Thursday, 18 June 2020
Title: Zion – The City of God
Author: Hon Sir Neng

Psalm 87 (ESV)

What is the City of God? The City of God described in this psalm is Zion, which is where the Temple is located. It is in Jerusalem, which is the capital of Judah. It is described here in this psalm as a holy mountain which God founded (v1), as well as the place which God favours more than others (v2). It is in this place where God speaks glorious things to His people (v3). This is so, because the Temple is located in Zion. God dwells with His people in His Temple by “resting” in the Tabernacle within. It is THE place where God’s people would meet Him in worship.

But what is it that God has spoken from His holy mountain, Zion? Verse 4-6 tells us that there will be many nations that will know God (v4). God Himself will also say of these people, “this one was born there.” Verse 5 also states, “this one and that one were born in her.” God will establish Zion in such manner, by making them citizens of God’s Holy City, Zion! Verse 6 further enforces this, by helping us see that God Himself would register them and bring them in, by saying, “this one was born in Zion.” Verse 7 then gives us a picture of life and joy living in this city of God, people would rejoice through singing and dancing. And everyone will declare “all my springs are in you,” which is a picture of abundant life found in the presence of God.

It is interesting to note that all the nations mentioned here (Rahab, Babylon, Philistia, Tyre and Cush) are enemies of the people of God, the Israelites! What makes it “worse” is that God will bring the Israelites’ enemies to be His own people, to dwell with Him in His Holy City! This is a matter for all to rejoice in, because Israel’s purpose is to be a light to the nations, bringing the knowledge of God as their redeemer to other nations (Isa. 49:6)!

This psalm is a call for us to reflect on 2 points. Firstly, how do we as God’s people view sinners coming to know Christ? Do we scoff at them because of their sins, or do we rejoice because they have come to know Christ, our redeemer? Secondly, what is our attitude of worship before God? Do we worship Him because we are “forced” by our spouse, CG leaders, or even friends? Or do we come to worship Him because He has brought us into His Kingdom through Christ Jesus? Our worship should be a response towards Him, who redeemed us from our sins and is bringing us into His Holy City, that is heaven. This psalm calls us to rejoice because He has redeemed us, who do not deserve His grace and mercy.

Prayer:

Before you pray, ask God’s Spirit to convict you as you meditate on this psalm and its application for your life. As you pray, ask God for forgiveness for the times where you scoffed at a new believer’s struggles instead of rejoicing in their salvation. Also, ask God’s Spirit to help you to acknowledge His saving work in your life, that you will worship God because of all that Christ has done for you. He is worthy of our worship not because He needs it, but because it should be our response to all that He has done, for He has brought us into His Holy City and made us His people.

每日灵粮
星期四，2020年6月18日
标题：锡安-上帝之城
作者：韩思能

诗篇87

什么是上帝之城？诗篇中描述的上帝之城是锡安，这是圣殿所在的地方。它在犹大的首都耶路撒冷。这里在诗篇中将其描述为上帝建立的圣山（第1节）。这也是上帝胜于爱的地方（第2节）。上帝就是在这个地方向他的子民讲荣耀的事（第3节）。之所以如此，是因为圣殿位于锡安。上帝通过“安息”在会幕中，住在圣殿中与是与他的子民。在这里，上帝的子民会在敬拜中与他相遇。

但是上帝在他的圣山锡安所说的话是什么？第4-6 节告诉我们，会有许多国家认识上帝。上帝自己也会对这些人说：“个个生在那里。” 第5节还指出：“这一个，那一个都生在其中”上帝将使他们成为上帝圣城锡安的子民，以此方式建立锡安！第6节通过帮助我们看到上帝亲自将他们记录并带进来，进一步加强了这一点，说“他要写出人的出生地”。然后，第7节为我们描绘了生活在这个上帝之城中的生活和欢乐，人们会通过唱歌或跳舞而欢欣鼓舞。每个人都会声明：“我的泉源都在你里面。”这是在上帝面前发现丰富生命的景象。

有趣的是，这里提到的所有国家都是上帝子民以色列人的敌人（拉哈伯，巴比伦，非利士，推罗和古实人）！“更糟”的是，上帝会将以色列人的敌人变成他自己的人民，与他住在他的圣城！这是所有人都高兴的事情，因为以色列的目的是成为万国的光明，将上帝作为他们的救赎主的知识带到不同的国家（以赛亚书49：6）。

这篇诗篇呼吁我们反思两点。首先，作为上帝的子民，我们如何看待罪人认识基督？我们是因为他们的罪恶而鄙视他们，还是因为他们认识我们的救赎主基督而感到高兴？第二，我们在上帝面前的敬拜态度是什么？我们是因为我们被配偶，领袖甚至朋友“强迫”而崇拜他吗？还是因为神通过基督耶稣把我们带入他的王国而来敬拜他？我们的敬拜应该是对祂的回应，祂救赎了我们脱离我们的罪孽，并被带到圣城，也是天堂。这首诗篇使我们感到高兴，因为他的救赎之工对我们而言，我们不配得到他的恩典和怜悯。

祷告

在您祈祷之前，请冥想此诗及其对我们生命的应用时，请上帝的灵将您定罪。当您祈祷时，在您鄙视新信徒的罪过而不是欢喜的时候，请上帝宽恕。另外，请神的灵帮助您承认他为您的救赎者。我们敬拜不是因为他需要。但这是因为这应该是我们对他所做的一切的回应，因为他把我们带入了他的圣城，成为他的子民。