Praising Scripture - Dec 23

Annual Bible Reading Plan:

ZEC.1-2
ROM.7

2024 Praising Month Day 23：

Praise “The City of God” (Psalm 87:1-7)
(Memory verses 1-3)

1 On the holy mount stands the city He founded;
2 the Lord loves the gates of Zion
more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3 Glorious things of you are spoken,
O city of God. Selah
4 Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon;
behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush—
“This one was born there,” they say.
5 And of Zion it shall be said,
“This one and that one were born in her;
for the Most High Himself will establish her.”
6 The Lord records, as He registers the peoples,
“This one was born there.” Selah
7 Singers and dancers alike say,
“All my springs are in You.”

Reflection：
This is a psalm written by the descendants of Korah, a song exalting Zion, the holy city of God. Asaph also praises Zion in the Psalms, calling her “the perfection of beauty” (Psalm 50:2). Zion is so beautiful and glorious that she is worthy of praise because she was founded and built by God Himself, and is uniquely loved by Him. “The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob,” for Zion is the place where God reigns, where His throne is established, and where His will is carried out. The “glorious things” spoken of her highlight her divine significance.
These “glorious things” point to God’s eternal purpose: through the sacrificial love of His Son Jesus Christ, salvation has been accomplished. God is gathering a people for Zion, building a glorious church to become His eternal dwelling place. This people of Zion includes not only the chosen Israelites but also people from Rahab, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre, and Cush. Each one is chosen, known by God, and born anew through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! We, who were once strangers to God’s glory, are now made citizens of Zion. We can sing, dance, and joyfully proclaim: “All my springs are in You!” Let us join in singing a song of Zion, expressing true worship and praise, longing for God’s presence, and willingly allowing Him to reign in our lives. May His will be done in us, and may we become His eternal dwelling place!



年度讀經計畫

亞1-2
羅7

2024 讚美月 Day 23:

讚美 「神的城」（ 詩篇87:1-7）
(背誦1-3節)

1 耶和華所立的根基在聖山上。
2 祂愛錫安的門，勝於愛雅各一切的住處。
3 神的城啊，有榮耀的事乃指著你說的。〔細拉〕
4 我要提起拉哈伯和巴比倫人，是在認識我之中的；
看哪，非利士和推羅並古實人，個個生在那裡。
5 論到錫安，必說：“這一個那一個都生在其中。
而且至高者必親自堅立這城。”
6 當耶和華記錄萬民的時候，
祂要點出這一個生在那裡。〔細拉〕
7 歌唱的、跳舞的都要說：
“我的泉源都在祢裡面。”

【心得分享】這是一首由可拉後裔所作、讚美 神的聖城錫安的詩歌。亞薩在詩篇中也提到錫安，稱她為「全美的」（詩50:2）。錫安之所以如此美麗與榮耀，值得我們讚美，是因為她是 神親自設立並建造的，也是祂特別所愛的。「祂愛錫安的門，勝過雅各一切的住處」，因為那裡是 神掌權的地方，有祂設立的寶座，也是祂旨意通行的地方。而「榮耀的事」正是指著她說的。這「榮耀的 事」就是 神按祂永遠的旨意，藉著犧牲愛子耶穌，成就了救恩，並要得著一班錫安的子民，為祂建立榮耀的教會，成為祂永遠的居所。而這班錫安的子民，除了 神所揀選的以色列人外，拉哈伯人、巴比倫人、非利士人、推羅人和古實人等也位列其中，因為每一個都是祂所揀選、祂所知道的，都是祂用基督耶穌福音所生出來的。 哈利路亞，讚美 神！我們這些原本與 神的榮耀無份無關的外邦人，如今也得以作了錫安的子民，我們可以唱著、跳著、歡樂地說：「我們的泉源也都在祢裡面」！就讓我們一同唱首錫安之歌，唱出敬拜和讚美的真意：愛慕 神的同在，願意讓 神在我們的生命、生活中掌權，讓 神的旨意通行在我們身上，得著我們作祂永遠的居所！