Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 30

Annual Bible Reading Plan:

HOS.3-5
ACT.11

2024 Thanksgiving Month Day 30:

Giving Thanks For Having The Lord’s Ending
(Psalm 73:1-28)
(Memorize verses 23-28)
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:
The challenges and pains of life do not only arise from circumstances but also from comparing ourselves with others, leading to complaints and dissatisfaction—especially when we see the wicked enjoying undeserved prosperity. After experiencing such weakness and struggle, Asaph emphasizes in this psalm the importance of entering “the sanctuary of God” and viewing life from His perspective.
Without such a heavenly perspective, one falls into foolishness and bitterness, where the heart is “grieved” and the mind is “vexed.” But with this divine insight, it becomes clear that God has placed the seemingly secure wicked on “slippery places,” leading them to destruction in a moment of desolation.
In contrast, God’s people have His continual presence, His right hand of protection, His guidance through His counsel, and the promise of being received into His glory. With this assurance, we can walk through life with certainty, singing words of thanksgiving: “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.”
Let us give thanks for such a glorious ending in the Lord, trusting Him as our strength and portion forever.



年度讀經計畫

何3-5
徒11

2024 感恩月 Day 30：

為我們有主的結局感恩（詩篇73:1-28）
(背誦23-28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 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 你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】人生的難處和痛苦不僅來自環境本身，有時也來自因為與人比較而產生的抱怨和不平，尤其是看到惡人沒有受到該有的報應之時。經歷了這樣的軟弱和難處之後，亞薩在這首詩歌中特別強調了進到「 神的聖所」、以 神的眼光來看自己與惡人結局的重要。沒有這樣的眼光和看見，人就會落在「愚昧無知」中，因著裡面的不平與苦讀而「心裡發酸，肺腑被刺」。而有這樣的眼光和看見，就知道 神已把人看為平安、光鮮的惡人「安在滑地，使他們掉在沉淪之中」，並且「他們轉眼之間成了何等的荒涼！」而我們卻常有 神的同在、祂右手的保護、祂訓詞的引導、並有被祂接到榮耀裡的美好結局。為此，就讓我們心中滿了篤定，在一生的靈程中能一路向主唱出我們感恩的詩句—「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。」