Wednesday, 3 June 2020

Psalms 4:3-8

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!
2 O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? 3 But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him. 4 Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah 5 Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD.
6 There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!” 7 You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. 8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

There were two painters; each has drawn a painting with the theme of “Peace and Joy”. One of them drew a beautiful painting of a lake with calm water, surrounded with big trees, with birds singing; animals drinking water and fishes swimming beneath its surface. Another painter drew a roaring waterfall with the weather of stormy rain and raging wind. Next to the waterfall was a huge rocky outcrop and an eagle’s nest was perching on it. Inside the nest, there were a few eaglets securely protected under their mother’s wings. Which painting do you think truly represents “Peace and Joy”?

For Christian, our peace and joy will not come from the world, but from God alone. Jesus told His followers in John14:27 and John 16:33 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John14:27)” “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John16:33)” Jesus has given us this assurance because HE knows the things of the world are transient. They are fragile and temporal. We should not put our trust in the things which would not last but in God who alone is eternal. Today we are still in the midst of this global pandemic of Covid-19, We begin to see the folly of man clinging on to all kinds of worldly possessions to give them the security and “Peace and Joy”. Some put their trust in the knowledge they have acquired, others on business enterprises and the wealth they have accumulated. Some define their own values based on the titles and positions they have achieved. All these hard-earned possessions may just vanish in a twinkling of an eye! Overnight we have a new normal. This pandemic has taught us that the “Peace and Joy” promised by the world are vain words and lies, but the true solid promise of “Peace and Joy” can only be found in God alone (vv2).

In Psalms 4:7, the psalmist acknowledged that the kind of joy God had put into his heart is much more satisfying than the richness of the world (grain and wine abound). He continued in Psalms 4:8 by telling us that we can ONLY have peace to rest and sleep when God is with us, because only God can truly give us the security. HE is like the mother eagle having us (as His children) hiding under HIS wings regardless of the adverse external environment with raging wind, stormy rain, and roaring waterfall. The joy and peace that surpasses all understanding will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. It is not solely providence of material needs, but also the love, security, hope, wisdom, and practical help that come from God in Christ Jesus.

All this can only happen when God lifts up the light of His face upon us (vv7). God will set apart the godly for Himself, and He would hear them when they call on Him (vv3). Therefore, the psalmist advised us not to sin against God; even when we become angry or frustrate, we should not sin. We should lie down and be silent, ponder in our hearts by praying to God, think about His words, draw wisdom from Him, and ask for His guidance and comfort. Regardless of what the final outcome might be; let us put our trust in God, and be sure our decision is righteous before Him. When we place our trust in God and make decisions according to His righteousness, we should believe in faith that all the things will turn out to be good for us in the long run because God’s favor will be upon those who love Him in obedience (vv4-5).

Pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank you for your grace given to us through Jesus Christ, Your only begotten Son and our Savior. We are ever grateful for your mercy shown to us because of your great love with which you have loved us. We are thankful that all the authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Today, we can come to you with confidence to ask anything in Jesus name and you will hear our prayer. Thank you for blessing us with the very best, even though we may not fully comprehend it at times. Use us to do your will and to serve others as and when opportunity arises. Forgive us when we have failed to be what you want us to be and give us strength to witness for Jesus in our daily lives.

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Ps. Wallace

每日灵粮
3/06/20星期三
作者：王振威传道
诗篇4：3-8

你们要知道耶和华已经把虔诚人分别出来，归他自己；
我向耶和华呼求的时候，他就垂听。
你们生气，却不可犯罪；
在床上的时候，你们要在心里思想，并且要安静。（细拉）
你们应当献公义的祭，
也要投靠耶和华。
有许多人说：“谁能指示我们得甚么好处呢？”
耶和华啊！求你仰起你的脸，光照我们。
你使我心里喜乐，
胜过人在丰收五谷新酒时的喜乐。
我必平平安安躺下睡觉，
因为只有你耶和华能使我安然居住。

有两位画家以“和平与欢乐”的主题各自画了一幅画。其中一位画了一幅美丽的湖水画，静水的周围是大树，鸟儿在歌唱。动物饮水，鱼儿水里游。另一位画家绘画了在暴风雨和狂风中咆哮的瀑布。瀑布旁边是一个巨大的岩层，鹰巢栖息在上面。在巢内，有几只小鹰被安全地保护在母亲的翅膀下。您认为哪幅画真正代表了“和平与欢乐”？

对于基督徒来说，我们的平安与喜乐不会来自世界，而只会来自上帝。耶稣在约翰福音14:27和约翰福音16:33中告诉跟随他的人：“  我留下平安给你们，我将我的平安赐给你们。我所赐的不像世人所赐的，你们心里不要忧愁，也不要胆怯。“（约翰福音14:27）“ 我将这些事告诉你们，是要叫你们在我里面有平安。在世上你们有苦难，但你们可以放心，我已经胜了世界。“（约翰福音16:33）耶稣给了我们这种保证，因为他知道世间的万物都是暂时的。他们是脆弱而短暂的。我们不应该相信那些不会持久的事物，而要相信只有永恒的上帝。今天，我们仍处于新冠肺炎的全球大流行之中，我们开始看到人的愚蠢行为依附于各种世俗财产，为他们提供保障和“平安与喜乐”。有些人相信自己获得的知识，另一些人则相信商业企业及其积累的财富。有些人根据所获得的头衔和职位定义自己的价值。所有这些来之不易的财产可能在眨眼间就消失了！一夜之间，我们有了新常态。这种大流行告诉我们，世界所承诺的“平安与乐”是徒劳的话和谎言，但“平安与喜乐”的真正可靠承诺只能在神中找到（2节）。

在诗篇4：7中，诗人承认上帝赋予他内心的那种喜悦比世界的丰富（谷物和酒）带来更大的满足感。他在诗篇4：8中继续告诉我们，只有在上帝与我们同在时，我们才能安息和睡觉，因为只有上帝才能真正给我们安全。他就像母鹰一样，使我们（作为他的孩子）躲在祂的翅膀下，不受恶劣的外部环境的影响，包括狂风，暴雨和咆哮的瀑布。超越一切理解的喜乐与平安将在基督耶稣里捍卫我们的心灵。这不仅是物质需求的满足，而且是上帝在基督耶稣里带来的爱、保障、希望、智慧和实际帮助。

这一切只有在神仰脸光照我们时才会发生（7节）。上帝会为把虔诚人分别出来，归祂自己，当祂们呼吁祂时，祂会听见他们。因此，诗人劝告我们不要对上帝犯罪。即使当我们生气或沮丧时，我们也不应犯罪。我们应该躺下，保持沉默，向上帝祈祷，思考上帝的话，从上帝那里吸取智慧并寻求上帝的指导和安慰，从而在心中思考。不管最终结果如何；让我们信靠上帝，并确保我们的决定在上帝面前是义的。当我们信任上帝并根据他的公义做出决定时，我们应该依靠神的信心，即从长远来看，万事万物对我们都是有益的，因为上帝的恩惠将落在那些顺服爱他的人身上（4 -5节）。

祈祷：

亲爱的天父，
我们感谢祢透过耶稣基督，祢的独生子和我们的救主给予我们的恩典。 我们永远感激祢爱并怜悯我们。 我们感谢天上地下所有的权柄都交给了我们的主救主耶稣基督。 今天，我们可以充满信心地以耶稣的名,向祢提出任何要求，祢将听我们的祈祷。 感谢祢祝福我们最好的，尽管有时我们可能并不完全了解。 当机会出现时，请使用我们来履行祢的旨意并为他人服务。 当我们未能成为你希望我们成为的人时，请原谅我们，并赐我们力量为我们的日常生活见证耶稣。
我们奉主耶稣基督的名祷告。 阿们

杨惠光译