Thursday, 30th December 2021
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
Section One V1-8 To Trust
V1 ‘In You, O Lord, I put my trust; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in Your righteousness.’ It’s very important to admit our weaknesses, but we should not let them stay in our heard. We cannot let our weakness becomes our excuse not to move forward. We cannot let our weaknesses define who we are. If we are willing to believe and offer ourselves, then we can also believe that we can overcome. We will not just have one low point in life, there will always be challenges along the way, but we must admit that we need God. Not to let these weaknesses and troubles become who we are.
We are all blessed sinners, there will always be weaknesses in our lives every day. God has already healed our past, it’s time for us to dig deeper into the low point we experience now, not in the past. The low point will become our testimony, but first we must see it, admit it, and be willing to let it come to light. The year has gone by quickly, just like that, but even if we did not experience God at all this year, it does not mean that God’s not with us.
V2-3 ‘Bow down Your ear to me, deliver me speedily; be my rock of refuge, a fortress of defence to save me. For You are my rock and my fortress; therefore, for Your name’s sake, lead me and guide me.’ David cried out to God, he faced challenges and difficulties, and at the very beginning of this Psalm, David cried out to God. It does not seem like a happy psalm at the beginning, but David showed us how much he knew God and His Name. He cried out God’s Name and he chose to rely on God.
V4-5 ‘Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, for You are my strength. Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.’ David’s prayer is not like how we normally pray, he did not start his prayers with a list of requests. He trusted in God, and he knew God was on his side. Therefore, he did not magnify his problems and troubles, instead, David lifted God’s Name and magnified God in his life. This is how we should walk with God, and this is how we should trust in God. Focus more on what God can do, not what we cannot do.
V6-8 ‘I have hated those who regard useless idols, but I trust in the Lord. I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, for You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities, and have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a wide place.’ Our God is the I-Am-Who-I-Am God, do we see God more than ourselves? Do we know that God sees us and is right here with us? Yes, there will be hurt and pain in life, but God sees it all and He knows where our limits are.
We are not facing our problems alone. God is always with us, and that is why it’s so important to always give thanks. Because when we give thanks, we recognise that God is with us, and we acknowledge everything God has done for us.
Section Two V9-18 To Confess
V9-10 ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; my eye wastes away with grief, yes, my soul and my body! For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.’ David’s prayer was open and honest, he confessed everything before God. A lot of time, God becomes our servant, we give Him ‘tasks’ to do for us, we list out things for Him to help us complete. When we think we can handle by ourselves then we will not seek God. David was not like this, he opened everything in his life, his eyes, his soul, his body, his life, his years, his strength, his bones, his feelings…
David’s interaction with God was like with a friend, not limited to just ‘doing’. What are our interactions with God? It also reflects on how our interactions are with our children and our family. What is our attitude when we interact with others? What is our attitude when we follow God and follow our authority? Is our conversation with others always around work and ministry? Do we treasure the time we have with each other? Every time we spend with God and with our authority, it gives us strength to keep going and to keep serving. If we see our own business as more important than God’s business, then who’s lost? We miss out on an opportunity to interact with God.
V11-14 ‘I am a reproach among all my enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and am repulsive to my acquaintances; those who see me outside flee from me. I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; I am like a broken vessel. For I hear the slander of many; fear is on every side; while they take counsel together against me, they scheme to take away my life. But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.”’ David did not come to God after he resolve all his problems. On the other hand, he was in a troublesome situation, he opened himself completely to God, his feelings, his situations, and his fears.
V15 ‘My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.’ David did not worry how others see him, he only worried if God did not hear him. Can we also admit our weaknesses in front of God? When we are hurt, can we come to God and continue to rely on Him? David did not ask God to solve his problems in the first place, but to confess and to express his love and trust for God. God loves us and He will not leave us, our times are in His hands, and He will deliver us!
V16-17 ‘Make Your face shine upon Your servant; save me for Your mercies sake. Do not let me be ashamed, O Lord, for I have called upon You; let the wicked be ashamed; let them be silent in the grave.’ David was remembering his first love for God, and he did not forget about this love even in difficult situations.
Section Three V19-24 To Persist
V19-20 ‘Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.’ When we pray, do we just pray once? Or do we continue to pray? David knew he had to continue praying and seeking. God’s eyes are always on us, and His hands are protecting us. He hides us from our enemies when we are willing to follow Him. But if we chose to walk the worldly ways, then we will be exposed to the enemies.
V21-22 ‘Blessed be the Lord, for He has shown me His marvellous kindness in a strong city! For I said in my haste, “I am cut off from before Your eyes”; nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications when I cried out to You.’ God wants to protect us so we can enjoy His love in His embrace, and not to worry about the enemy’s attack. V23-24 Oh, love the Lord, all you His saints! For the Lord preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.’ When we pray, when we worship and when we wait upon God, then we can find His love around us. Do not be afraid to continue praying and waiting, because the best thing is to experience His love in our lives every day!
诗篇 31 – 与神同行
2021年12月30日 星期四
潘锡安牧师
在一年快要结束的时候我们要更多的思考，回到神的面前，知道我们在过去一年是如何经历神。这对我们蒙召的人是很重要的，如果我们让这一年的365天随风而去，就非常可惜。回顾过去时，承认自己的软弱很重要，但我们也很容易让我们某一方面的软弱成为我们常用的借口，以为自己就是这样无法改变的。我们的一个低点被跨越过去后，并非完美之人，要看到我们生命中其它的低点。低点可以成为我们的见证，但我们是否能有新鲜的见证，还是十年如一日讲同样的事情？我们要相信我们的神不是停留在过去的神，而是又真又活、在如今也能被经历的神。
一、v.1-8 要信任
V1-3 大卫宣告并呼求耶和华神的名，说明他遇到难题、困局。这不是一个开心的开场白，然而大卫认识耶和华，知道神的名，他选择投靠神。当我们与神同行的时候，我们要认识神的名。我们认识的神的名是否只有一个？耶和华神是我们可以投靠的，他使我们不羞愧、他是公义的、是磐石、拯救、保障、岩石、山寨… 大卫在祷告的时候没有一开始就把自己的需要像列清单一样发出来，他信任神，所以在困难中他高举的不是自己的问题而是神。
V5 大卫将神的名放大，就能将自己的灵魂交在神手里。他自己做不了什么，所以求神帮助他。耶和华神是不会欺骗我们的，他是“诚实的神”。
V7 不是只有大卫才能为神的“慈爱高兴欢喜”，我们也可以。大卫遇到问题时不断宣告神的名，就是宣告神的能力。每一个困苦、艰难的地方，大卫知道神都在。我们在困苦艰难中是否看到十字架？当我们看不到神的时候我们就想靠自己去行。在困难、羞愧中，我们仍要相信神还在，他都看见了，他知道我们的局限在哪里。我们不是孤单一人，神一直在我们旁边，我们是否信靠他？还是相信神看不到，所以只好靠自己或别人来解决问题？我们感恩的时候不要只是看到自己得到了什么肉眼可见的好处，而是要看到自己的低点，在低点之处经历神的祝福，因为仍然相信神掌权。
二、v.9-18 要坦诚
V9-10 大卫相信神，他知道神在、神能够，所以他在神面前是坦诚无遮掩的。我们在神面前祷告时可能觉得大多数事情都可以自己解决，只是要神处理某一个问题。神不是我们的仆人，我们的祷告是跟神的互动。大卫对神讲的不是某件事工，而是坦诚将自己交给神。我们不是不为事工祷告，而是要愿意坦诚跟神说我们里面的感觉。我们跟我们的权柄或孩子的互动是否也只是停留在做事上面？在事情做不完的时候，我们跟神跟人的互动是否就只剩下谈事情而没有“关系”？我们的态度决定我们在神国度的高度。我们是否只在有事的时候才找神或我们的权柄？我们是否珍惜能够与权柄一起建立关系的机会？权柄的时间是有限的，我们若能够有跟权柄互动的时刻，就要好好珍惜。如果神要与我们聊一聊，我们若说自己已经与其他人有事情安排而拒绝神的邀请，那样损失的就是我们。先跟神和我们的权柄连接，我们才有从上而来的水流祝福给其他人。
V11 大卫坦诚跟神讲自己的感觉。他不是在天下太平的时候才相信神。
V12-13 大卫不害怕别人如何看他，只害怕他与神的关系不好。我们怕的是人对我们的看法吗？大卫没有叫神处理事情，而是表达自己真实的感觉。
V14-15 这是一篇大卫表达对神的爱的诗篇。我们在面临困难逼迫的时候，仍能对神说“我终身的事在你手中”吗？我们要对神坦诚自己的软弱，相信神是爱我们、会救我们的。
V16 大卫没有因为现今的困局而忘记耶和华神起初的爱。
三、v.19-24 要坚持
V19 我们要相信神留给我们的是恩惠，不仅如此，这恩惠是在世人面前都看到的。我们是否坚持相信神对我们的保守？
V20 神将我们隐藏在他的“面前”，所以他的眼目都在看顾我们，使我们不遇见人的计谋。如果我们选择走世界的路，我们就将自己披露在外面，很容易被敌人的火箭射中。“亭子”意思是给牲畜住的棚子，表明神对我们的牧养和保护。“口舌的争闹”- 我们通常在忍受不了别人的时候就跟他们吵架，说明我们无法在神的棚子里，走不出我们的血气。求神帮助我们避开口舌争闹，能口出恩言。
V21 神为我们建造“坚固城”保护我们，让我们在其中享受他的慈爱。
V23 不倚靠神的人就是骄傲的人，神对他们的“报应”就是让他们自己承担他们问题的后果。
我们不要觉得等待是份苦差，而是要坚持，更多的祷告、敬拜，在神里面找到力量，相信我们的一切都在神手里。