Praising Scripture - Dec 4

Introduction...

12/4 Psalm138：1-8
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 6-8）
1 I will praise You with my whole heart;
Before the gods I will sing praises to You.
2 I will worship toward Your holy temple,
And praise Your name
For Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
3 In the day when I cried out, You answered me,
And made me bold with strength in my soul.

4 All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Lord,
When they hear the words of Your mouth.
5 Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
For great is the glory of the Lord.

6 Though the Lord is on high,
Yet He regards the lowly;
But the proud He knows from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me;
You will stretch out Your hand
Against the wrath of my enemies,
And Your right hand will save me.
8 The Lord will perfect that which concerns me;
Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands.



[Sharing]
This beautiful psalm of praise begins a series of eight attributed to David and centers on a pretty amazing wish - that all the kings of the earth would praise the Lord in response to hearing His words! Wrapped around this hope is King David’s own praise which comes from both who God is (name, lovingkindness, truth, great in glory, mercy that endures forever) and the wonderful things which He has done. Chief among these wondrous works is God’s faithfulness in answering prayer which has made His name and promises more precious than all that even a king could possess.
Today there are many gods and kings zealous to steal our praise that belongs only to Jesus Christ. As you read David’s words, can you respond with him in praise for our great God’s abundant goodness towards you? Praise Him for all the ways He has answered prayers, shown you lovingkindness, strengthened you, and in the throes of trials has revived, defended, saved, and fulfilled His purpose for you (perfect that which concerns me).
May we praise God today looking forward to that amazing day when all the kings of the earth will bring their glory into the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:24).

【簡介】...

12/4 詩篇138:1-8
(背誦6-8節)
1 我要一心稱謝你，在諸 神面前歌頌你。
2 我要向你的聖殿下拜，為你的慈愛和誠實稱讚你的名；
因你使你的話顯為大，過於你所應許的。
3 我呼求的日子，你就應允我，鼓勵我，
使我心裡有能力。

4 耶和華啊，地上的君王都要稱謝你，
因他們聽見了你口中的言語。
5 他們要歌頌耶和華的作為，
因耶和華大有榮耀。

6 耶和華雖高，仍看顧低微的人，
祂卻從遠處看出驕傲的人。
7 我雖行在患難中，你必將我救活。
我的仇敵發怒，你必伸手抵擋他們，
你的右手也必救我。
8 耶和華必成全關乎我的事。
耶和華啊，你的慈愛永遠長存，
求你不要離棄你手所造的。



【心得分享】
這首優美的讚美詩開始了一連八篇大衛的詩，並且以一個十分令人驚奇的盼望為中心——地上所有的君王都要讚美 神，因他們聽見祂口中的言語。圍繞這一願望的是大衛王自己對 神的所是（祂的名、慈愛、誠實、大有榮耀，永遠長存的慈愛）和祂的奇妙作為所發出的讚美。而 神的奇妙作為首先便是祂在回應禱告上的信實，因此祂的名和應許比任何君王的都要寶貴。
現今有許多事情都會成為我們的 神和君王，並竊取本來只應獻給耶穌基督的讚美。當你讀大衛的詩時，你是否可以用讚美來回應 神在你身上所做的偉大善工？讚美 神為你所做的一切，不管是回應你的禱告，向你彰顯慈愛，堅固你，還是在試探的劇痛中復興、保守、拯救你，並成全祂在你身上的旨意「耶和華必成全關乎我的事」。
「讓我們讚美 神，等候地上的君王將自己的榮耀歸於新耶路撒冷的那個美好日子的到來！」（啟21:24）

Praising Scripture - Dec 3

Introduction...

12/3 Psalm 33：1-11
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 1-4）
1 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous!
For praise from the upright is beautiful.
2 Praise the Lord with the harp;
Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
3 Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
4 For the word of the Lord is right,
And all His work is done in truth.
5 He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;[a]
He lays up the deep in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
9 For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.
10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.
11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
The plans of His heart to all generations.




[Sharing]
This psalm praises the Lord for His being and His work. At the beginning, the psalmist calls upon the upright and righteous people who fear the Lord to rejoice in the Lord and to praise Him. He teaches us to sing a new song to the Lord with the harp and a shout of joy, and to offer our praises. This is a great reminder for us - do we really rejoice in the Lord? We should worship and praise the Lord with enthusiasm, with our hearts, mouths and hands, and with all our hearts and bodies. There is no concern about our own feelings and how others look at us, but only praising the Lord who loves us, for He is our only focus and object during worship. Such praise is both due and beautiful.
Hallelujah... Lord our God! We shall praise You, too! For Your word is right and absolutely reliable, all Your work is done in truth, and You are a faithful God of mercy!
Hallelujah... Lord our God! We praise You! For You created the massive universe and the beautiful nature with word (command, breath). You are God who spoke and it was done, who commanded and it stood fast.
Hallelujah... Lord our God! We praise You! For Your counsel stands forever, the plans of Your heart to all generations. You are who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty!

【簡介】...

詩篇33：1-11
(背誦1-4節)
1 義人哪，你們應當靠耶和華歡樂！
正直人的讚美是合宜的。

2 你們應當彈琴稱謝耶和華用十弦瑟歌頌祂。
3 應當向祂唱新歌，彈得巧妙，聲音洪亮。
4 因為耶和華的言語正直，
凡祂所做的盡都誠實。

5 祂喜愛仁義、公平，
遍地滿了耶和華的慈愛。
6 諸天藉耶和華的命而造，
萬象藉祂口中的氣而成。
7 祂聚集海水如壘，
收藏深洋在庫房。
8 願全地都敬畏耶和華，
願世上的居民都懼怕祂。
9 因為祂說有，就有；命立，就立。
10 耶和華使列國的籌算歸於無有，
使眾民的思念無有功效。
11 耶和華的籌算永遠立定，
祂心中的思念萬代常存。



【心得分享】
這是一首讚美 神所是與所為的詩篇。詩人開始便呼籲敬畏 神的義人和正直人，都當以耶和華為樂並要讚美稱謝祂。詩人教導眾人當用琴瑟和洪亮的聲音向 神唱新歌，來獻上我們讚美的祭。這給我們一個很好的提醒，我們若是真以耶和華為樂，就當帶著熱情用我們的心、用我們的口、用我們的手，全心全人的來敬拜讚美 神，無需顧慮自己的面子和別人的眼光，只單單讚美愛我們的 神，因祂是我們讚美敬拜時唯一的焦點和對象，這樣的讚美敬拜是應當的，也是合宜的。
哈利路亞…主耶和華我們的 神！我們也要讚美祢！因為祢的言語正直絕對可信；作為盡都誠實絕無錯誤，祢是信實慈愛的 神。
哈利路亞…主耶和華我們的 神！我們讚美祢！因為祢用口中的話（命、氣）創造浩瀚的宇宙和美麗的自然；祢是說有，就有；命立，就立的 神。
哈利路亞…主耶和華我們的 神！我們讚美祢！因為祢的籌算永遠立定，祢心中的思念萬代常存；祢是昔在、今在、以後永在的全能者！

Praising Scripture - Dec 2

Introduction...

12/2 Psalm 95:1-7a
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 6-7a）
1 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.
3 For the Lord is the great God,
And the great King above all gods.
4 In His hand are the deep places of the earth;
The heights of the hills are His also.
5 The sea is His, for He made it;
And His hands formed the dry land.
6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
7 For He is our God,
And we are the people of His pasture,
And the sheep of His hand.





[Sharing]
In this psalm, which again is a call to the people, we see an uncomplicated worship that professes God is the great God above all gods. We have countless good reasons to come before Him with joyful shouts, to sing of Him, to give thanks to Him, and to praise Him. Sadly, we often only focus on the things that God has done for us. What’s even more pitiful is that we only thank Him for accomplishing the particular things we asked for. We are sorely lacking in real recognition of God’s being, His majesty, His awesomeness, His authority, His reign above all, and His all-surpassing greatness. It is not that we do not understand, but we simply have no appetite to know more of God; we only care that He has met our needs.
Come! Let us kneel before God! For a brief moment, forget our needs. Shout with joy, sing, praise and worship Him for who He is. The sea, dry land, hills, and deep places of the earth are not the only things that belong to God, but we, who have been bought by the blood of Jesus Christ, need to ever more loudly proclaim, “He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.”

【簡介】...

12/2 詩篇 95:1-7a
(背誦6-7a節)
1 來啊，我們要向耶和華歌唱，
向拯救我們的磐石歡呼！
2 我們要來感謝祂，
用詩歌向祂歡呼！
3 因耶和華為大神，為大王，
超乎萬神之上。
4 地的深處在祂手中，
山的高峰也屬祂。
5 海洋屬祂，是祂造的，
旱地也是祂手造成的。

6 來啊，我們要屈身敬拜，
在造我們的耶和華面前跪下！
7a 因為祂是我們的神，
我們是祂草場的羊，是祂手下的民。



【心得分享】
這又是一篇呼召人來敬拜 神的詩歌，不為著別的，單單就是因為 神是大 神，在萬 神之上！我們有太多的理由應當來向 神歡呼，向 神歌唱，感謝祂，讚美祂！但是，我們多半只為著祂對我所做的來感謝祂，更可憐的是：只為著祂照著我所要的成就了而感謝祂。我們對 神的所是，祂的偉大，祂的奇妙，祂的權能，祂的統管萬有，祂的超乎一切，卻沒有什麼真實的認識。也可以說，我們其實不是不知道，只是我們不怎麼關心祂是怎麼樣的一位 神，我們關心的往往是祂對我如何。
來吧！讓我們屈身在 神面前下拜！暫時忘記我們的需要，而是單單的為著祂的所是，歡呼、歌唱、讚美、敬拜祂！不僅海洋、旱地、高山、深谷…屬於 神，我們這班蒙耶穌基督寶血買贖的人，豈不更應該大聲的聲明：「祂是我們的 神，我們是祂草場的羊，是祂手下的民。」

Praising Scripture - Dec 1

Introduction...

12/1Psalm 100：1-5 A Psalm of Thanksgiving Praise
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 4-5）
1 Make a joyful shout (noise) to the Lord, all you lands!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
3 Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5 For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.




[Sharing] This psalm calls for people to come worship God. The psalm is not only meant for ones who have known God, but it is an invitation to those who do not yet know Him. Why? Because He is the God of all nations and all peoples; He is the savior of all. With passionate cries, the psalmist calls for the people to shout joyfully to the Lord, to sing His praise, and to respond to His presence: we belong to Him, we are His sheep, and He is the one true God! Oh that the people would begin their worship by singing this psalm at the top of their lungs! We can only imagine how magnificent that must have been!
The psalmist proceeds to remind everyone to come into God’s presence with thanksgiving and praise. And to come for no other reason but that the Lord is good, His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations. It is only right that we come to give thanks to Him and praise His name!
Have you noticed that this psalm is a charge? (There are seven occurrences of “should” in the Chinese translation.) If you do not know how to enter into God’s presence, try giving thanks, praising, and singing with a joyful noise; profess that He is your creator and you are His sheep; believe in His goodness, lovingkindness, and faithfulness. Then, you will surely experience God’s presence.

【簡介】...

12/1 詩篇100 ：1-5 [稱謝詩]
(背誦4-5節)
1 普天下當向耶和華歡呼！
2 你們當樂意事奉耶和華，
當來向祂歌唱！
3 你們當曉得耶和華是 神！
我們是祂造的，也是屬祂的；
我們是祂的民，也是祂草場的羊。

4 當稱謝進入祂的門；
當讚美進入祂的院。
當感謝祂，稱頌祂的名！
5 因為耶和華本為善。
祂的慈愛存到永遠；
祂的信實直到萬代。



【心得分享】
這是一篇呼召眾人來敬拜 神的詩，不只是呼召認識 神的百姓，也邀請普天下未信之人。為什麼呢？因為這位 神，是萬民萬國的 神，是全人類的救主！詩人用極為熱情的語氣說，來啊，向這位造我們的 神大聲歡呼，用喜樂的喧囂 (shout joyfully to the Lord) 來向祂歌唱，回應祂的同在。我們是屬祂的，是祂草場的羊，而祂是獨一的真 神！我們可以想像一下，當眾人一起大聲唱着這首詩開始他們的敬拜的時候，場面聲勢是何等的壯觀浩大！
接著，詩人又提醒大家要用感謝和讚美來進入 神的同在。不是別的原因，就是因為祂是善，祂的慈愛存到永遠，祂的信實直到萬代，我們就理當來感謝祂，稱頌祂的名！
注意到了嗎？這首詩中，用了七個“當”字。如果你不知道如何進入 神的同在，試著與眾民用歡樂的噪音大聲的感謝、讚美、歌唱；承認祂是你的創造者，你是祂的羊；相信祂的良善、慈愛、信實；那你肯定可以嚐到 神同在的滋味。

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 30

Introduction...

Day 30 Psalm 118:5-14 The Lord is on my side; What can man do to me?
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 6,8-9,14）
5 I called on the Lord in distress;
The Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
6 The Lord is on my side;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?
7 The Lord is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I shall see my desire on those who hate me.
8 It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in man.
9 It is better to trust in the Lord
Than to put confidence in princes.
10 All nations surrounded me,
But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
11 They surrounded me,
Yes, they surrounded me;
But in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
12 They surrounded me like bees;
They were quenched like a fire of thorns;
For in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.
13 You pushed me violently, that I might fall,
But the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.





.

Psalm 118 is the poem that the Israelites sung when they went to the Temple at the festivals to offer sacrifice and sing praise to God. As they were heading to the Temple and remembering how Jehovah God had listened to their prayers and placed them in a spacious place after so many years of turmoil, they could not help but to say, "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? For it is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.“ Many times in the history of Israel, nations surrounded them like a swarm of bees to destroy them, but the people of Israel could be victorious in the name of the Lord. It is why they could sing, “The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.”

Today, we also face so many spiritual battles in our lives. Let us also learn to come to the LORD often and experience that “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”, because “the Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation.”

【簡介】...

Day 30 詩篇118:5-14 有耶和華幫助我，人能把我怎麼樣呢？
(背誦6，8-9，14節)
5 我在急難中求告耶和華，
他就應允我，把我安置在寬闊之地。
6 有耶和華幫助我，我必不懼怕，
人能把我怎麼樣呢？
7 在那幫助我的人中，有耶和華幫助我，
所以我要看見那恨我的人遭報。
8 投靠耶和華，
強似倚賴人。
9 投靠耶和華，
強似倚賴王子。
10 萬民圍繞我，
我靠耶和華的名必剿滅他們。
11 他們環繞我，圍困我，
我靠耶和華的名必剿滅他們。
12 他們如同蜂子圍繞我，好像燒荊棘的火必被熄滅，
我靠耶和華的名必剿滅他們。
13 你推我，要叫我跌倒，
但耶和華幫助了我。
14 耶和華是我的力量，
是我的詩歌，
祂也成了我的拯救。



【心得分享】
詩篇118篇是以色列民在節日的時候一同去往聖殿獻祭和讚美所唱的詩歌。當他們在去往聖殿的路上，回想在過去那麼多急難的歲月中， 耶和華 神是如何聽了他們的禱告，將他們安置在寬闊之地，他們就不由得說：有耶和華幫助我，我必不懼怕，人能把我怎麼樣呢？因為投靠耶和華，強似倚賴人，強似倚賴王子。在以色列的歷史中，有許多次萬民圍繞他們，如同蜂子圍繞他們，希望剿滅他們，但以色列民卻可以靠耶和華的名勝過仇敵。因此，他們可以高唱：耶和華是我的力量，是我的詩歌，祂也成了我的拯救。
今天，在你我的生命中也面對許多的屬靈爭戰，讓我們也學習常常來投靠耶和華，也來經歷『有耶和華幫助我，我必不懼怕，人能把我怎麼樣呢？』，因為耶和華是我的力量，是我的詩歌，祂也成了我的拯救。

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 29

Introduction...

Day 29 Psalm 44:1-8 Give Thanks to God for he commands victories for us
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 4-5）
1 We have heard with our ears, O God,
Our fathers have told us,
The deeds You did in their days,
In days of old:
2 You drove out the nations with Your hand,
But them You planted;
You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out.
3 For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword,
Nor did their own arm save them;
But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance,
Because You favored them.
4 You are my King, O God;
Command victories for Jacob.
5 Through You we will push down our enemies;
Through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us.
6 For I will not trust in my bow,
Nor shall my sword save me.
7 But You have saved us from our enemies,
And have put to shame those who hated us.
8 In God we boast all day long,
And praise Your name forever. Selah


This is a contemplation from the descendant of Korah, and is also a national prayer psalm. Since the country was under attack by the enemy at the time, the psalmist recounts God’s great deliverance in the past to “force five passes and slay six captains”, to defeat the enemy and lead them to Canaan. Now, they cry out to God in one accord to help them again in defeating their enemies, saying “You are my King, O God; Command victories for Jacob." Even though they were facing the formidable enemies they could still trust God and as they sing "Through You we will push down our enemies; Through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us.” Thanks be to God, who through this verse strengthens our faith too. Whenever we are attacked by enemies, fall on tough times, or feel weak and discouraged, we can declare and win the victory of God through faith. Hallelujah! “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” (2 Corinthians 2:14a)

【簡介】...

Day 29 詩篇44:1-8 為 神出令使我們得勝而感恩
（背誦4-5節）
1 神啊，你在古時，
我們列祖的日子所行的事，我們親耳聽見了；
我們的列祖也給我們述說過。
2 你曾用手趕出外邦人，卻栽培了我們列祖；
你苦待列邦，卻叫我們列祖發達。
3 因為他們不是靠自己的刀劍得地土，
也不是靠自己的膀臂得勝，
乃是靠你的右手、你的膀臂，和你臉上的亮光，
因為你喜悅他們。

4 神啊，你是我的王；
求你出令使雅各得勝。
5 我們靠你要推倒我們的敵人，
靠你的名要踐踏那起來攻擊我們的人。
6 因為，我必不靠我的弓；
我的刀也不能使我得勝。
7 惟你救了我們脫離敵人，使恨我們的人羞愧。
8 我們終日因 神誇耀，還要永遠稱謝你的名。 （細拉）



【心得分享】
這是一篇可拉後裔的訓誨詩，也是全民祈禱詩。由於當時國家正面臨敵人的攻擊，首先，詩人先複述他們親耳聽到 神在過去如何幫助先祖 “過五關、斬六將”，戰勝仇敵，並帶領他們進迦南的大能作為，於是同心起來呼求 神——再次施恩幫助他們擊敗仇敵，說 「神啊，袮是我的王； 求袮出令使雅各得勝。」 故此他們雖然遇到強敵壓境的威脅，仍然可以信靠 神並重申，說 「我們靠袮要推倒我們的敵人， 靠袮的名要踐踏那起來攻擊我們的人。」
感謝 神，藉著這首詩堅固了我們的信心。當我們遇到仇敵攻擊、環境艱難、或軟弱灰心時，也能求 神幫助我們憑信宣告並支取 神的得勝。哈利路亞！「感謝 神！常率領我們在基督裡誇勝。」(林後2:14a)

Thanksgiving Scripture - Nov 28

Introduction...

Day 28 Psalm 126:1-6 Delivered from Exile to Exultation
（Memorization Scripture: vv. 4-6）
1 When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad.

4 Bring back our captivity, O Lord,
As the streams in the South.
5 Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
6 He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.



Psalm-shaped thankers of God are people that recognize who we are and humbly, rightly respond to the stunning grace of God. Your thanksgiving will only be as deep and as wide as the distance you recognize existed between who you were before Christ delivered you and who you are today because the Lord has done great things for us.

This psalm of ascent recognizes that it was God’s grace alone (and not merely Cyrus’ political policy) which brought Israel home from Babylonian exile in the sixth century BC (see Ezra, Nehemiah). The rejoicing pours forth not only for physical homecoming but that God’s wonderful and life-giving covenantal presence is back with His people. Like Israel’s dry south (Negeb) which would flood after a rainstorm, so too will the restored people be overflowing in praise, laughter, and hope for the Lord has done great things for us.

Let us together this day thank God who in Christ Jesus brought us out of exile into His very presence that we might abide, be filled, and rejoice!

【簡介】...

Day 28 詩篇126:1-6 從被擄之地歸回的感恩
(背誦4-6節）
1 當耶和華將那些被擄的帶回錫安的時候，
我們好像做夢的人。
2 我們滿口喜笑、滿舌歡呼的時候，
外邦中就有人說：
「耶和華為他們行了大事！」
3 耶和華果然為我們行了大事，
我們就歡喜。

4 耶和華啊，求你使我們被擄的人歸回，
好像南地的河水復流。
5 流淚撒種的，
必歡呼收割。
6 那帶種流淚出去的，
必要歡歡樂樂地帶禾捆回來。





【心得分享】
使用詩篇來稱謝 神的人，是那些真正地認識到自己是誰，並且以謙卑和正確的態度來回應 神奇妙恩典的人。你越認識到自己被基督拯救之後有了多麼大的改變，你對 神的感謝就越廣越深，因為 主果然為我們行了大事。

這篇上行之詩認識到他們在第六世紀從巴比倫被擄之地的歸回（請看以斯拉，尼希米記）完全是主的恩典，而不是波斯王古列的政策。他們歡呼不只是因為可以回家，而是因為 神的百姓又可以享受到 神原先立約要賜給他們豐富生命的同在。就像以色列乾旱的南地在暴雨之後河水復流，歸回百姓的讚美、笑聲、和盼望也被恢復了；原來那些帶著種子流淚出去的，必要歡歡樂樂的帶著禾捆回來；因主果然為他們行了大事。

讓我們今天一起感謝 神，因祂在基督裡把我們這些原本被擄的人帶回到祂的同在中，如今我們得以住在祂裡面，被祂充滿，以祂為樂！