Wednesday, 29th July 2020
Title: Songs of Joy
Author: Pastor Wallace Ong

Psalm 65: 8

The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.

Every time when you receive terrible news such as massive natural disasters or global pandemic, have you ever questioned God’s sovereign power over the heavens and the earth? Can you find peace in your innermost being when you witness all these happenings in the world?

For those who do not know Him, the display of His power and might should cause them to realize that men are finite creatures and many things are not within their control. It is beyond man’s capacity to restrain such forces ravaging them. Some of them may react to the situation with rage, bewilderment, or grief but they quickly come to the realization that their own strength is limited. And for others, when their lives get close enough to the source of this power their perceived security in life is utterly shaken. We have heard countless testimonies attesting that it was during a crisis situation that people are drawn to cry out for help and discover the reality of the true and living God. Regardless of whatever circumstances, God remains faithful and is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow, reaching out to man in love and mercy, seeking to restore all the earth and men.

In Genesis 3, we learn that God allows Adam to perish in his sin as the wages of sin is death. All men are warned that their deeds will be accounted for on the Judgment Day and nothing can escape the eyes of the living God. However, God does not take pleasure even in the death of one soul who is swept away in the storm of life. In Ezekiel 18: 23, the Bible says, ‘Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? Declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?’ Similarly, in Ezekiel 33: 11, the same thought is repeated “Say to them, ‘As surely, as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’ Our merciful and compassionate God seeks to change the hearts and not to destroy even the sinful and wicked men.

The second half of the verse, “where morning dawns, where evening fades, You call forth songs of joy” reveals God’s true desire. God wants His creation to recognize His greatness and to joyfully sing His praises. This exhortation brings to our remembrance the word of Jesus as he spoke to the Pharisees in Luke 19: 37-40. The Pharisees reacted indignantly to the praise that the people were lifting up to Jesus. The Pharisees wanted Jesus to rebuke them. Jesus responded saying “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out!” His answer emphasizes that “God will be praised regardless” If men will not humble themselves before God and give praise to their Creator, then, the Almighty God Himself can bring forth from His creation, be it an inorganic and lifeless stone to render praises to Him.

How often have we been mesmerized with awe to the sound of a new song, depicting the wonders of God, and praising Him for all that He has done for us?

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, With joy and thanksgiving, we give You praise for Your wonderful and Holy Name. You created all things. You are the giver of life. Your majesty is supreme in all the earth. We pray, O Lord, that You increase our faith and help us to have a more yielding spirit to seek after You and do things according to Your will in every area of our lives. Forgive us, Lord, when we failed to be the type of person You want us to become. We want to surrender ourselves to You and look to You for comfort and restoration. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

每日灵粮
星期三, 2020年7月29日
标题：欢乐之歌
作者：王振威传道
翻译：杨惠光弟兄

诗篇65：8住在地极的人因你的神迹惧怕，你使日出日落之地都欢呼。

每当您收到关于巨大的自然灾害或全球流行病之类的可怕消息时，您是否曾经质疑上帝对天地的主权？当您目睹这些事发生，您内心深处有平安吗？

对于那些不认识上帝的人，他所彰显的大能会使人意识到人是有限的生物，许多事物不在他们的控制范围内。这超出了人类的能力去遏制破坏他们的力量。当中的一些人可能对局势感到愤怒、困惑或悲伤，但他们很快意识到自己的力量是有限的。而对于其他人来说，当他们越接近这种力量的来源时，他们所感知的安全就会完全被动摇。我们听到无数的人见证当自己在危机局势下，被迫大声呼救时才认识这位又真又活的上帝。不管在什么情况下，上帝仍然是信实的，昨天、今天和明天都一样，以爱与怜悯向人类伸出援手，恢復地球和修复与人的关系。

在创世记3章中，我们了解到上帝允许亚当在罪恶中灭亡，因为罪的代价是死亡。所有人都被警告，他们将在审判日交代他们的行为，没有什么可以逃避永生上帝的眼睛。然而，即使一个灵魂在生活的风暴中死亡，上帝也不喜悦。在以西结书18:23中，圣经说： 主耶和华说：恶人死亡，岂是我喜悦的吗？不是喜悦他回头离开所行的道存活吗？” 同样，在以西结书33：11中，类似的思想被重复：你对他们说：‘主耶和华说：我指着我的永生起誓，我断不喜悦恶人死亡，唯喜悦恶人转离所行的道而活。以色列家啊，你们转回，转回吧！离开恶道。何必死亡呢？’’ 我们有怜悯及丰盛慈爱的上帝寻求改变心意，甚至不摧毁有罪恶的人。

这节经文的后半部分，“你使日出日落之地都欢呼”，显示了上帝的真实心意。上帝希望受造物能够认识他的大能并快乐地歌唱赞美他。这劝告使我们想起耶稣在路加福音19：37-40中对法利赛人说的话。法利赛人对民众高举耶稣的称赞感到不满。他们希望耶稣谴责他们。耶稣回答说：“如果他们保持安静，石头也会哭出来！”他的回答强调“无论如何，上帝都会受到赞美”。如果人们不肯在上帝面前谦卑自己并赞美他们的创造者，那么，全能的上帝自己就可以使他的创造物，甚至是无机无生命的石赞美他。我们有多少次被一首美妙的新诗歌迷住，因为歌描绘了上帝的奇妙，并赞美他为我们所做的一切？

祷告：亲爱的天父，带着喜悦和感恩，我们赞美祢的美妙而神圣的名字。祢创造了万物。祢赐我们生命。 袮在全地是至高无上的。上帝啊，我们祈求祢增加我们的信心，帮助我们以一种更屈服的精神来追求祢，并在生活的每个方面按照祢的心意做事。主啊，当我们不能成为祢想要我们成为的样式时，请原谅我们。我们要降服于你，并寻求你的安慰与祢和好。我们奉耶稣的名祈祷。阿们。