Sunday, 5 April 2020
Proverbs 5.21
For the LORD sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes. (NLT)
The wise father continues to teach his son – this time on sex. This is one subject most people are interested in but very few discuss it openly. I must confess I have never touched on this topic from the pulpit over 50 years as a pastor. Our parents shy away from this topic. We often look for answers in the wrong places. The Bible actually talks about good sex in marriage.
God in His wisdom created man. It was not good for man to be alone. He created a woman to be his helpmate. Proverbs says, “The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favour from the LORD.” Pro, 18.22. God intends for both the husband and wife to be holy and happy. Solomon shares with his son the best secret recipe for a happy sex life. The Bible contains the best love story. Proverbs itself is a wonderful manual for a happy and satisfying marriage.
15 Drink water from your own cistern,
running water from your own well.
16 Should your springs overflow in the streets,
your streams of water in the public squares?
17 Let them be yours alone,
never to be shared with strangers.
18 May your fountain be blessed,
and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 A loving doe, a graceful deer—
may her breasts satisfy you always,
may you ever be intoxicated with her love.
20 Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife?
Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?
If you do not know the context, you will not be able to grasp the meaning of this lovely passage. Water is a very precious blessing in the dry climate of the Middle East. Here water is used as a metaphor for sexual pleasure with a woman. Water satisfies thirst, is very necessary for survival, and is very pleasant to the thirsty soul. (Pro. 25.25). Every man will draw water from his own well and store water in his own cisterns. He makes sure there is enough for him and his family.
Men need the water of sexual pleasure because God put this desire in them. But the rule is to drink from your own well. (1 Cor.7.2,5,9). God wants husband and wife to have good sex. Make love to her only. You have no right to any other woman. You should not look at another woman, flirt with another woman, or be intimate with another woman. “May you rejoice in the wife of your youth.” She is a lovely doe. And a graceful deer. Treat your wife as delicately and tenderly as a beautiful female deer. Let your wife’s “breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be intoxicated with her love.” Pro. 5.19. Treat her like a perfect flower and make sure she has the sunshine of your love, the water of your tender care and she will blossom. If you neglect her, she will dry up and close up. In the New Testament, Paul admonishes husbands to love your wife and to cherish and nourish her, like you do your own body (Eph.25-29). Have you read the Song of Solomon? Here Solomon wrote a love song that describes the passion and details of lovers and lovemaking. Husband and wife read together if you have not done so.
I urge you to rekindle the fire of your first love. Keep your courting days alive!
May you enjoy this great blessing intended by God in marriage.
Singles, wait! True loves wait. Finding the Miss Right or Mr Right is challenging and trying at times. Especially if you cannot handle this passion, the Bible says get married. Some of you may have the gift of singlehood. It can be equally as beautiful as God intended for you.
For God sees everything you do and his eyes are wide open as he observes every single habit you have. (TPT)
Prayer for the day
Lord, this is something beautiful but sin has made it “dirty” when we are tempted to use it outside of marriage. You have intended this intimacy to be enjoyed. Sin and temptation had taken some of us away from our own well and we have sinned against you and our spouse. We want to come before you with sorrow and beg you to cleanse and restore us back to you. Give us back the joy that we have lost. Help us to rebuild our broken-down marriages.
Please read Psalms 51
8 Oh, give me back my joy again;
you have broken me—
now let me rejoice.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God.
Renew a loyal spirit within me.
11 Do not banish me from your presence,
and don’t take your Holy Spirit[d] from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.
Lord, we thank you for reminding us of the danger that we can fall easily into the temptation of fornication and adultery. We pray that you will help us to run away from situations where we lay ourselves open to temptation. We pray for our children who are working or studying away from home. Lord, it is so easy out there by themselves to follow the ways of the world. Lord, prevent them from cohabiting or having premarital sex. Help them to remember you are with them. Deliver them from the pressure of the evil ones.
Lord, we thank you for the younger children at home. Help us to teach them how to keep themselves pure in their heart. Give us the wisdom and ability to help them to have the desire to love your words daily.
Lord, protect all our pastors, elders, leaders that we will to will walk humbly by being accountable to each other. Teach us to love our wives and children, help us to be a good shepherd to your flock.
Thank you for the Lord’s day, as we worship in our homes may you be near and real to us. Speak to us and minister to our needs today.
We thank you in Jesus Name, Amen.
xxx
每日灵粮
5/4/20
(作者： 严以撒牧师）
箴言 5: 21
「因为人所行的道都在耶和华眼前，他也修平人一切的路。」
智慧的父亲继续教导他的儿子，而这次是关于性。 这是大多数人感兴趣的一个主题，但很少有人公开讨论。 我必须承认，作为一名牧师，五十多年来我从未在讲台上谈到这个话题。 我们的父母也回避这个话题。 我们经常在错误的地方寻找答案。 圣经实际上谈到婚姻中的良好性行为。
上帝以他的智慧创造了人。 人独居不好，所以他创造了女人成为他相配的帮手。箴言 18:22 ，「得着贤妻的，是得着好处，也是蒙了耶和华的恩惠。」 上帝希望丈夫和妻子都是圣洁和幸福的。 所罗门与他的儿子分享幸福的性生活的最佳秘方。 圣经包含了最好的爱情故事。 箴言是讲述幸福和满意的婚姻的一个美妙手册。
箴言5: 15-20
「15 你要喝自己池中的水，饮自己井里的活水。 16 你的泉源岂可涨溢在外？你的河水岂可流在街上？ 17 唯独归你一人，不可与外人同用。 18 要使你的泉源蒙福，要喜悦你幼年所娶的妻， 19 她如可爱的麀鹿，可喜的母鹿。愿她的胸怀使你时时知足，她的爱情使你常常恋慕。 20 我儿，你为何恋慕淫妇，为何抱外女的胸怀？」
如果你不知道上下文，你就无法理解这段经文的佳美含义。 水被视为福，在中东干燥气候中是非常珍贵的。 在这段经文里，水被隐喻为女人对性的愉悦。 水满足口渴，是生存的必需品，使口渴的灵感到畅快。 （箴言25：25)各人要从自己的井里取水，把水储在蓄水池里。 他也确保有足够的水给他和家人。
男人需要性愉悦之水，因为上帝把这性欲放在他们身上。 但规则是从自己的井里喝水。（哥前7：2,5,9) 上帝希望丈夫和妻子有良好的性行为， 只和她发生性关系。你没有权利这样对其他女人。 你不应该看另一个女人，与妻子之外的女人调情或过度亲密。 箴5:19:「要喜悦你幼年所娶的妻。她如可爱的麀鹿，可喜的母鹿。」温柔地对待你的妻子如待可爱的麀鹿。 让你的妻子「怀使你时时知足，她的爱情使你常常恋慕。」 视她如完美的花朵，并确保她有你爱的阳光，关爱之水，使她能容光焕发。 如果你忽视她，她会干涸并凋谢。 在新约圣经中，保罗告诫丈夫要爱你的妻子，珍惜和滋养她，就像你做自己的身体一样（弗25-29). 你读过雅歌吗？ 在这里，所罗门写了情书，描述了爱人和所爱的热情故事。 如果丈夫和妻子没有一齐读雅歌，花时间一起阅读吧。
我鼓励你重燃初恋之火， 继续如当初谈恋爱时的幸福！愿你在婚姻中享受上帝的祝福。
单身的弟兄姐妹，等一等！ 真爱需要等待。 寻找你生命中的如意郎君或真命天女是具有挑战性的，特别是如果你不能处理激情，依照圣经教导，结婚吧。 你们中间有一些人可能有单身的恩赐。在上帝眼中，也是相同地美丽。
因为上帝睁眼看见你们所做的一切，正如他观察你的每一个习惯。
今天的祷告
主啊，性原本是美丽的，但是当我们在婚姻之外试图使用它时，罪恶使它”污秽”。你的用意原本是要人享受这亲密关系。 罪恶和诱惑使我们脱离了自己的井。我们得罪了你和我们的配偶。 我们悲伤地来到你面前，恳求你洁净并恢复我们与你的关系。 让我们得回失去的喜乐。 帮助我们重建破裂的婚姻。
请阅读诗篇51：
8 求你使我得听欢喜快乐的声音，使你所压伤的骨头，可以踊跃。
10 神阿，求你为我造清洁的心，使我里面重新有正直的灵。
11 不要丢弃我，使我离开你的面。不要从我收回你的圣灵。
12 求你使我仍得救恩之乐，赐我乐意的灵扶持我。
主啊，我们感谢你提醒，我们容易陷入通奸和奸淫诱惑的危险。 我们祈祷你能帮助我们摆脱容易受到诱惑的局面。 我们为在外工作或求学的孩子们祈祷。 主啊，他们在外很容易跟随世界的道路。 主啊，防止他们同居或发生婚前性行为。 帮助他们记住你与他们同在， 使他们摆脱邪恶的压力。主啊，我们感谢你在家中的年幼孩子。 帮助我们教导他们如何保持内心的纯洁。 给我们智慧和能力，帮助他们每天渴望爱慕你的话语。
主啊，保护我们所有的牧师，长老和领袖们，我们将互相负责，谦卑地前行。 教导我们爱我们的妻子和孩子，帮助我们成为羊群的好牧人。
感谢主今天是主日。我们在家中敬拜，愿我们能经历你和你的真实。 求你向我们说话，满足我们今天的需要。 我们奉主耶稣的名感谢与祷告，阿们。
（巫惠如译）
Pastor Isaac Yim