【双语灵修】使我们回转RESTORE US
神啊,求你使我们回转(或译:复兴),使你的脸发光,我们便要得救!
「神啊,求你使我们回转(或译:复兴),使你的脸发光,我们便要得救!」-诗 80:3
今天的经文涉及一个深层的问题:在神决定让我们为自己的罪负责之后,我们还能与神相和吗?正如诗人疾声呼求:「万军之神啊,你向你百姓的祷告发怒,要到几时呢?」
神在基督里赐给我们救恩,这个现实并不能给我们为所欲为、不计后果的自由。诗篇第80篇指出,我们的罪损害了我们与神、与人的关系。诗人描述了在万国中,神对以色列的管教是如何显而易见的:「你使邻邦因我们纷争……这树已经……被刀砍伐;他们因你脸上的怒容就灭亡了。」诗篇中没有对于以色列人犯罪的争议,也没有对于神的管教可能过于严厉的抱怨。但诗篇第80篇一次又一次地回到了神的性情上:「求你……使你的脸发光。」神是拣选以色列人,眷顾他们的那一位。诗人宣告,只有神才能使他们回转。
将临期为我们提供了一个向神坦诚自己罪的机会。耶稣的到来是为了让我们和祂所创造的一切脱离罪的后果—这是我们自己无法做到的。只有耶稣承担了我们罪的后果,我们才能与神和好。
祷告
主啊,祢知道我们的罪。我们无法隐藏罪,甚至无法在祢面前辩解。感谢祢差耶稣来拯救我们,让我们与祢和好。阿们。
诗篇 80篇
1领约瑟如领羊群之以色列的牧者啊,求你留心听!坐在二基路伯上的啊,求你发出光来!2 在以法莲、便雅悯、玛拿西前面施展你的大能,来救我们!3神啊,求你使我们回转;使你的脸发光,我们便要得救!4耶和华万军之神啊,你向你百姓的祷告发怒,要到几时呢?5你以眼泪当食物给他们吃,又多量出眼泪给他们喝。6你使邻邦因我们纷争,我们的仇敌彼此戏笑。7万军之神啊,求你使我们回转;使你的脸发光,我们便要得救!8你从埃及挪出一棵葡萄树,赶出外邦人,把这树栽上。9你在这树跟前预备了地方,他就深深扎根,爬满了地。10 它的影子遮满了山,枝子好像佳美的香柏树。11 它发出枝子长到大海,发出蔓子延到大河。12 你为何拆毁这树的篱笆,任凭一切过路的人摘取?13林中出来的野猪把他糟蹋,野地的走兽拿他当食物。14 万军之神啊,求你回转,从天上垂看,眷顾这葡萄树,15 保护你右手所栽的和你为自己所坚固的枝子。16 这树已经被火焚烧,被刀砍伐,他们因你脸上的怒容就灭亡了。17 愿你的手扶持你右边的人,就是你为自己所坚固的人子。18 这样,我们便不退后离开你。求你救活我们,我们就要求告你的名。19 耶和华万军之神啊,求你使我们回转;使你的脸发光,我们便要得救!
RESTORE US
“Make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.” - Psalm 80:3
Today’s Bible passage addresses a deep-down concern: Is peace with God ever possible after God decides to hold us accountable for our sins? As the psalmist pointedly cries out: “How long, Lord God Almighty, will your anger smolder against the prayers of your people?”
The reality of God’s gift of salvation in Christ does not give us freedom to do whatever we want without consequences. Psalm 80 recognizes that our sins damage our relationships with God and with each other. The psalmist describes how God’s discipline of Israel is evident among the nations: “You have made us an object of derision to our neighbors. . . . Your vine is cut down . . . at your rebuke your people perish.” There is no argument about Israel’s sinfulness, no complaint that God’s discipline might be too harsh. But Psalm 80 returns again and again to God’s character: “Make your face shine on us.” God is the one who chose Israel and who cares for them. The psalmist is declaring that God is the only one who can restore them.
Advent gives us an opportunity to be honest with God about our sins. Jesus came to restore us and all of his creation from the consequences of our sin—something we could not do on our own. Peace with God is only possible because Jesus took on himself the consequences of our sin.
Prayer
Lord, you know our sins. We cannot hide them or even justify them before you. Thank you for sending Jesus to restore us and to make us right with you. Amen.
诵读 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
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