The law we become conscious of sin

Romans 3:9-20
We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin.
There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God.
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law.
Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law.
The law we become conscious of sin. 律法本叫人知罪。
Are the Jews any better off than other people? No. Everyone is in the grip of sin.
The law makes people know they have sinned; it makes the Jews accountable - it is powerless to put anyone right with God.
Why?
No one has right to declare he is righteous before sight of God, all are under sin; who are sinners.
No one understands God, no one who seeks God, so everyone is sinner.
The law let us become conscious of sin. It is the role of law to man.
How?
Be humble, I am a sinner either, obey God's word and trust in the Lord!

Much in every way

Romans 3:1-8
if some were unfaithful? Will their unfaithfulness nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every human being a liar.
Men have to face judgment before God according to what he has done.
What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Much in every way! First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God.
Paul images the questions of heckler will fling at him and meets their points one by one.
Have the Jews any advantage over others? Yes, the fact that God has entrusted them with his revelation.
Wrongdoing seems to serve a good end, since it highlights God's goodness. So why not 'do evil that good may come' of it? Because God is a just Judge - and the end does not justify the means.
Why?
To do evil has not any excuse. Human arguments are innocence.
Man's foolishness can't nullify God's faithfulness and righteousness.
Jews are the chosen one to get the words of God. But their unfaithfulness couldn't affect God's faithfulness.
Much in every way, God's plans and his ways beyond ours mind.
How?
God is true, people's actions do not affect God's honor and righteousness.

Obey God from heart

Romans 2:17-29
Before teaching, he who should obey what he is teaching.
A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God.
The Jews will be saved neither by the laws nor by circumcision.
They pride them selves in God and law.
They know what God wants them to do - but do they actually keep the law? If not ,they might as well not been circumcised'. The real Jew is one who obey God from heart.
Why?
We boast nothing except Jesus christ.
Obey God with actions to honor God's name.
Race,circucusion and law are not the idendity to Christians.
How?
Obey God from heart and really keep the law.

Conscious; do by nature things

Romans 2:12-16
All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.
It is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
Conscious: When Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirement of the law are written on their hearts.
This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ.
Those who do not have God's law and those who do will be judged, not by what they know but by what they do.
Why?
Nature things: God created this world has rule and regulation, all should know it.
Hear the law or apart from the law, on the day when God will judge men's secrets through will be same, according to what they have done.
For Gentiles, they do by nature things, which is the conscious, written on their heart.
After Jesus came, the new covenant is written on out heart, like those Gentile they do not heart the laws.
How?
Let the law of God written on my heart and do the right things. God will judge everyone equally.

God does not show favoritism

Romans 2:6-11
God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”
To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. 
But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. 
Sequence of judgment of God: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 
For God does not show favoritism. He judges all by the same standard.
Why?
Judgment is according to what a man have done, it is not according to who you are or your race.
Eternal life will be given to those who persistent in doing good seek glory,honor and immortality.
Trouble, distress and wrath of God will be given to those who reject the truth and follow evil.
God does not show favoritism, the judgment are equal and same to everyone on the world, but will be started from Jews, Christians, then the Gentile.
How?
God is good, who shows not favoritism to people.

Personal judgment

Romans 2:1-5
You have not excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
Do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?
Paul turn to the Jews from Chapter 2-3:20, although they are not named until verse 17. They are quick to judge others, but ignore God's call to repent of their own wrongdoing. So they too stand condemned.
Why?
No one has the right to pass judgment on someone else, for God only know the truth.
God's kindness leads us toward repentance, God is full of kindness, tolerance and patience.
The day of God's wrath is there, be aware of it.
How?
Do not pass judgment to others, for we are sinner either.

Wrong thinking and wrongdoing go hand in hand

Romans 1:18-32
Man can understood from what has been made and created by God, so that men are without excuse.
Although thy claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.
Men abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent(非禮) acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion(變態).
They not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Paul begins his thesis with a penetrating analysis of the human condition. Everyone - gentile alike- is under God's judgment.
Humanity in general refuses to acknowledge God. They have no excuse, for God can plainly be seen and known in his creation. So God lets them do as they want, and they sink deeper and deeper into the morass(沼澤,困境) of their own perverse and perverted behaviour.
Wrong thinking and wrongdoing go hand in hand. If reason is rejected, conscience will not be heard either.
Why?
Humanity have no excuse if they reject God,for God has created thing in the world and it is easy to know God and understand God's power and glory.
Homosexual is sinful behavior and it is against God's creation. Those people are not only like to do it but also approve of others to practice them and hope be accepted in society. It is keeping going in this world.
How?
Wrong thinking and wrongdoing go hand in hand. Only those who knows the Lord can be saved in the day of God.

Mutually encouraged by each other's faith

Romans 1:8-17
Paul trusted that the way to Roman will be opened for him by the Lord.
Paul wanted to impart some spiritual gift to make them strong.
Strong - mutually encouraged by each other's faith.
Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last. The righteous will live by faith.
Full of warm, human feeling. Paul greatly appreciates this group of Christians he has never met.
He longs to see them and share with them all that the gospel means.
Greek and non-Greek; those who were not Greek were considered uncivilized.
How?
Strong in spirit is may mutually encouraged by each other's faith.
Faith is the basic requirement to be a Christian. And to be a righteous man need faith, righteous will live by faith for God's salvation.
How?
Let my life be mutual and encouraged other brothers.

Good news is Jesus Christ our Lord

Romans 1:1-7
The gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David. 
Through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
What impelled Paul to write at this particular point we do not know. Perhaps he already sensed he was risking his life by going to Jerusalem, and felt he might never speak to the Roman Christians in person. So he sets out vital elements of the Christian message important for them in their current situation and to help them understand more about his teaching.
The great theme of Romans is faith in the death and resurrection of Christ as the only ground of acceptance by God - a God who treats all people alike, Jew and Gentile.
Paul pulls no punches in describing the state the world is in. Everyone stands condemned by God's standard. Even the Jew, who has the unique privilege of knowing God's law, cannot keep it. But God offers us free pardon and new life. What we cannot do for ourselves, Jesus has done for us. We are free to make a fresh start - this time with all the power of God at our disposal.
Why?
Through God's grace so we can know Him and accepted him for his name's sake.
Because of Paul's obedience to the Lord so we can accept the grace of God, not only Jews, all who believed in Jesus Christ could be Christians. 
It is not because what we have done, but because of what He has done.
How?
Jesus Christ is the only way to the Lord, for who he is but not whom I am.

Be put ot shame and confusion

Psalm 71:1-24
In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame.
May my accusers perish in shame; may those who want to harm me be covered with scorn and disgrace.
My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long, for those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame and confusion
Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.
For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence
Shame: A painful emotion caused by the awareness of having done something wrong or foolish.
             A condition of disgrace or dishonor; ignominy: 
Confidence: A belief or conviction that an outcome will be favorable. Belief in the certainty of something:
At the end of a long and troubled life there is still no let-up. But trouble has schooled the psalmist in trust.
Nothing can make him despair. As long as God is with him, the future is full of hope.
Why?
Let me won't be put to shame, but prayed my accusers perish in shame, let them be put to shame and confusion. Psalmist did not prayed to the Lord let his enemies to be dead, but be put to shame. Let them regret and sorrow to what they have done, it is better than put them to dead.
When I am getting old and gray, I will declare God's power and love.
How?
I will tell your righteous act all day long and declare your power to next generation.

An urgent call for help

Psalm 70:1-5
May those who seek my life be put to shame and confustion...
But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "Let God be exalted."
Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me. You are my help and my deliverer.
These verses also appear at the end  of Psalm 40.
Why?
Psalmist humbled himself and asked God to help me earnestly, urgently.
God is my help and my deliverer.
Everyone who seek God rejoice and be glad in Him. For God is faithful and has love forever. But sometimes God will test us with suffering, let us experience his grace and mercy.
How?
I am poor and needy, please come to me!

Prayer in suffering

Psalm 69:1-36
Misunderstanding: Those who hate me without reason, many are my enemies without cause.
Confess my sins: You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you. May my folly does not affect God's mercy to others; May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me.
Turn to God: But I pray to you in the time of your favor, in you great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation.
Prayer: In your great mercy turn to me.
Worse situation : I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none.
Echoed in the Godpels, descriing Jesus's crucifixion: They put gall(苦膽) in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.
To the enemies: pour out your wrath on them; let your fierce anger overtake them.
The Lord hears the needy and does not despise his captive people.
This psalm seems to be a battle-march cum processional hymn, maybe sung as the Ark was carried into Jerusalem, or at the ceremony commemorating that event.
The psalm is often quoted in the New Testament. Like Psalm 22 it is a cry for help from one in desperate straits and close to death.
The psalmist's picture in v2, 14-15 could be taken for an actual description of the prophet Jeremiah's case. Verse 34-36 seem to belong specifically to a time following the wholesale destruction of Judean cities, but before the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians.
The psalmist's trouble is through no fault of his own. His suffering is borne for God's sake. He prays that God, in his love, will rescue him before he is totally overwhelmed.
The guilt of his tormentors is clear: may they be punished for all they have done. May God set him free to praise; let the whole earth ring with praise at the restoration of God's people.
Why?
Under suffering and pray to the Lord for my folly and pray God for help. My hope is in the Lord.
There are not reason to be attacked, it is because of the Lord, so pray to the Lord for mercy and his great love and redeem my sins.
Pray to the Lord those wicked be punished for all they have done. God is righteousness.
How?
Pray to the Lord, God is my hope, my fortress and I will praise to the Lord in whole of my life.

Great is the company of those who proclaimed God's word

Psalm 68:1-35
God arise, his enemies e scattered; But the righteous be glad and rejoice before God.
Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds -- his name is the Lord - and rejoice before him. (Prepare the way for him who rides through the deserts).
The Lord announced the word, (and great was the company of those who proclaimed it;) and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng(人群);
Kings and armies flee in haste;  the women at home divide the plunder. (in the camps men divide the plunder).
Even while you sleep among the campfires, the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver, its feathers with shining gold.
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior who daily bears our burdens. Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.  Jesus is the Lord.
This psalm seems to be a battle - march cum processional hymn, may be sung as the Ark was carried into Jerusalem, or at the ceremony commemorating that event.
The psalm paints a series of vivid picture of God's victorious power.
Salvation to Israel - death to the enemy. 
Let everyone sing the power and majesty of Israel's God!
Bashan is the Golan Heights area, north-east of Lake Galilee. In the wide sense the region stretched as far as Mt Hermon, which may be the mountain referred to here.
Why?
God's enemies and righteous men has different treatment from the Lord.
Live in God's house has quite peace and with beautiful altitude and shapes, it is silver and gold.
Jesus bears our burden daily, He is my saver, my God, bring us from death.
Women are great group to proclaim God's word. Men! do not stop proclaim gospel. Both work together to preach God's word.
How?
Preach God's word and salvation into nations. Great is the company of those who proclaimed God's word and salvation.

Thanksgiven for harvest and praise God

Psalm 67:1-7
May God be gracious to us and make his face shine upon us.
May God's way be known on earth, his salvation among all nations.
God rules the peoples justly.
The land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us.
God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.
The land has produced its harvest; God, our God, has blesses us - and the watching world acknowledges not only God's provision for his people but his justice and leading, with gladness and joyful song.
Why?
God is righteousness so his rules earth justly, his love endure forever so his rules with love, in order let more people repent and return to Him.
God will bless us with faith for God will reward us by our deeds.
Preach the salvation message to people who does not know God.
How?
Praise be to the Lord for he blesses us. Thanks God for his gracious to me.

Praise and worship

Psalm 66:1-20
How awesome are your deeds! How awesome his works in man's behalf!
Come and see what God has done; come, let us rejoice in him.
You tested us; you refined us like silver. But you brought us to a place of abundance.
Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.
If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me.
When prayer is answered and troubles are past, the heart overflows with praise.
Praise to God who has always come to his people's rescue, from the earliest days .
Thanksgiving, and an offering of thanks, for God's love and care for every individual.
Why?
Praise how awesome God is, he did on us, on his people.
Come and see God's works and come to rejoice in him.
Even God has burden on out backs, but God bring us to a place of abundance, so the test and the burden is good to us, let us know more about God and give thinks to Him.
The procedure is difficulty and pain when God refined us like silver, but after tested our life will be improved, more like God.
God listen my prayer, if I had sin in my heart, God won't listen. So psalmist has not like wicked but like come to the Lord, so his prayer were listened by God.
How?
Praise be to the Lord. who has not rejected my prayer.

Hymn of thanksgiving

Psalm 65:1-13
Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts! We are filled with the good things of your house.
You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior.
You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for you have ordained(預定) it (for that is how you prepare the land).
You crown the year with your bounty(賞金；你以恩典為年歲的冠冕), and your carts overflow with abundance. The grasslands of the desert overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness.
This psalm may have been used at the harvest festival.
All praise to God who hears and forgives faults, who blesses satisfies and saves.
Praise to God the Creator and Controller of the natural world.
Praise to God who gives the harvest and makes the whole earth ring with joy.
Why?
God answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, God knows what is good to us and what reward to us according to our deeds.
Blessed are those who be chosen by the Lord, that may live in God's courts, for there are filled with good things.
God is good who prepared for us with abundance, and to the earth all living life.
How?
Today is the Holy day to church, and praise to God who gives the harvest and makes the whole earth ring with joy. Praise the Lord!

Perfect me, God

Psalm 64:1-10
People sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows.
Surely the mind and heart of man are cunning(狡猾).
But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be struck down. He will turn their own tongues against them and ring them to ruin.
All mankind will fear; they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what he has done.
Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him, let all the upright in heart praise him!
V1-6: The psalmist pictures his trouble.
V 7-9 he expresses his certainty that God will punish all who plot and scheme and slander.
The punishment will fit the offence exactly.
Why?
Tongue of man like swords and deadly arrow aim the others. Surely the mind and heart of man are cunning. How worse the heart of man is!
God is righteous who will judge all of these wicked. So all mankind will fear, they will know the work of God and ponder what they have done. Some will repent and turn to the Lord, but some of them will keep their way and be destroyed.
God is the perfect one!
How?
Fear the Lord! Let the upright in heart praise God!

The thirsting heart

Psalm 63:1-11
O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you. my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.
David was in the Judean desert as an outlaw hunted by King Saul.
Having tasted the full joy and satisfaction of God's presence, who can bear to lose it.
v9-10: For dead bodies to be left unburied as prey to wild animals is a deep disgrace. These verses are in sharp contrast to the rest of the psalm.
Why?
No matter how or when psalmist heart longs for God, he earnestly seek the Lord.
God is my help, God is better than my life, God with me is better than anything in the world.
Praise the Lord, sing joy to the Lord because God's right hand upholds me.
How?
My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. God can bear me.

I will never be shaken

Psalm 62:1-12
Rest my soul, in God alone; my hope and salvation comes from him.
He alone is my rock, and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
Lowborn men are but a breath, the high born are but lie; if weighted on a balance, they are nothing. Do not trust in extortion or take pride in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.
God are strong, loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.
Humbly, trustingly, the psalmist commits his cause to God.
Human beings are bent on destruction, but what are they? Power belongs to God, who wields(揮動) it with love and justice.
Why?
Both men are a breath, no matter what they are, what they have.Their life will pass away.
Rest my soul, do envy other's rich or strong, but God is my rock, my salvation and my fortress, I will not be shaken.
Trust in the Lord, do not trust in extortion, stolen goods, or my increasing rich.
What I am concerning about? living is more easy. Rest my soul and set my eyes and heart to the Lord.
How?
Power belongs to God, who wields it with love and justice. I will not be shaken.

Prayer of a burdened king

Psalm 61:1-8
Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer.
Psalmist prayed to the Lord as he was drowned or drop to a pit, so he asked God lead him to the rock that is higher than he.
Psalmist prayed the Lord give king more days and his nation more generations.
God have given me the heritage of those who fear his name.
I long to dwell in God's tent forever.
Maybe David on campaign or fleeing from Absalom and precarious on his throne, the king craves the safety and security only God can give.
Why?
My Heritage is given by the Lord for I fear his name.
Gos is my rock, my refuge and strong tower against the foe.
How?
Fear the Lord so I may have the heritage from the Lord.

The help of man is worthless, I watch for you

Psalm 60:1-12
Failure and victory to the enemy is by handled the Lord.
Psalmist prayed to the Lord his motion and prayed from downfall to glad.
For those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled(打出) against the bow.
Only God can bring me to the fortified city, He will lead me to Edom!
Give us aid against the enemy, for the help of man is worthless.
With God we will gain the victory and he will trample down our enemies.-- faith and proclaim.
God's word in verse 8 were realized in eventual victory. God proclaims the land and people of Israel as his own: Shechem, in the heart of the country between Mts Ebal and Gerizim; Succoth, a city east of the Jordan; Gilead, Israelite land east of the Jordan; Manasseh, Ephraim, Judah, the 'big three' of the 12 tribes. He declares his power over Israel's traditional enemies.
Why?
God had rejected them but psalmist still pray to the Lord, for the help of man is worthless.
With God we can gain the victory, God help those who fear Him.
Why I have to care the motion or action of man, my help is from the Lord, Almighty.
How?
I watch for you, O God. for the help of man is worthless.

God will go before me

Psalm 59:1-17
The relation between God and psalmist :O my Strength, I watch for you; you God, are my fortress, my loving God.
Faith: God will go before me and will let me gloat over those who slander me.
Pray for the enemy to God: But do not kill them, O Lord out shield, or my people will forget. Make them wander about, and bring them down.
David described these enemies as dog they return at evening, snarling like dogs, and prowl about the city.s
The psalmist addresses his very personal prayer to the Lord of all the nation.
All his confidence flows from the certainty that God loves him.
Why?
Have faith in the Lord and knowing that God will go before me, why I have so hurry to make it and worry about my way.
We don't want to kill the enemy but hope them may repent and return to God.
Do not forget the sin, the evildoer, them we may forget them and easy has sin.
How?
Pray to myself and to my enemies. For God is my Strength, he go before me.

God who judges the earth

Psalm 58:1-11
David prayed to God who judges the earth.
Kings indeed do not decree what is right.
Let them vanish like water that runs away; when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted.
The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance;
Mankind will say, "Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth."
Why?
Whole world if full of deceit and violence. Those wocked will be revenged by the God.
Surely there is a reward for the righteous, and there is a God who judges on earth. God is the sovereign Lord over the earth.
How?
Fear the Lord for He is a living God, who watches everyone from heaven.

Praise from among ferocious enemies

Psalm 57:1-11
Praise from among ferocious(兇猛) enemies
Psalmist prayed to the Lord :Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings  until the disaster has passed.
Described situation of psalmist: They spread a net for my feet— I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path—  but they have fallen into it themselves.
Faithfulness: My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.
Reminder: Awake, my soul!
Proclaim: For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Hebrew title, 'By David', from the time when he was in hiding from Saul.
Circumstances may be black, but those who fill their minds which God can sing his praise, come what may.
Paul and Silas also knew the truth of this.
Why?
David under distress, his heart is steadfast and may sing to the Lord, praise to the Lord.
Even there are many net and pit on his path, he believed that the Lord will save him.
Awake my soul: we are usually afraid in the situation, so awake my soul, remember God's mercy and mighty.
God's love reaching to the heavens, his faithfulness reaches to the skies, God can make anything possible we do not know.
How?
Don't watch the black situation, but have faith in the Lord. Do not fear for God is my fortress and my savior, his love reaching to the heavens. God guides my each step.

In God I put my trust

Psalm 56:1-13
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
In God I trust and am not afraid.  What can mere mortals(致命) do to me?
Because of their wickedness do not let them escape; in your anger, God, bring the nations down.
In God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?
I will present my thank offerings to you. For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.
David after the Philistines captured him in Gath. But neither 1 Samuel 21 nor 27 records this. The psalmist has plenty to worry him and shake his nerve. But he knows the answer to fear. And he can safely and thankfully leave God to deal with his enemies.
Why?
When I put my trust in God, I am not afraid.
In God I trust and am not afraid, this is the faith inside and actions outside.
Psalmist pray to the Lord destroy the wick men and do not let them escape from God's anger, because of their wickedness.
What can man do to me, for my God protect me.
May I walk before God in the light of life, obey his word and follow God's laws.
How?
In God I trust I am not afraid.