Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 21

Thanksgiving Month Introduction...

Psalm 73:1-5,16-28
（Memorization Scripture 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.

【Reflection】We often become discontented because of the different treatments that God shows to others, especially when evildoers not receiving the retribution they deserve, causing our steps on the righteous path to waver. The author of this psalm, Asaph, was tortured even more in his distressing circumstances because of this. However, it was not until he entered the sanctuary to worship God that he saw what was previously unclear in the light of God—that the end of the wicked sinking away from God's presence is indeed terrifying! Humbly, he acknowledged his own ignorance before God and realized that God had always been with him, holding his hand, guiding him with His holy word, and would lead him to glory. "Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." (Verses 25-26) I will no longer harbor discontentment and let the wicked reap their own end! As for me, I will draw near to God, taking Him as my refuge, and declare all His works.

【感恩月簡介】...

詩篇 73:1-5,16-28
(背誦經文:25-26)
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 祢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，祢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，在祢面前如畜類一般。
23 然而，我常與祢同在，祢攙著我的右手。
24 祢要以祢的訓言引導我，以後必接我到榮耀裡。
25 除祢以外，在天上我有誰呢？除祢以外，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 遠離祢的必要死亡，凡離棄祢行邪淫的祢都滅絕了。
28 但我親近 神是與我有益！我以主耶和華為我的避難所，好叫我述說祢一切的作為。

【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！他謙卑地在 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！「除祢以外，在天上我有誰呢？除祢以外，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。」（25-26節) 我再也不要心懷不平，讓惡人去收取他們自己的結局吧！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。