3 月 25 日 预苦期第三周 星期二

(邱品尧牧师 佳恩堂)

经文-诗篇 63：1-8

大卫在犹大旷野的时候，作了这诗。

1 神啊，你是我的神，我要切切地寻求你！在干旱疲乏无水之地，我渴想你，我的心切慕你。

2 我在圣所中曾如此瞻仰你，为要见你的能力和你的荣耀。

3 因你的慈爱比生命更好，我的嘴唇要颂赞你。

4 我还活的时候要这样称颂你，我要奉你的名举手。

5 我在床上记念你，在夜更的时候思想你，我的心就像饱足了骨髓肥油，

6 我也要以欢乐的嘴唇赞美你。

7 因为你曾帮助我，我就在你翅膀的荫下欢呼。

8 我心紧紧地跟随你，你的右手扶持我。

经文反思

大卫王在犹大旷野，遭到扫罗王追杀，流亡在外，不能回到神的帐幕来敬拜神。大卫的心里面伤心难过。大卫的心是如此地爱慕神，祂在周围的困境催逼之下，感受到迫切的需要，要寻求神的面，寻求神的同在。他单单表达对神的渴慕。大卫寻求神的动机，并不是利益导向， 大卫从来没有要神给他世界的名利地位。大卫寻求神是要见到神的能力，和神的荣耀。大卫单单因为思想神而感到满足。大卫在生活中的不同的时刻表达对神的渴慕。祂在夜晚入睡的时候思想神，在圣所敬拜的时候思想神。大卫在生活中，用心，用口，用肢体来向神表达他对神的爱慕。大卫用心来思想神，用口颂赞耶和华神，大卫举手来颂赞神。大卫生命的经历，他时常经历神的帮助，就在神的保护之下，欢呼喜乐。

这一切流亡在外的经历，让大卫的环境越发困难，越发地学习倚靠神，跟随神。他的祷告越发地真实，使所有读到这一篇诗篇的人，内心得着安慰。

祷告

鉴察人心的主，我们敬拜你。我们在世上多有磨难和挑战，这是你在全权之下为我们的安排，使我们能够体察自己的有限，转而投靠你。我们看到大卫在凶险恶劣的外在环境当中，大卫没有寻求人的帮助，他决定要花更多的时间来寻求你的面。主啊，我们何等地无知和小信。我们看到周围的困难和挑战，我们就信不过你，以为你不会帮助我们，你已经撇下我们不管了。但是，主啊，我们要寻求你的面，我们愿意和大卫一样，来到你面前，敬拜和赞美。在环境越发恶劣的时候，我们要花更多的时间来寻求你。求你不要推却我们的祷告。因为你说，“凡寻找就寻见，叩门就给他开门”。奉主耶稣基督宝贵的名求，阿门！

应用

神知道你的苦情，知道你所面对的挑战。来到神的面前默想神的话语，花时间安静寻求主，把握机会用言语和诗歌，日夜赞美神。赞美神的言语必定达到神的面前，使我们内心能够胜过外在环境的压力。

25 March The Tuesday in the Third Week of Lent

(Rev Samuel Chiu Redeemer Methodist Church)

Scripture: Psalm 63:1–8

63 O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you;

my flesh faints for you,

as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

2 So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory.

3 Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.

4 So I will bless you as long as I live;

in your name I will lift up my hands.

5 My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,

6 when I remember you upon my bed,

and meditate on you in the watches of the night;

7 for you have been my help,

and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

8 My soul clings to you;

your right hand upholds me.

Reflections on the Scripture

King David was in the wilderness of Judah, fleeing from King Saul’s pursuit. He was exiled and unable to return to God's tabernacle to worship. His heart was filled with sorrow and grief. David loved God deeply, and in the midst of his distressing circumstances, he felt an urgent need to seek God's face and His presence. He simply expressed his longing for God.

David’s motivation for seeking God was not driven by personal gain. He never sought worldly fame or status from God. Instead, David sought to behold God's power and glory. He found satisfaction purely in meditating on God.

At different moments in life, David expressed his longing for God. He thought of God as he lay down at night and as he worshiped in the sanctuary. In his daily life, he expressed his love for God with his heart, his words, and his body. David meditated on God in his heart, praised Him with his lips, and lifted his hands in worship.

Through his life experiences, David repeatedly encountered God's help. Under God's protection, he rejoiced with shouts of joy.

His time in exile only deepened his dependence on God. The greater his hardship, the more he learned to rely on and follow the Lord. His prayers became increasingly genuine, bringing comfort to all who read this Psalm.

Prayer

Lord, who searches the hearts of men, we worship You. In this world, we face many trials and challenges, yet they are all arranged under Your sovereign will, that we may recognize our limitations and turn to rely on You.

We see that when David was in perilous and harsh circumstances, he did not seek help from man. Instead, he chose to spend more time seeking Your face. Lord, how ignorant and of little faith we are! When we see the difficulties and challenges around us, we doubt You, thinking that You will not help us, that You have abandoned us.

But Lord, we desire to seek Your face. We are willing, like David, to come before You in worship and praise. When our circumstances grow worse, we want to spend even more time seeking You. Please do not turn away our prayers, for You have said, "Everyone who seeks will find; to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." In the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen!

Application

God knows your suffering and the challenges you face. Come before Him, meditate on His Word, and take time to seek the Lord in stillness. Seize every opportunity to praise Him with words and song, day and night The words of praise will surely reach God, enabling our hearts to overcome the pressures of external environment.