Praising Scripture - Dec 25

Annual Bible Reading Plan:

ZEC.5-6
ROM.9

2024 31-Day Praising Day 25:

Praise God’s House (Psalm 122:1-9)
(Memory verses 1-3)

1 I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the Lord!”
2 Our feet have been standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem!
3 Jerusalem—built as a city
that is bound firmly together,
4 to which the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord,
as was decreed for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
5 There thrones for judgment were set,
the thrones of the house of David.
6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
“May they be secure who love you!
7 Peace be within your walls
and security within your towers!”
8 For my brothers and companions’ sake
I will say, “Peace be within you!”
9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your good.

Reflection:
This psalm, a Song of Ascents by David, was sung by Israelites as they journeyed to God’s house during the feasts. It beautifully expresses their love for Jerusalem and the house of the Lord. David’s heart was filled with joy when he heard the call: “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
On one hand, this joy stemmed from seeing God’s grace and steadfast love toward His people. Despite their failures and unworthiness, God remained faithful to His covenant, choosing Jerusalem as the dwelling place of His presence among them. On the other hand, when the people remembered their identity as a people set apart for God, they gladly bore the cost of traveling from all over Israel to Jerusalem for worship, sacrifice, and celebration during the feasts.
As they gathered in the holy city, they were “bound firmly together,” like a city that is well-constructed and unified. When the tribes ascended to the house of the Lord and praised His holy name in unison before His throne, it was a glorious and joyful scene! Hallelujah!
May our hearts be equally stirred to love God and His house, to bless one another, and to build together. Let us also pray earnestly for the church:
“May they be secure who love you!
Peace be within your walls
and security within your towers!”



年度讀經計畫

亞5-6
羅9

2024 讚美月 Day 25：

讚美 神的殿（詩篇122:1-9）
(背誦1-3節)

1 （大衛上行之詩）人對我說「我們往耶和華的殿去。」我就歡喜。
2 耶路撒冷啊，我們的腳站在你的門內。
3 耶路撒冷被建造，如同連絡整齊的一座城。
4 眾支派，就是耶和華的支派，
上那裡去，按以色列的常例
稱讚耶和華的名。
5 因為在那裡設立審判的寶座，
就是大衛家的寶座。
6 你們要為耶路撒冷求平安：
「耶路撒冷啊，愛你的人必然興旺。
7 願你城中平安，願你宮內興旺！」
8 因我弟兄和同伴的緣故，我要說：「願平安在你中間！」
9 因耶和華我們 神殿的緣故，我要為你求福。

【心得分享】這是一首大衛的上行之詩，是以色列人在節期從各地前往往 神的殿上行時，一路頌讚 神的詩歌，唱出了他們對耶路撒冷和神 殿的愛慕。大衛一聽到有人對他說「我們往耶和華的殿去」，他的心就非常歡喜。一方面，這是因為他看到 神對百姓的恩典和慈愛。雖然百姓這樣失敗、不配，但 神仍對他們守約、施慈愛，為了他們的緣故揀選了耶路撒冷，在其中設立自己的 殿，作為自己與百姓同在的居所。另一方面，當百姓記念自己是與世界分別、屬 神的百姓時，就能甘心、喜樂地付上代價，在節期從以色列各地前往來到耶路撒冷和聖殿獻祭、敬拜、守節。當各支派百姓進入聖城一同被建造時，就「如同連絡整齊的一座城」。當他們照常例上到 神的殿中，在祂的寶座前同聲讚美耶和華的聖名時，那是多麼榮耀和喜樂的場景！哈利路亞！甚願我們的心都如此被挑旺，一起來愛 神、愛 神的家，，彼此祝福，一同建造，也同心為教會禱告：「耶路撒冷啊，愛你的人必然興旺。願你城中平安，願你宮內興旺！」