Saturday, 2nd May 2020

Proverbs 2: 9 – 15

9 Then you will understand what is right and just
and fair—every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you.
12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
from men whose words are perverse,
13 who have left the straight paths
to walk in dark ways,
14 who delight in doing wrong
and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
15 whose paths are crooked
and who are devious in their ways.

Pastor Isaac had already written on Proverbs 2: 1-8 last month on April 2. For the benefit of those who have missed that, to recap, those eight verses say if we accept God’s Word, store up His commands, turn our ears to wisdom, apply our hearts to understanding, call and cry out for insight and understanding, look and search for it like silver or hidden treasure, THEN we will understand what it means to fear God, gain knowledge of God, obtain His wisdom and His protection.

Verse 9 also starts with the word THEN we will understand what is right and just and fair – every good path. The fear of God occurs 11 times in Proverbs (and “fear the Lord” occurs 4 times). The fear of the Lord means an affectionate reverence to recognise God’s character and respond by revering, trusting, worshiping, obeying and serving Him. The essence of true knowledge is fearing God. Apart from Him, a person is ignorant of spiritual things (Rom. 1:22; Eph. 4:18; 1 Peter 1:14).

These seven verses remind us that when we look and seek and search for God’s wisdom, knowledge and understanding, it will protect, guard and save us from those who are wicked and crooked. People who are out there to lead us astray or to harm us. Yes, my dear brothers and sisters, as God’s children we all need to have an “affectionate reverence” for Him who gave His one and only Son to die for us so we will have forgiveness of sin and eternal life. And our response to that should be trusting, worshiping, obeying and serving Him with all that He has blessed us with. Are we all doing that? Are we drawing ourselves closer to Him or living our lives any way we want?

As the MCO has been extended to 12th May and maybe even beyond that, do we continue to trust God for our uncertain future? Our family? Our job? Our business? Our health? Our church? Our brothers and sisters? Our friends? Are we worshiping, obeying and serving Him more now than before the MCO? The answer to all those questions may throw a little light on our relationship with our heavenly Father.

PRAYER

Dear God, help us to have an affectionate reverence for you. Help us all to seek Your wisdom, Your understanding and Your knowledge. Thank you Lord for your reminder that when we ask, it will be given to us, when we seek, we will find and when we knock, the door will be opened to us for your promise is that “For everyone who ask receives, he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matt 7: 8).

Lord, we want to remember those who have not been to church for a while for whatever reason. Speak to them Lord and impress upon them their need for you, for apart from You, we can do nothing.

We want to also remember those who are not well, homebound and staying alone. Please protect them, Lord, from harm and keep them safe. Provide all their needs Lord, may that be spiritual, physical, financial, emotional or any other. Help us to be a channel of blessing to them.

We want to remember those front-liners who are daily risking their lives to save others. Give them good health and protect them from Covid 19 and any other form of illness. Protect and take care of their families while they are at work. Pray also for those who have contacted Covid 19 and those who are recovering from it. Protect all of us Lord and keep us safe and healthy.

In Jesus Name we pray all these. AMEN

Pastor KKSoong

xxx

每日灵粮
2/5/20
作者：宋国基牧师
箴言 2:9-15

9 这样，你就明白公义、公正、正直，
以及一切善道。
10 智慧必进入你的心，
知识必使你欢悦。
11 明辨的能力必护卫你，
聪明必看顾你；
12 要救你脱离邪恶的道路，
脱离说话乖谬的人。
13 那些人离弃正道，
走上黑暗的道路。
14 他们喜欢行恶，
喜悦恶人的乖谬。
15 他们的道路弯曲，
他们的行径偏离正道。
9 这样，你就明白公义、公正、正直，
以及一切善道。

以撒牧师已经在四月二日分享了箴言2：1-8。 简要地说, 这八节经文讲述如果我们接受上帝的话语，将他的命令存记在心，侧耳听智慧，专心求聪明，寻找它如同寻找银子和宝藏，那么我们将明白何谓敬畏上帝，也能够更认识他，得着他的智慧和保护。

第9节以‘这样’为开头：“ 这样，你就明白公义、公正、正直，以及一切善道”。在箴言中,‘敬畏上帝’出现了11次（“敬畏耶和华”则出现了4次）。敬畏耶和华意味着深切地尊崇他，也因认识他的属性而敬畏、信任、敬拜、顺服和服侍他。智慧真正的本质是敬畏上帝。除非靠主，否则人不能理解属灵的事物。（罗1：22；弗4：18；彼得1：14）

这七节经文提醒我们，当我们寻找和搜寻上帝的智慧、知识和聪明，我们便得保护和拯救，脱离邪恶的人，走弯曲路的人或是使我们误入歧途的人。是的，我亲爱的弟兄姐妹，作为上帝的儿女，我们所有人都需要深切地尊崇他，因为他赐下唯一的儿子为我们而死，使我们得宽恕和永生。对此，我们应当以他所赐给我们的一切来信靠、崇拜和事奉他。我们是否这样呢？我们是更贴近主还是以我们想要的方式生活？

行动管制令已延长至5月12日，甚至可能将会再延长，我们是否在面临无法预料的未来仍信靠上帝？我们的家庭？我们的工作？我们的生意？我们健康？我们的教堂？我们的弟兄姐妹？我们的朋友？现在的我们是否比在行动管制令前，更敬拜，更顺服，更服事主呢？这些问题的答案也许可以阐明我们与天父的关系。

今日祷告

亲爱的上帝，请帮助我们能深切地尊崇你。帮助我们所有人寻求你的智慧，知识和聪明。谢谢主的提醒，当我们祈求，你就给我们；寻找就寻 见；叩门，就给我们开门；因为这是你的应许（太7：8）。

主啊，我们纪念那些出于某种原因，有一段时间没有去教堂的弟兄姐妹。求主与他们说话，也让他们铭记在心他们需要你，因为除你以外，我们什么都不能做。

我们也纪念那些身体不舒服，不方便出门和独自一人的弟兄姐妹。求主保护他们，满足他们的所有需求，不管是精神上、身体上、财务上、情感上或其他方面。帮助我们成为祝福他们的管道。

我们也要纪念那些每天冒着生命危险拯救他人的前线人员。赐他们健康，并保护他们免受新冠病毒和任何其他疾病的伤害。求主在他们工作期间保护并照顾他们的家人，也为那些已患上了病毒以及正在康复的病人祈祷。愿主保护我们每一位，使我们安康。

奉主耶稣的名祷告，阿们。

巫惠如译