“Put Our Hope in God’s Word for He Is Our Refuge and Shield 我們要仰望神的話,因祂是我們的避難所和盾牌“(Psalm 詩篇 119:113-120)
… You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God! Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I shall live; do not let my hopes be dashed. Uphold me, and I shall be delivered; I shall always have regard for your decrees. … My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws.
你是我的避難所,我的盾牌;我仰望你的話。作惡的人哪!你們離開我吧,好讓我遵守我神的命令。求你照著你的應許扶持我,使我存活;不要使我因仰望你而蒙羞。求你扶持我,我就必得救;我必常常重視你的律例。… 我因懼怕你而戰栗;我畏懼你的審判。
A good hiding place (refuge) has strength, height, concealment and reliability. The hope the psalmist had in God’s word was founded on a relationship with and security in God Himself. He addressed the evildoers wanting his separation from them since he was committed to obedience, to keeping God’s commands. Without continual support from God setting his hope upon Him and His word/promise, the psalmist could not live, either physically or spiritually (further obeying Him). He did not celebrate over the judgment on the wicked; instead, it made him tremble (because of his life being not entirely righteous) in holy fear himself running to God for His atoning, covering sacrifice.
一個好的藏身處(避難所)有著結實、高度、隱藏和可靠等優勢。詩人在神話語裡的盼望建基於與神自己的關係和在祂裡面的安穩。他針對作惡的人,要從他們中分割出來,因為他委身於聽從遵守神的命令。沒有從神而來、持續不斷的支持,把自己的盼望決定在神和祂的話語/應許上,詩人肉身或靈性(進一步聽從祂)都不可以存活。他不會為惡人的審判而慶祝;反而(因著自己的生命還未全是公義的)這使他自己帶著聖潔的敬畏顫抖,走向神得著祂覆蓋的贖罪祭。
Prayer: Almighty Lord, your word/law is absolutely sure and certain in contrast to that of double-minded people who know about you but want the benefits of true religion and the world as well as are not fully determined to worship and serve you only. Thank you that Jesus Christ is our safe-room or panic-room. It is indeed good to know that when our hope is so set, we can ask you to protect and vindicate us. This constant prayer ‘Uphold me, and I shall be delivered’ will in fact keep us safe. Amen.
禱告: 全能的主啊,對比那些心懷二意的人,你的話語/律法是絶對可靠無疑的;他們知道有關於你的,卻要真正的宗教和世界兩者的好處,與及還未完全決定去唯一敬拜事奉你。感謝你耶穌基督是我們的安全室或防恐怖襲擊間;曉得當自己的盼望是如此決定,我们就能夠祈求你保障維護我们,這實在是真好的。「求你扶持我,我就必得救」這恆常的禱告,事實上必保守我們安全穩妥。阿們。