Praising Scripture - Dec 19

Annual Bible Reading Plan:

NAH.1-3
ROM.3

2024 31-Day Praising Day 19:

Praise God’s Steadfast Love and Faithfulness (Psalm 117:1-2)
(Memory Verses: 1-2)

1 Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol Him, all peoples!
2 For great is His steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!

Reflection：
Although Psalm 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible, it carries profound significance and value. Not only does it mark the center of the entire Scripture, but it is also an exceptionally precious psalm of praise. In just two verses, the psalmist reveals both the breadth and depth of praise. The scope of praise encompasses all nations and peoples, for God is not only the God of the Jews but also the God of the Gentiles (Romans 3:29). Furthermore, the duration of praise is not fleeting but extends across generations and into eternity.
This psalm also clearly states the fundamental reason and central focus of praising God: “For great is His steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.” Here, steadfast love (alternatively translated as "mercy") and faithfulness (alternatively translated as "truth") represent God’s revealed attributes and His attitude toward humanity. From Exodus 34:6, when God declared to Moses in glory, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,” these divine characteristics have been echoed repeatedly throughout the historical books and prophetic writings, as well as reaffirmed multiple times in the Psalms.
Ultimately, God’s abundant steadfast love and eternal faithfulness were fully accomplished through Jesus Christ, who inaugurated the New Covenant of grace for us. Because of this grace, every time we praise Him, we should not only recognize that He is worthy of praise from all nations and peoples but also specifically extol His steadfast love and faithfulness. He is the covenant-keeping God, who, with unfailing love and victorious truth, has saved us and will continue to save us to the utmost (Hebrews 7:25).
Let us continually praise Him with hearts full of gratitude, giving glory to this loving and faithful God forever and ever.



年度讀經計畫

鴻1-3
羅3

2024 讚美月 Day 19:

讚美 神的慈愛和誠實 （詩篇117:1-2）
(背誦經文1-2)

1 萬國啊，你們都當讚美耶和華！萬民哪，你們都當頌讚祂！
2 因為祂向我們大施慈愛，耶和華的誠實存到永遠。你們要讚美耶和華！

【心得分享】詩篇117篇雖然是聖經中篇幅最短的一章，但卻具有深遠的意義和價值，不僅是全本聖經的中間篇章，更是一首極為寶貴的讚美詩。在短短兩行經文中，詩人揭示了讚美的廣度和深度。讚美的範圍涵蓋萬國和萬民，因為 神不僅是猶太人的神，也是外邦人的 神（羅3:29）；而讚美的時效並非短暫，而是歷世歷代，直到永遠。此外，這首詩篇清楚地指出了讚美 神的根本原因和中心內容：「祂向我們大施慈愛，耶和華的誠實存到永遠。」其中，「慈愛」（另譯「憐憫」）和「誠實」（另譯「真理」）是 神向人啟示的關乎祂自己屬性以及對人態度的核心特質。自出埃及記34:6中， 神在榮耀中向摩西宣告：「耶和華，耶和華，是有憐憫、有恩典的神，不輕易發怒，並有豐盛的慈愛和誠實」以來，這樣的宣告多次在聖經的歷史書與先知書中出現，並在詩篇中被多次重申。最終，祂對世人浩大的慈愛與永遠的誠實，透過主耶穌基督得以完全成就，並為我們開啟了恩典的新約。因著這恩典，每次我們讚美祂時，不僅要贊祂配得萬國萬民的讚美，也當特別稱頌祂的慈愛與誠實。祂是守約施慈愛的 神，憑著不變的愛和得勝的真理拯救我們，並且必要拯救我們到底（來7:25）。讓我們常常懷著感恩的心讚美祂，將榮耀歸給這位慈愛信實的 神，直到永永遠遠。