right hand.
7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;
But we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
8 They have bowed down and fallen;
But we have risen and stand upright.
9 Save, Lord! May the King answer us when we call.

【Reflection】This is a prayer psalm shared by the people and the king before going into battle. In verses 1-5, the people pray for blessings upon the king: "May the LORD...answer you, exalt you, deliver you, strengthen you, remember you, accept you, grant you, fulfill you..." They also pray for God Himself to bring salvation. Chariots and horses are what the enemies rely on and what the Israelites fear, but David is filled with confidence, knowing that God will protect His anointed one. God's people should rely on the name of the LORD and raise the banner (Jehovah Nissi) to secure victory and stand firm (verses 6-8). Are the difficulties and hostile environments we face often causing fear and timidity in us? Even though we see ourselves surrounded by chariots, horses, and armies, let us call upon the name of the LORD in faith. Let us ask Him to open our spiritual eyes, so that we may see God's fiery chariots and horses surrounding and protecting us (2 Kings 6:15-17), allowing us to declare and testify in faith: "They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright." (verse 8). Amen!

【感恩月簡介】...

詩篇 20:1-9
(背誦經文:5,7-9)
1 願耶和華在你遭難的日子應允你；願名為雅各的 神高舉你。
2 願祂從聖所救助你，從錫安堅固你，
3 記念你的一切供獻，悅納你的燔祭， （細拉）
4 將你心所願的賜給你，成就你的一切籌算。
5 我們要因祢的救恩誇勝，要奉我們 神的名豎立旌旗。願耶和華成就你一切所求的！
6 現在我知道耶和華救護祂的受膏者，必從祂的聖天上應允他，用右手的能力救護他。
7 有人 靠車，有人 靠馬，但我們要提到耶和華－我們 神的名。
8 他們都屈身仆倒，我們卻起來，立得正直。
9 求耶和華施行拯救，我們呼求的時候，願王應允我們！

【心得分享】 這是一首參戰前百姓與王共同的祈禱詩，1-5節百姓爲王求祝福：「願耶和華... ...應允你，高舉你，救助你，堅固你，記念你，悅納你，賜給你，成就你......」並祈求 神親自施行拯救。車與馬是敵人所依靠，以色列人所畏懼的；但大衛充滿了把握，知道 神要救護祂的受膏者。 神的百姓要依靠耶和華的名，靠此豎立旌旗（耶和華尼西），必然得勝，站立到底。（6-8節） 眼前的困難，險惡的環境，是否也常常叫我們畏懼、膽怯？雖然眼見的是車馬軍兵圍困了我們，但讓我們用信心求告耶和華的名，求祂要開我們屬靈的眼睛，讓我們看見滿山有 神的火車火馬圍繞保護我們（王下6:15-17）， 以至於我們都可以在信心的裡面宣告和見證：「他們都屈身仆倒， 我們卻起來，立得正直」（8節）。阿們！