“May We Obey God Who Preserve Our Lives and His Word 愿我们听从那使我们存活的神和祂的话语”(Read阅读Psalm 诗篇 119:81-88)
My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. My eyes fail, looking for your promise; I say, ‘When will you comfort me?’ Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke, I do not forget your decrees. 我渴望你的救恩以致心力衰竭,但我仍仰望你的话。我仰望你的应许以致眼睛昏花,我说:“你什么时候才安慰我呢?”我虽然好像烟熏的皮袋,我却没有忘记你的律例。… All your commands are trustworthy; help me, for I am being persecuted without cause. They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts. In your unfailing love preserve my life, that I may obey the statutes of your mouth. 你的一切命令都是可信靠的;他们以诡诈逼迫我,求你帮助我。他们几乎把我从世上除灭了;至于我,我却没有离弃你的训词。求你照着你的慈爱使我存活,我就必谨守你口中的法度。(Psalm 诗篇 119:81-83, 86-88)
In contrast to the sense of weakness and failing, the psalmist found hope and strength in God’s word which he studied intently to find comfort in his present distress. God’s word yields its treasures to us in proportion to our searching it. Weakness would not make the psalmist forget God’s word. In contrast to the persecution from his enemies, he found faithfulness and refuge in God’s commandments. However, such things as sinful compromise, intellectual arrogance, mocking and persecution, coldness of heart, worldly distraction, love of material things and chosen or allowed busyness may cause a person to forsake God’s word in one way or another. ‘Almost’ is an implying word of God’s gracious protection. The purpose of a revived spirit within us is for a more faithful, obedient walk with God for the sake of steadfastness to the testimony of God’s mouth. 诗人在自己当下的痛苦里一心一意地研读神的话语,在其中找到盼望和力量,与软弱和挫败的感觉成对比。神的话语给予我们它的宝物,与我们查考它成正比例。软弱不会令诗人忘记神的话语;他在神的诫命里找到信实和避难所,与从仇敌来的迫害成对比。然而,那些东西如罪性的妥协、理性的狂傲、嘲笑和迫害、内心的冰冷、俗世的诱惑分心、物质的爱恋和选择或容许的忙乱,使一个人或这样或那样去离弃神的话语。「几乎」就是神恩惠之保护的暗示用词;在我们里面有个复兴的灵的目的,是为了对从神口中之见证的坚定的缘故,成就一个更忠诚、听从的与神同行。
Prayer禱告: Merciful Father, indeed personal need should be a greater motivation for diligent study than theological curiosity. May your comfort come when we put away unbelief and the sin that we tolerate, are finished complaining and fulfil the duties we have neglected. Correct us if we had looked to revival as merely a time of heightened spiritual excitement that has little purpose other than giving people a sense of blessing and thrills. 慈悲的天父啊!确实,个人的需要比起神学的好奇心,理应是更大的动力作用功的研读。当我们把不信和自己宽容的罪放弃,了结抱怨,并完成我们曾经忽略了的责任时,愿你的安慰临到。如果我们曾经指望复兴为一个只是属灵提高的兴奮时机,有着除了给人祝福和激动的感觉而无别的目的,求你矫正我们。Amen.