Praising Scripture - Dec 13

Annual Bible Reading Plan:

JON.1-2
ACT.25

2024 31-Day Praising Day 13:

Praise God Zealously (Psalm 109:21-31)
(Memory Verses 29-31)

21 But You, O God the Lord, deal with me for Your name’s sake; because Your mercy is good, deliver me.
22 For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.
23 I am gone like a shadow when it lengthens; I am shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees are weak through fasting, and my flesh is feeble from lack of fatness.
25 I also have become a reproach to them; when they look at me, they shake their heads.
26 Help me, O Lord my God! Oh, save me according to Your mercy,
27 That they may know that this is Your hand— that You, Lord, have done it!
28 Let them curse, but You bless; when they arise, let them be ashamed, but let Your servant rejoice.
29 Let my accusers be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own disgrace as with a mantle.
30 I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; yes, I will praise Him among the multitude.
31 For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those who condemn him.

Reflection:
Psalm 109 records David's prayer to God in the face of his enemies. Although his enemies repaid his love with evil and cursed him in many ways, David resolutely chose to look to God—"In return for my love they are my accusers, but I give myself to prayer" (Psalm 109:4). Through such prayer, verses 21-31 show how David entrusted all his bitterness and hardships to God and turned toward joy and praise. Verse 30 especially expresses his attitude of praising God in all circumstances: "I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; yes, I will praise Him among the multitude."
Thank the Lord that not only in all circumstances should we choose to trust and praise Him, but all our praise should be offered zealously. When the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem, David zealously "danced before the Lord with all his might" (2 Samuel 6:14), and the Israelites present also "played music before God with all their might" (1 Chronicles 13:8).
Indeed, we thank God for today’s passage and for the example of David and the people, which enlightens us to see that regardless of external circumstances, we should—and can—"devote ourselves to prayer" and "zealously praise" Him. For He is worthy of it, and it pleases Him.



年度讀經計畫

拿1-2
徒25

2024 讚美月 Day 13:

極力讚美 神 （詩篇109:21-31）
(背誦經文29-31)

21 主耶和華啊，求祢為祢的名恩待我；因祢的慈愛美好，求祢搭救我！
22 因為我困苦窮乏，內心受傷。
23 我如日影漸漸偏斜而去，我如蝗蟲被抖出來。
24 我因禁食膝骨軟弱，我身上的肉也漸漸瘦了。
25 我受他們的羞辱，他們看見我便搖頭。
26 耶和華我的 神啊，求祢幫助我，照祢的慈愛拯救我，
27 使他們知道這是祢的手，是祢耶和華所行的事。
28 任憑他們咒罵，唯願祢賜福。他們幾時起來，就必蒙羞，祢的僕人卻要歡喜。
29 願我的對頭披戴羞辱，願他們以自己的羞愧為外袍遮身。
30 我要用口極力稱謝耶和華，我要在眾人中間讚美祂。
31 因為祂必站在窮乏人的右邊，要救他脫離審判他靈魂的人。

【心得分享】詩篇109篇記載了大衛面對仇敵向 神獻上的禱告。雖然仇敵以惡報愛，百般咒罵大衛，但他卻堅定地選擇了仰望 神—「他們與我為敵以報我愛，但我專心祈禱。」（詩109:4）因著這樣的禱告，這首詩篇21-31節中大衛開始把一切苦毒和難處交託給 神，轉而進入喜樂和讚美。特別是30節說出了他在一切環境中讚美 神的態度：「我要用口極力稱謝（這裡的「稱謝」在一些聖經版本中譯為「讚美」）耶和華，我要在眾人中間讚美他。」感謝主，不僅在一切環境中我們要選擇信靠和讚美主，並且我們一切的讚美都當是「極力」為祂獻上的。當約櫃運到耶路撒冷時，不僅大衛自己是在約櫃面前「極力跳舞」（撒下6:14），在場的以色列人也是一同「極力跳舞歌唱」（代上13:8）。實在感謝 神，藉著今天的經文和大衛與百姓的實行來開啟我們，叫我們看見—不論外部環境如何，我們都當、也都能「專心禱告」、「極力讚美」，因為這是祂配得的，也是祂所喜悅的。