Thursday, 4th March 2021
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
Three times a year the Israelites would go up to Jerusalem and they would sing the Songs of Ascents as they went up. This is to help them focus on God instead of on the long and difficult road they would take. When we face troubles and problems, we should not let our emotions overcome us, instead we can overcome them by the Word of God. Through this period of fasting and praying, when we face troubles of this world and the attack of Satan, we need to focus more on God and seek His guidance,
Section One: V1-4 Where the Troubles are, Where God will be
V1-2 The nation of Israel was established in the wilderness after the Israelites left Egypt where they were slaves for 400 years. They started their journey with affliction rather than building their own palaces or having their own kings. The Israelites knew their temple is in God, they did not build temples for themselves, but they had the tabernacle because they knew that’s where God will be, and God is their King. Even though many times the enemies had afflicted them, but at the end the enemies did not prevail against them.
V3-4 when a farmer farms, he uses the plowers to plow the field, and the attacks of the enemies is just like that. It’s like having the enemies plowing on our back to control us and hurt us. But our God, who is ‘I Am Who I Am’, will cut the cords of the enemy’s plowers so we can be set free. When we face troubles, God will be there to deliver and to save us, but can we really wait upon Him and trust in Him? When we face troubles, do we let our flesh desires and emotions come out? Or do we humble ourselves and let God be revealed more in our lives? We need to allow people to see the presence of God in our lives!
Section Two: V5-8 Where the Prayers are, Where Hope will be
V5-6 the Israelites are praying, to let those who hate Zion be put to shame and turn back. Those who hate Zion are those who hate the Kingdom of God, and those who hate God. As we pray, they will be put to shame and turn back. The Israel houses have flat roofs and weeds would grow on them, but their roots are not deep, and the weather is very hot in the day time. Therefore, when the sun comes, the grasses and weeds will dry out. When God’s Light shines, these grasses and weeds in our lives will all be burnt out! We face many troubles every day, but do we believe that as we come to morning devotion, God’s light will shine upon our lives and we will be full of the hope and joy from Him!
V7-8 the things that trouble and worry us are not as great as we thought, because God will always be greater, so these things won’t be able to stumble us easily and we should not magnify them. For God’s Kingdom they are really nothing, the enemies attack us because they don’t know there is a Great God behind us. Whatever they toil to attack us will not be blessed. Israelites like to say ‘Shalom’ when they greet each other, to bring peace for one another. But here it says that no one will bless the enemies.
We don’t need to be afraid of the accusations and threats of the enemies of the world. We should uphold our problems in prayers, don’t magnify them, we will soon forget about these troubles and hurtful words, because they will not be blessed, and they will not be remembered. God has given us authority and strength, we need to believe that our troubles are never bigger than God, don’t let emotions overcome us. Through praying and coming before God, we can overcome all the troubles!
Pursuit & Respond
Lord, bless us to know our troubles can never overcome us. Give us this faith to believe our God is righteous, He is “I Am Who I Am”, He will cut off all the troubles, all the bondages, all the worries, and all the thoughts within us that don’t belong to the Kingdom of God. Help us to boldly pray and receive the hope from You. Thank You for being with us, to bless us, to protect us, to shine Your light upon us and to give us peace. Amen!
2021年3月04日 星期四
-潘锡安牧师-
诗篇 129
患难中的指引
我们知道自己君尊的身份吗？诗篇129是第十首上行之诗。当时以色列人一年三次上耶路撒冷朝见神的时候就是在路上唱这些诗歌，鼓励他们看到神的作为而不是被自己走的路程难倒。 神的话是我们脚前的灯、路上的光。当我们遇到问题时，我们不是被自己的情绪胜过，而是更加要宣告神的话语，不是看环境，而是看神的作为。
一、有问题 有神在（v.1-4）
V1-2，以色列这个国家是他们离开了400年为奴为仆的埃及之后，在旷野立国。他们一开始就遇到苦难、问题。他们当时刚建国，没有为自己建造宫殿，没有君王，只需要会幕，有神在就够了。这两节连续宣告说，是的，有很多的敌人很多的逼迫，但他们都“没有胜了我”，因为他们有会幕就有神在。他们没有为自己争战，没有为自己建造城池，就好像诗篇127:1说的，“若不是耶和华建造房屋，建造的人就枉然劳力”。
V3-4，“犁” – 牛所拉用来耕田的大而锋利的器具，若耕在人的背上就会非常痛。仇敌想要在我们身上“扶犁而耕”，留下很大的伤害，但是 “耶和华是公义的，他砍断了恶人的绳索”。“耶和华”就是自有永有的神，他砍断了（牛拉犁的）绳索，让仇敌不能再在我们背后耕种。我们遇到问题，是否知道神与我们同在？我们是否知道我们与圣父圣子圣灵有关系？还是让我们的情绪代替了圣父圣子圣灵？要攻克己身叫身服我，让我们更加谦卑，让里面的“我”更加小，让神在我们身上更加显大。我们王子公主的身份不是用来给自己享受，而是要彰显在这个黑暗的世界。面对问题，不是屈服于世界，而是相信我们一直有神在，他是我们的元帅。
二、有祷告 有盼望（v.5-8)
V5-6，这是以色列的祷告。“恨恶锡安”就是恨恶神国的子民，恨恶、攻击耶和华的人都要“蒙羞退后”！当时以色列的屋顶是平的，很容易积累一层薄薄的尘土，会长一些草，但因为没有土，没有根，当太阳出来的时候，气温非常高，这些野草就很快被晒干了。当神的光进入黑暗，这些不属于神国的东西都会消失。在受到攻击时，我们要相信，当我们每天早上在神的殿点灯，这些问题都会变为无有。神的话语照亮我们的生命，让我们充满盼望，充满神同在的喜乐。
V7-8, 这些攻击我们的东西只是一点点而已，微不足道，我们不要太看重他们。攻击我们的仇敌不知道昔在今在永在的神，所以他们劳碌得来的东西是没有被祝福的。遇到问题的时候，我们不要用放大镜去看仇敌在我们身上的作为，不要去听那些人控告、恐吓我们的话。不要怕那些不信主的亲人对我们说的话，要相信神是与我们同在，将这些负面的事情放在祷告中，因为这些恐吓我们的人都是不被祝福的。唯有敬畏耶和华、遵行其道的必要蒙福。
我们要勇敢呼求，相信神已经给我们力量了，我们要相信问题不会大过神。我们的情绪不要胜过神，要看到我们君尊的身份，唯有靠不断的呼求祷告才能胜过一切患难。
*追求：
祝福我们弟兄姐妹，知道我们的问题不能胜过我们，奉主的名祝福，我们能有信心，领受那自有永有的神，他是公义的，他会为我们砍断所有的问题、捆绑、挂虑，所有我们里面一切不属神的思念。让我们勇敢祷告，勇敢领受从主而来的盼望。谢谢主与我们同在，当我们为神点亮明灯的时候，耶和华你就赐福我们，保护我们，愿耶和华使他的脸光照我们，赐恩与我们，愿耶和华向我们每一个人仰脸，愿我们每一个人都平安。阿们！