【双语灵修】神是保惠师God, the Advocate

“凡跌倒的，耶和华将他们扶持。凡被压下的，将他们扶起。” ― 诗 145:14

根据诗人的描述，神国度的大小和范围是无法测度的，而耶和华的治理或祂执掌的权柄，也是无始无终的。神既拥有这样的地位，我们难以想象祂怎会有时间去看顾一切在宇宙中所发生的事，更不用说去关心我们生命里发生的事了。

“保惠师”是一个公开支持另一个人的角色，是当境况不理想时，保惠师便会站在这些人的那一边。保惠师会以很多不同的身份出现，从律师和法律顾问，到教师和教练，再到父母和朋友。无论双方是甚么关系，保惠师都站在当事人的那一边，藉此表示支持和团结。

诗人又指出，当我们跌倒时，耶和华扶起我们；我们感到不配时，祂鼓励我们。这是否表示神需要花费时间来及时扶起我们呢？而祂又会不会同时翻白眼以示不满呢？肯定会。作为我们的保惠师，神信实地支持我们，特别是当我们最需要祂的支持时，更是如此。神的本性不在乎我们的能力，在祂里面，我们已被这位君王呼召，并接纳成为祂的子民，这个身份早已被完全确立了。

祷告

慈悲的主，感谢祢，我们失败时祢扶起我们，我们软弱时祢坚立定我们。我们知道祢的能力在我们的软弱中得以完全，因此我们要继续在祢的良善和慈爱中谦卑下来。阿们。

诗篇 145:13-15

13你的国是永远的国，你执掌的权柄存到万代。

14凡跌倒的，耶和华将他们扶持；凡被压下的，将他们扶起。

15万民都举目仰望你，你随时给他们食物。

God, the Advocate

"The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down." - Psalm 145:14

英语音频 English Audio

The psalmist describes the immeasurable size and scope of God's kingdom. There is no beginning or end to the Lord's reign or to his ruling power. With that sort of status, it’s difficult to imagine how God has the time to look after all the things happening in our universe, let alone the things happening in our lives.

An advocate is a person who publicly supports another person—at times standing beside them when things get tough. Advocates come in many different forms: from lawyers and legal counselors to teachers and coaches to parents and friends. Regardless of the relationship, an advocate stands by a person as a way to show support and solidarity.

The psalmist also points out that the Lord picks us up when we fall and builds us up when we feel unworthy.

Does this mean God has to pause or stop the hands of time in order to help catch our stumbling feet? And does he do it while rolling his eyes? Not at all. As our advocate, God faithfully supports us, especially when we need it most. God's character is not dependent on our ability, and in him our status as people called and adopted by the King is already fully established.

Prayer

Merciful Lord, thank you for lifting us up when we fail, and for holding us up when we feel weak. We know that in our weakness your strength is perfect, so we continue to humble ourselves before your goodness and kindness. Amen.

诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳