You are my portion, Lord; I have promised to obey your words

Psalm 119:49-64

Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. The arrogant mock me unmercifully, but I do not turn from your law.

Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge. In the night, Lord, I remember your name,  that I may keep your law. This has been my practice: I obey your precepts.

You are my portion, Lord; I have promised to obey your words. I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes. I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands. Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law. At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws. I am a friend to all who fear you, to all who follow your precepts. The earth is filled with your love, Lord; teach me your decrees.

Why?
Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. So no matter what the situation I do not turn from your law. This is the decision in Psalmist's heart.

You are my portion, so I sought your face with all my heart, be gracious to me according to your promise. A closer relationship with the Lord, for the Lord, is my portion, my way, and my hope.

All who fear the Lord is my friend, and to all who follow God's precepts. 

How?

Dear Lord, please teach me your decrees and meditate your precpts.

Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees

Psalm 119:33-48

Teach me, Lord, the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end. Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.

May your unfailing love come to me, Lord, your salvation, according to your promise; then I can answer anyone who taunts me, for I trust in your word.

I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts. I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, for I delight in your commands because I love them. I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees.

Why?
Psalmist asked the Lord to give him an understanding, of the way of God's decrees. Turn the heart toward God's statutes and not toward selfish gain. We easily turn toward selfish gain. For most of us are like easy, lazy, and joy situation.

Am I like the psalmist so eager to love the Lord? Yes, I am.  May your unfailing love come to me, Lord!

I will speak of your statutes before kings and people and will not be put to shame.

Let me meditate on God's decrees.

How?

Pray to the Lord to give me the understanding of his decrees.

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law

Psalm 119:17-32

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me. My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.

Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees. Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.

I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word. 

My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Keep me from deceitful ways; be gracious to me and teach me your law. I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on your laws. I hold fast to your statutes, Lord; do not let me be put to shame. I run in the path of your commands, for you have broadened my understanding.

Why?
Our understanding of the Law is the grace of the Lord, we need the Lord to broaden our understanding. 

Open my eyes that I may see the wonderful things in your law.

God's word and statutes is my delight, I will meditate on your decrees.

I confess that my would is weary with sorrow, please strengthen me according to your word.

How?

What I can do and my understanding and my way rely on the Lord to strengthen me.

Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart

Psalm 119:1-16

Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart—they do no wrong but follow his ways.

Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth.

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.

Why?

Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the Low of the Lord.

The way to obey God's word is to remember God's word in my heart, second speak God's word and third meditate it in my mind.

Ask the Lord not to forsake me, even if we obey God's word, but sometimes for our weakness, we may forget God's word, so the psalmist prays to the Lord to help us to obey God's commands.

How?

Blessed is one who keeps God's statutes and seeks the Lord with all my heart.

Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!

Psalm 118:15-29

The Lord has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death. Open for me the gates of the righteous; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.

The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; the Lord has done this,  and it is marvelous in our eyes. The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.

Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you. The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine on us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.

Why?
God has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death, for the mercy of the Lord with me. Open the gates of the righteous for me. I will enter and give thanks to the Lord forever.

The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this is the foundation of the church and our faith today. the Lord has done this great salvation for us.

Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success! this is the pray of the Psalmist and so is mine.

How?
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever!

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans

Psalm 118:1-14

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;  he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me? The Lord is with me; he is my helper.  I look in triumph on my enemies.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.

The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation.

Why?

The love of the Lord endures forever. God brought me into a spacious place.

He is with me so I will not be afraid.

God is my refuge so trust in the Lord than trust in humans.

God is my salvation and my hope, why I argue with others or complain to others.

How?

Give thanks to the Lord forever for his love endures forever.

Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you

Psalm 116:1-117:2

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me; I was overcome by distress and sorrow. Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!”

Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.

For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

Truly I am your servant, Lord; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains. I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord— in your midst, Jerusalem.

Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants. 

I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord. I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord— in your midst, Jerusalem.

Why?

The Lord heard my voice, even though I don't know the reaction of the Lord but I know God has been good to me, my soul should rest! Don't disturb by the trouble and distress and sorrow. 

I have experienced the goodness of the Lord, God has delivered me from death, so I will sacrifice a thank offering to the Lord and call on the name of the Lord as long as I live in the land.

Trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield

 Psalm 115:1-18

Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.

Why do the nations say, “Where is their God?” Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.

But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands... Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.

Trust in the Lord— he is their help and shield.

He will bless those who fear the Lord—  small and great alike.

May the Lord cause you to flourish, both you and your children. May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

The highest heavens belong to the Lord, but the earth he has given to mankind. It is not the dead who praise the Lord, those who go down to the place of silence; it is we who extol the Lord, both now and forevermore.

Why?

May the name of the Lord be the glory, and not us even what we have done. Without the blessing of the Lord, we can do nothing.

Why do the nations say "Where is their God" because they don't know the Lord so they can't see the Lord! The Lord is living in our hearts and in Heaven.

Trust in the Lord, he is our help and shield. 

Our Lord is in the highest heavens, but the Lord has given the earth to mankind, we have the responsibility to keep this world clean and holy as the beginning.

The dead men can't praise the Lord, so those who worship the idles don't know the Lord so they won't worship the Lord. 

How?

I will worship the Lord now and forevermore.

At the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool

 Psalm 114:1-8

When Israel came out of Egypt, Jacob from a people of foreign tongue, Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel his dominion.

The sea looked and fled, the Jordan turned back; the mountains leaped like rams, the hills like lambs.

Why was it, sea, that you fled? Why, Jordan, did you turn back? Why, mountains, did you leap like rams, you hills, like lambs?

Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turned the rock into a pool, the hard rock into springs of water.

Why?

Blessed are the people of the Lord, from Judah, Israel, and now the sons of Jesus. Fear the Lord this world so as everyone.

Fear the Lord and obey his commands.

Our God may turn the rock into a pool and the hard rock into springs of water. My God turn the impossible into possible.

How?

Praise the Lord and fear God's Holy Name. May the Lord blesses my way in 2023!

詩16:4-11 我心靈得歡喜

 20230122 台南聖教會   高敏智牧師

4. 以別神代替耶和華的（或譯：送禮物給別神的），他們的愁苦必加增；他們所澆奠的血我不獻上；我嘴唇也不提別神的名號。

5. 耶和華是我的產業，是我杯中的分；我所得的，你為我持守。

6. 用繩量給我的地界，坐落在佳美之處；我的產業實在美好。

7. 我必稱頌那指教我的耶和華；我的心腸在夜間也警戒我。

8. 我將耶和華常擺在我面前，因他在我右邊，我便不致搖動。

9. 因此，我的心歡喜，我的靈（原文是榮耀）快樂；我的肉身也要安然居住。

10. 因為你必不將我的靈魂撇在陰間，也不叫你的聖者見朽壞。

11. 你必將生命的道路指示我。在你面前有滿足的喜樂；在你右手中有永遠的福樂

快樂的障礙：

1)活在沒有自由的監牢、重病

2)活在沒有朋友的失敗、失落

3)活在沒有神的驕傲、自憐

1.愁苦的根源

以別神代替耶和華的

送禮物給別神，上司、情人、朋友、窮人(希望得讚賞) 應該與窮人成為朋友

他們所澆奠的血我不獻上；

     生命投資與交換的無知

我嘴唇也不提別神的名號。

    道路的愚昧與保證。  生病不找名醫，得醫治是因為神賜力量給醫生，不是依靠醫生

                不推薦名牧師，而是與牧師成為朋友

2.知足的財富

   耶和華是我的產業，是我杯中的分；我所得的，你為我持守

         敬虔+知足的心=大利    先有知足，才會有敬虔的心

    用繩量給我的地界，坐落在佳美之處；我的產業實在美好。

3.受警戒的智慧

   我必稱頌那指教我的耶和華；我的心腸在夜間也警戒我

       晚上忽然感動睡不著，起來禱告、看聖經、記下感動，這是神的啟示、感動。

  我將耶和華常擺在我面前，因他在我右邊，我便不致搖動

總結：

     因此，我的心歡喜，我的靈（原文是榮耀）快樂；我的肉身也要安然居住。

     你必將生命的道路指示我。叫我的靈魂不見朽壞

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap

 113:1-9

Praise the Lord, you his servants; praise the name of the Lord. Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.

The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people. He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children.

Why?

Praise the Lord no time and space are limited. It always praises the Lord everywhere and anytime.

Who is like our God, the one who sits enthroned on high. even we can't see Him.

Our god makes wonders, He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He settles the childless woman in her him as a happy mother of children. Our make wonder in his people.

How?

Praise the Lord for his Holy Name and his glory and his love forever!

Their righteousness endures forever

Psalm 112:1-10

Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands. Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever. Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous. Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.

Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor, their righteousness endures forever; their horn will be lifted high in honor.

The wicked will see and be vexed, they will gnash their teeth and waste away; the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.

Why?

Their righteousness endures forever for the Lord is righteous either. God remembers those righteous people. Sometimes their look weak and have a bad destination, but the Lord remember their righteousness and so as in this world.

Surely the righteous will never be shaken for their hearts are steadfast, trust in the Lord.

Do my heart is steadfast? Sometimes I will be disturbed by small troubles.  Fear the Lord and delight in his commands.

How?

Don't worry too much, for the Lord in charges in everything! I am the son of the Lord!

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding.

Psalm 111:1-10

I will extol the Lord with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly.

Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are his deeds, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wonders to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and compassionate. He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.

He has shown his people the power of his works, giving them the lands of other nations. The works of his hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy. They are established for ever and ever, enacted in faithfulness and uprightness. He provided redemption for his people; he ordained his covenant forever— holy and awesome is his name.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding.

Why?

Only those who are upright people will in the assembly and praise the Lord.

Great are the works of the Lord, when it has happened we know how great is God's work.

All I have, the food, living place, joy, and love are the power of God's work. For the Lord is gracious and compassionate.

Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. So I have to fear the Lord forever!

How?

Because I fear the Lord so I have to face my conscious to do what I am doing every day.

Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor,

 Psalm 110:1-7

The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of your enemies!”  Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb.

The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth. He will drink from a brook along the way, and so he will lift his head high.

Why?
Here the Lord said to my Lord, who is Jesus Christ. Sitting at his right hand.

Jesus Christ is a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. People don't know where he came from.

Jesus Christ will judge this world and crush the rulers of the whole earth.

-------彌賽亞的詩篇，引用最多。這是基督掌權，得勝的詩篇，放在求主伸冤的109篇後面

v1-3 基督是君王，彌賽亞，為人禱告、為人祈求

主坐在耶和華的右邊，把仇敵踏在腳下，從錫安伸出勝利的杖，聖殿就是指教會，聖靈降在教會中，在基督徒當中。當基督掌權居首位時我們應該以聖潔為妝飾來回應、跟隨！

v4 基督是麥基洗得的身份。是君王、也是祭司，但是耶穌不是亞倫的後裔，肉體上是大衛的後裔，另外一個祭司系統，沒有家譜，如麥基洗得一般

v5-7 審判的身份：戰士、先知的身份。發怒的日子即審判的日子，是耶穌再來的日子，不僅是預言更是責罰。戰士要扎營，要休憩、要做飯，這裏卻在路邊喝水，即神不休息的工作。神只有在安息日休息。神把時間留給我們，要聽我們的禱告！神是掌權的君王。

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How?

Arrayed in Holy splendor to praise the Lord for the Lord is Holy!

For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me

Psalm 109:1-31

My God, whom I praise, do not remain silent, for people who are wicked and deceitful have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues. With words of hatred they surround me; they attack me without cause. In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer. They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship.

May their sins always remain before the Lord, that he may blot out their name from the earth.

For he never thought of doing a kindness but hounded to death the poor and the needy and the brokenhearted. 

But you, Sovereign Lord, help me for your name’s sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me. For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. I fade away like an evening shadow; I am shaken off like a locust. My knees give way from fasting; my body is thin and gaunt. I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads.

Help me, Lord my God; save me according to your unfailing love. Let them know that it is your hand, that you, Lord, have done it. While they curse, may you bless; may those who attack me be put to shame, but may your servant rejoice. May my accusers be clothed with disgrace and wrapped in shame as in a cloak.

Why?

David is in distress and his friends repay him evil for his good. So David prayed before the Lord with a broken heart.

David prays the Lord against his enemy for their device and evil hearts. But David knew that the Lord will help him for his Holy Name. and deliver him for God's love. David humble himself, I am poor and needy and my heart is wounded within me. I fade away like an evening shadow.

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在被攻擊時咒詛的詩

1)1-5: 攻擊的模式，惡人用口攻擊。原因是以惡報善！言語的攻擊有時比刀劍更重，言語造成心理的創傷。何時人會言語傷人，人在生氣時，最放鬆的時候會隨便說，口無遮攔，傷到自己配偶或是孩子，可能影響孩子一生！

2)6-20:被攻擊的大衛對攻擊他的人的咒詛。人有時候興起一個像我們的人攻擊我們，使我們知道自己這種被攻擊的感受，我們可能如此待人，如雅各的欺騙人，後來被人欺。大衛對攻擊他的人咒詛讓敵人沒有後代，以後再沒有人紀念！這攻擊不輸攻擊他的人。

3)21-31:最後還是回到神面前，求主醫治心中所受的傷。攻擊回去不能解決自己內心受到的傷。最好的方法是不去聽這些攻擊、批評的言語，聽神的話，等候神，相信伸冤在主，主必報應。神的報應不會太慢，是我們常常希望以自己的方式報應。求你為你的名恩待我！使他們知道這是神所行的！米利暗認為外邦人不潔淨，只是因為外邦人常接觸不潔淨的東西，不是外邦人不潔淨，神讓米利暗得大麻瘋，她才是不潔淨！

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How?

Be humble and know I am nothing without the Lord. Pray to the Lord no matter in joy or distress, for the Lord is my fortress and my savior and has unfailing love.