Jul 17-18, 2021
李耀全牧師

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

(筆者按：上期在疫情中向君王讚美和禱求 (一) 筆者已指出君王詩篇的重要性。因為君王詩就是彌賽亞詩(messianic psalms) ，是指向主耶穌基督(彌賽亞) 。)

一篇彌賽亞君王的詩篇(詩二)
讓我在此突顯詩篇第二篇其中的一些重要元素。 詩篇第二篇:可能是大衛在所羅門加冕時，(如徒 4:25、26 所指，（撒下 7:12-16）)是為他的“兒子” 寫的(2:7)。若這情況屬實，那麼我們會記得所羅門自己的兄弟，曾兩次試圖從他手中奪取權力（王上1:5-53; 2:13-25）。這事會否引起我們聯想到與針對主和他的受膏者的“陰謀”有所關連？( 詩2:1-3）在日後君王的加冕禮中引用這詩篇時，那些包圍以色列週圍的敵國就是指向“外邦人和列國的騷動”。事實上，詩2:6中這應許：“我已經在錫安我的聖山上，立了我的君王”，也可以應用於所羅門加冕以來，隨後所有的君王身上。

從耶穌基督身上所見的彌賽亞君王
至終，在彌賽亞君王主耶穌基督的時代，那些反對及威脅基督君王的人是指希律王和本丟彼拉多等當權者，他們會受到「新生王」的威嚇。我們回想起東方博士的到來，為著訪尋「猶太人之新生王」。希律王聽到這個消息後非常害怕，他試圖假裝自己也想朝拜這位君王，並敦促博士在找到新生王後回來向他報告耶穌的下落。當希律發現自己被博士愚弄後，就屠殺了伯利恆及其附近兩歲以下的所有男孩。在這場可怕的種族滅絕發生之前，耶穌和他的父母已作了埃及的難民。

詩篇第二篇預言之發聲，從第2節可見，也在第7-9節再次出現：“…你是我的兒子，今天我生了你…” 在基督的生命中，我們不難看到耶穌與父神之間獨特關係的應對，因耶穌是從神而生的（路1:32-35；參徒13:33；來1:5;5:5）。在耶穌受洗時，天上有聲音清楚地宣告：“這是我的愛子，我所喜悅的。”(太3:17)。基督就是那要來永遠拯救祂的子民的終極完美君王、救主和主宰！

君王詩篇的終極應驗
我們也看到基督統治萬國的投影（參啟 2:27;12:5;19:15），而今日作為基督徒，我們現在清楚明白，這是指向基督再來要建立的屬靈國度的統治。啟 22:1-8 為我們記載了君王詩篇的終極應驗：一個新天新地，上帝的兒子耶穌基督將在那裡永遠掌權。

這就是我們對彌賽亞君王耶穌統治的終極盼望，祂要至終結束人類的一切罪惡和苦難。彌賽亞王要戰勝一切反對祂的人，祂要賜福給屬祂的子民：”你們要以敬畏的態度事奉耶和華，又應當存戰兢的心而歡呼。你們要用嘴親吻子，否則他一發怒，你們就在路上滅亡，因為他的怒氣快要發作。凡是投靠他的，都是有福的！”（詩 2:11,12）

對我們今天的應用
今天，在我們面對所有自然災害和世界各地由於不公義和權力鬥爭而導致的的衝突時，亦可能會以本詩的起首:“為什麼” 向神發問出相同的問題。我覺得很有趣讀到：“哪坐在天上的必發笑；主必嘲笑他們。那時，祂必在列怒中對他們剛話，在震怒中使他們驚恐……”（詩 2:4,5）。神嘲笑人類的愚蠢又引致祂發怒。無論是什麼導致我們目前所經歷的災難，讓我們緊記，基督仍然是萬有的君王和至高無上的主宰。讓我們投靠祂而蒙福。擁戴祂為王！

主僕,
李耀全牧師

Jul 17-18, 2021
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Simon Lee

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

Psalm 2 was probably written by David (as indicated in Acts 4:25, 26) for his “son” (2:7), Solomon, in his coronation (2 Sam 7:12-16). If this indeed is the situation, then we will recall that Solomon’s own brother twice attempted to seize power from Solomon (I Kings 1:5-53; 2:13-25). Is this alluded to in the “plot” against the Lord and his anointed? (Ps. 2:1-3) When the psalm was used in subsequent coronations, then the enemy nations, “the Gentiles and the raging nations,” that surrounded Israel must then be in view. Indeed, the promise found in Ps. 2:6: “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill” must be applied to all the kings in subsequent coronations since Solomon’s coronation.

The Messianic King as seen in Jesus Christ
Ultimately in the time of the messianic King, the Lord Jesus Christ, the threat against the king would then be applied to King Herod and Pontius Pilate, the people who set themselves against Christ. We recall the visit of the magi from the East who came looking for the one that is born the King of the Jews. King Herod was so fearful when he heard the news that he tried to pretend that he too would want to worship this king and urged the wise men to come back to report to him on the whereabout of Jesus after they have found him. When Herod realised that he was outwitted by the magi, he massacred all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity that were two years old and under. Jesus and his parents became refugees to Egypt before this horrible genocide took place.

The prophetic voice of Ps. 2 is seen again in v. 7 – 9: “… You are my Son, today I have begotten you…” In the life and reign of Christ, we cannot fail to see the correspondence of this to the unique relationship between Jesus and His Father, for Jesus was born of God (Luke 1:32-35; cf. Acts 13:33; Heb. 1:5, 5:5). In the baptism of Jesus, a voice from heaven clearly declared, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Mt. 3:17). Christ was the ultimate ideal king, saviour and Lord who was to come to save His people forever.

The final fulfilment of royal psalms
We also see allusions to Christ’s reign over the nations (cf. Rev. 2:27; 12:5; 19:15), which we Christians now clearly understand refers to the spiritual reign of the heavenly kingdom which Christ came to establish. Rev. 22:1-8 records for us the final fulfillment of the royal psalms: a new heaven and new earth where God’s Son Jesus Christ will reign forever.

Here lies the ultimate hope we have in the reign of Jesus the Messianic king, bringing an end to all evils and suffering of humankind. The Messiah king will triumph over all who are against Him, and He will bless His own people: 11Worship the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling. 12Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” (Ps. 2:11,12)

Application to us today
Today, in the midst of all the natural disasters and human conflicts as a result of the injustice and power struggles around the world, we may pose the same questions that the psalmist asked of God starting with the word “why?” I am amused to see the words: “He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury…” (Ps. 2:4,5). God laughs at the follies of men which led Him to show His anger. Whatever led us to the present devastation we are experiencing, let us remember Christ is still king and sovereign over all. Let us take refuge in Him and be blessed. Crown Him with many crowns!

Your servant in Christ,
Rev. Simon Lee

Jul 10-11, 2021
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Simon Lee

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

From July on, we are in Step 3 of the reopening of our province, 16 months since the pandemic hit us. So, we are all looking forward to more social interaction and perhaps even some travelling. Many of us also long to be back to worship and fellowship at our Church. Hopefully with people being fully vaccinated, we will feel safer from the risk of being infected by Covid-19. Prayerfully we are approaching the end of the long tunnel. Above all, let us continue to praise and pray to Christ the King.

Throughout this past many months, nothing had been certain except uncertainty. Who really knows what is happening and what we can do? As Christians, we may even have asked, like I have, where is God and is He in control? That is why for the whole of 2021 we are looking into the theme: Crown Him with many Crowns, with the hope and belief that Christ is still in control as He reigns as King. In the Spring quarter we had began to look at the life of the Lord Jesus Christ (from the first half of Matthew), recognising that He is indeed the Messiah, the Son of God.

The Messiah as seen in the psalms
Indeed, throughout the Old Testament, the Messiah, the anointed one, was promised to the Jewish people. The people in Jesus’s days were constantly looking for the Promised One who would deliver them from their bondage and misery under the control of the Romans, and some of them even wanted to make Him their king. As we have seen, Christ came not to overturn the earthy kingdom of the day, but to establish the Kingdom of God (heaven). But how do we know that for sure and how shall we then live?

In the summer quarter we are going to study 10 psalms with the hope of learning from the psalmists in knowing how to cope and pray amid all sorts of troubles and despairs, find hope and continue to praise God for His faithfulness and deliverance. These are all familiar psalms in which we hope that we can dig deeper to find the secret of living with hope and joy in Christ in this period of uncertainty.

A Royal psalm introducing us to the Messiah
While in this quarter we are not going specifically into any “Royal Psalms” (as we had planned earlier), I would like to share with you one here, Psalm 2, to help you appreciate the theme of the messiah as king. There are at least 10 psalms (2, 18, 20, 21, 45, 72, 101, 110, 132, 144) grouped under this title. Royal Psalms often come from the context of the Davidic king’s coronation, royal wedding, battles or victories. As the kingdom of Israel was a type of the heavenly kingdom, these psalms have many elements that apply to the kingdom of heaven and therefore to the reign of Jesus Christ. Therefore these psalms are also called Messianic psalms, as King David was a type of Jesus Christ (the messiah). These psalms are important as they help us to honour Christ as King, to celebrate the hope we have in seeing God triumph over evil. Let me highlight some of the important elements of Ps. 2. (To be continued next week)
Your servant in Christ,
Rev. Simon Lee

Jul 10-11, 2021
李耀全牧師

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

從七月開始，本省已進入了重新開放的第三階段，這是自病毒大流行襲擊我們以來的第16 個月。所以，我們期待著更開放的社交互動，甚至可以出外旅行。我們中間有許多人也渴望回到我們教堂來敬拜和參加團契等活動。希望隨著絕大多數的人全部接種疫苗，我們會感到更安全，免受病毒感染的風險。我們已進行教會內部的維修預備開放。懷著禱告的心，我們已正在接近走到長廊的盡頭。最重要的是，讓我們在任何境況都繼續讚美並向君王基督祈禱。

讚揚和祈求我主我王(詩篇選讀)

在過去的多個月來，除了「無法確定」(uncertainty)之外，沒有什麼是「可以確定」(certainty)的。誰能真正知道疫情將如何演變以及我們能做什麼？會眾作為基督徒，連我在內，一樣會問究竟神在哪裡，祂是在掌管一切嗎？這就是為什麼在2021年的全年中，我們都在研究這個主題：擁戴我主為王。我們存著盼望和信心基督是君王，祂仍然在統治及掌管。在春季期間，我們已開始從馬太福音前半部分研讀主耶穌基督的生平，認識到祂確實是彌賽亞，神的兒子。

我們將在夏季期間研讀 十篇的詩篇，期望能向詩篇作者學習如何去應對各種困難和絕望，藉著祈禱找到盼望並能繼續讚美神的信實和拯救。這些詩篇都是我們所熟悉的，盼望我們能藉深入發掘，在這個「不能確定」的時期，在基督裡找到活出滿有喜樂和盼望生活的秘訣。

詩篇所顯示的彌賽亞君王
事實上在整本舊約中，受膏者彌賽亞是神對猶太人的應許。昔日在耶穌時代的人一直所尋找那被稱為「應許者」(the Promised One) 。故此期望耶穌能夠將他們從在羅馬人的控制與奴役和苦難中解救出來的，他們中有些人甚至想擁立他為王。正如我們在上季所見，基督來不是要推翻當時地上的國度與政權，而是要建立神的國度(天國)。但是，我們如何確定地知道這一點，並且我們應怎樣生活？

一首向我們介紹彌賽亞君王的詩篇
雖然在本季度我們不會專注於研讀任何“君王詩篇”（如我們於前所安排計劃的），但在這裡我想與您分享詩篇第二篇，以幫助您理解及欣賞彌賽亞為君王的主題。至少有十篇詩篇有關這標題（2、18、20、21、45、72、101、110、132、144）。君王詩篇通常以大衛後裔的君王加冕、皇室婚禮、戰爭或勝利等為背景。由於以色列國是天國的預表，這些詩篇中有許多內容/元素與天國連繫，因此也適用於描述耶穌基督的統治。因此這些詩篇也被稱為彌賽亞詩篇(Messianic Psalms) ，因為大衛王是耶穌基督(彌賽亞)的預表。這些詩篇很重要，因為它們幫助我們尊崇基督為王，慶賀我們從遠處看到神戰勝邪惡的盼望。 (下期續)

主僕,

李耀全牧師

Jun 19-20, 2021
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Simon Lee

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

Last week we talked about the danger of falling into compassion fatigue, when we are on the verge of burnout but keep going because of our “compassion.” How did Jesus our compassionate Lord prevented from falling into compassion fatigue?

We have no doubt that Jesus while on earth was a person who had amazing power, wisdom, and love, because He was the Son of God. But we also know that Jesus was a human being just like us, fully divine while being fully human. We see the human side of Jesus when he showed His sadness, anger, frustrations…, and physical needs for water, food and rest. He endured all the trials and temptations that humans experience, even greater ones.   The writer of Hebrews tells us “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb 4:15, 16) So as a human being, he experienced among other things, fatigue, and this despite His great compassion. There are in fact 21 verses in the Bible that refers to or show the compassion of God and in Christ. Some examples in Jesus: “Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.” (Mt 9:36) Again, in Mt. 14:14, we read, “When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.” (cf. Mt. 20:34; Mk. 8:2-3)

When faced with these fatigues, what did Jesus do? After a long period of teaching, and after hearing the terrible news of the brutal death of John the Baptist who was his “forerunner,” he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself (Mt 14:13). After his failure to find rest because the crowds followed him, and after another day of ministries and performing a miracle to feed tens of thousands of followers, Jesus again continued his quest for rest. We read, “Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds.  And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone…” (Mt. 14:22,23) Jesus sought to rest and pray to the Father at the end of each of His gruesome travel and tiring ministries. Therein lies the secret of His ability to overcome physical and compassion fatigue, and continued to display His power as the Son of God.

The pandemic has taken a lot out of us, especially those of us who are trying to keep up with serving others despite not being able to meet together. Many of us have repeatedly conducted our teaching, caring, witnessing and preaching ministries online. Many of us are experiencing Zoom fatigue, I know I am. We have all done this out of love and compassion. Lest we fall into physical and compassion fatigue, let us live out the life of faith with full reliance on God.  If and when we go back to some form of “normal” or go into a “new normal,” at the Church and start to be busy doing things again, may we remember that that must include and indeed do so pre-emptively, rest.

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

Your pastor,

Rev. Simon Lee

Jun 19-20, 2021
李耀全牧師

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

上期與弟兄姊妹探討身體與慈憐疲勞，足在一些熱心服侍或牧會的人仕身上容易發生的。尤其是在疫情大流行期間壓力倍增，但輔助者往往力不從心，以同情心堅持下去，結果便疲憊不堪，陷入慈憐疲勞！

為何耶穌也有這困惑呢？耶穌在世時是擁有驚人的能力、智慧和愛心的人，因為他是神的兒子。但我們也知道，耶穌和我們同樣是一個人，他既是完全的神，又是完全的人。當耶穌表現出他的悲傷、憤怒、沮喪……以及面對水、食物和休息的身體需求時，我們看到了他人性的一面。他忍受了人類經歷的所有考驗和試探引誘，甚至更大的考驗。希伯來書的作者告訴我們：“因為我們的大祭司並不是不能同情我們的軟弱，他像我們一樣，也曾在各方面受過試探，只是他沒有犯罪。”(來 4:15, 16) 因此，作為一個人，儘管他極為富於憐憫，但他還是經歷了疲勞等其他肉身的需要。事實上，聖經中有 21節的經文提到或顯示出神和基督的憐憫心腸，其中有關耶穌的一些例子：“他看見群眾，就憐憫他們，因為他們困苦無依，像沒有牧人的羊一樣。”(太9:36)。我們在馬太福音14:14再次讀到：“耶穌上了岸，看見一大群人，就憐憫他們，醫好了他們的病人。” (參:太 20:34;可8:2-3）

當耶穌面對疲憊不堪時，祂會怎樣做？在經過長時間的教導及聽聞作為他 “開路先驅”的施洗約翰慘死的可怕消息後，他獨自乘船從那裡退到了曠野(太14:13)。但他因著群眾緊迫地跟隨他而無法得到歇息時，又在經過整天的工作和施行神蹟餵飽成千上萬群眾後，耶穌再次尋求休息安歇。經文記載：“耶穌立刻催門徒上船，叫他們先到對岸去，他卻留下來叫群眾散開。他解散了群眾，就獨自上山去禱告。到了晚上，他還是獨自一人在那裡” (太14:22-23)。耶穌在每次令人驚怕的旅程和極度勞累的事工結束後，都尋求休息安歇並向父神祈禱。這就是祂有能力克服肉體和同情心的疲勞，並繼續展示祂作為神兒子得能力的秘訣所在。
在大流行中筆者發覺自己現時比往時更忙碌。疫情大流行帶來我們很多的損失，尤其是我們這些不由自主地無法見面，卻仍然從未鬆懈，努力地服侍別人的人。我們當中大多數的人不斷地透過網上的教導、關懷、見證和傳講信息去事奉。其中的不少的人也經歷到“視頻會議疲勞”(屏幕疲勞症)，我知道自己就是其中之一。我們都是出於愛和關懷/同情而這樣做的。為免於我們陷入身體和同情心的疲勞，讓我們全然倚靠神去實踐信心。若是當我們回到某種形式的“常態”或進入“新常態”，又重新在教堂內開始忙於做事時，請記得，我們必須不忘包括休息在內，並且確實要防範於未然地這樣做，休息，像耶穌忙裡偷閑，在父神裡重新得力。
但那些仰望耶和華的人，必重新得力；他們必像鷹一樣展翅上騰；他們奔跑，也不困倦，他們行走，也不疲乏(賽40: 31)。

您的牧者,
李耀全牧師

Jun 12-13, 2021
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Simon Lee

Dear brothers and sisters,

The pandemic that has devastated us for the last year and a half may soon have run its course, at least we hope so. It has been too long, too tragic, and too sad, for too many. We have all been put to the test in our faith, and we all wonder who will be left standing at the end of the long period of desolations we have to endure. Personally, this past many months have been most trying as I have never experienced anything like it in all my years of ministry. The challenge came in the form of COVID hitting my oldest daughter which also led to Lydia and I having to be self-isolated for 14 days. It came at the same time as the loss of many of my closest colleagues and classmates, and esteemed teachers and veteran pastors due to different illnesses. Also, the difficulties of the ministries seemed to be compounded and more overwhelming when one cannot deal with them face to face, or rely on the knowledge and past experiences one has accumulated. But ultimately the pandemic put to the test on who I am as a person. How I and we all fare at the end depends on what we are made of, whether we are just living a Christian form of life or whether we are truly living the Christ life, the authentic life of faith, lived in the way Christ lived.

It is inevitable that when we go through any trials, whether physical, mental, spiritual, or relational, whatever the nature of the trials is, and even when we are doing things out of care and compassion, fatigue inevitably sets in over time. For those who are the business of caring for others, psychologists call this “compassion fatigue.” The concept comes from “metal fatigue” in big, engineered machines like airplanes that are made of the best metal alloys that are sturdy and last for a long time, even after countless hours of flight. However, after logging thousands and thousands of hours of flight, eventually, even the strongest material starts to become more fragile and run into risks of breaking down, causing terrible accidents.

The concept of “compassion fatigue” is applied to loving and devoted caregivers and health and service providers including those who are in ministries.  It is different from “burnouts” which now refers to the results of being overworked and the experience of overwhelming pressure in different situations. It often happens before a person fall into in a burnout situation but is already on the verge of it. In fact, the reason for not quite falling into a burnout situation is the care and compassion the person has that keeps the person going despite the real need of slowing down, resting and resetting.  Therein lies the danger for us as Christians, we know that we need to live by faith and serve with compassion, but despite our best intention, because we are but human, we will experience physical and compassion fatigue, especially when we try so hard against all odds.

Even Jesus with all His compassion had to fight physical and compassion fatigue at the end of days of ministries of teaching and caring. He had to take time off on His own to pray to the Father till the early hours of the morning (Mt 13, 14). But at the end of all his trials, Jesus was able to walk on water, unlike Peter, the disciple “of little faith” who wanted to be like Jesus but doubted and as soon as he moved his eyes away from Jesus and saw the wind and the water, he sank and cried out desperately for help. There are many lessons we can learn from this familiar story, especially when we are hopefully seeing the light at the end of the tunnel in this pandemic, but I would just like to focus here on one, “compassion fatigue”, learning from Jesus to take rest.  (Continue next week)

Your pastor,

Rev. Simon Lee

 

Jun 12-13, 2021
李耀全牧師

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

在過去一年半以來令我們身心交瘁的疫情大流行可能很快就會結束了，至少我們希望如此。對於太多人來說，這已經是太長，太難過，太令人悲傷了。我們都經歷了信仰的考驗，我們都在問，在我們必須忍受的長期傷心寂寞時間結束時，誰會站立得穩。就我個人而言，過去的幾個月是最艱難的，因為我在多年的事奉中從未經歷過這樣的事情。對我切身挑戰的是我的大女兒受到病毒感染，這也導致我和師母不得不自我隔離14 天。與此同時，我也面對著許多最親密的同工和同學，以及我所尊敬的老師和資深牧者，也因不同的疾病而離世。此外，在無法面對面處理，或不能依靠所積累的知識和過去的經驗時，令事奉的困難似乎更加複雜和更為難以承受。但至終，這疫情考驗了我到底是何等人。我或我們如何存活，取決於我們是由什麼所形成(構成)的，我們是否只是過著一種外表基督徒的生活形式，或是我們真的活出基督的生活，真確的信仰生活，以基督的方式去生活。

當我們經歷任何考驗時，無論是在身體、心理、靈性或是人際關係的各方面，不論考驗的性質如何，即使我們所作的是出於關懷和同情心，隨著長時間的付出，感到疲倦是在所難免。對於那些專責關心服侍他人的人，心理學家稱之為“慈憐疲勞”。這個概念來自大型工程機械(如飛機)的“金屬勞損(metal fatigue)”，這些機械由最高質料的金屬合金製成，堅固耐用，即使經歷無數小時的飛行也能持續很長時間。然而，經過成千上萬小時的飛行，最終，即使是最堅固的材料也會開始變得更得脆弱，而且面臨崩潰的風險，從而導致可怕的意外事故發生。

這個概念應用於充滿愛心和忠誠的關顧者以及健康和服務提供者，包括那些投身於事奉的人，被稱為“慈憐疲勞”。與“耗盡”不同的是指工作過度以及在不同情況下承受壓倒性壓力引致勞累的結果。通常在一個人陷入耗盡狀態之前，已經是處於這種疲勞狀態的邊緣了。事實上，導致耗盡的原因是出於這人對他人的關切與同情，令他儘管在明顯有需要放緩步伐時，仍不休息及重新調整。即使我們基督徒也是面臨著耗盡危機的。我們知道需要憑信心生活並以同情心服侍，但儘管我們的本意是最好的，但由於我們只是人，尤其是當我們如在困難重重的情況下仍不斷作出努力時，我們會經歷身體和同情心的疲勞。

在結束昔日教導和關懷事工的日子裡，即使是滿懷憐憫的耶穌，也不得不與身體和同情心的疲勞爭持。他不得不獨自抽出時間向天父祈禱，直到清晨(太14:13,14)。但在他所有的考驗完結時，耶穌能夠在水面上行走，不像彼得這個“小信”的門徒，他想與耶穌一樣行在水上做卻存著懷疑，當他一旦將視線從耶穌身上移開，看到風和海浪時，他便沉了下去，並絕望地呼救。我們可從這個熟悉的故事中可學到不少教訓，尤其是當我們盼望在這疫情中看到隧道盡頭的曙光時，但我只想在此集中於“慈憐疲勞”這方面去看並向耶和華學習安息。(下期續)

您的牧者,
李耀全牧師

 

 

May 29-30, 2021
李耀全牧師

疫情漸緩、解封有望、詩篇拙譯、與眾互勉、等待重返、主恩同頌！

詩84   在COVID-19 疫情中，自由意譯作反思之用

1耶和華我主我的元帥啊！ 您的聖所真是可愛無比。

2 我靈極之渴想返回耶和華我主的教會，

我身心也向永活的神歡呼歌頌。

3 耶和華我主我的元帥啊！我的王我的神啊！

真羡慕在你的聖所旁邊，連麻雀也找到棲身之所,

燕子也為自己找到安全又可安置她小燕的窩巢 。

4 有福 的人就是如此在你殿中找到安息， 可以在那裡不斷讚美你。            （細拉）

5 有福的人也就是靠你得力 ，彷彿在他們心中有個GPS的地圖指向聖所。

6 會眾長途跋涉地經過泣城(列城)的大街小巷，

神卻使這枯城成為活泉，春雨又把城處處蓋滿成為福杯滿溢的綠洲，

7 他們愈走愈起勁，愈走近教堂愈興奮，

直到每人可去到敬拜我主我神。

8 耶和華我主我的元帥啊！ 求你垂聽我的禱告；

我們先賢的神啊！ 求你側耳細心聽。  （細拉）

9 神啊！ 求你垂顧我們的救主，

求你眼目看守你的受膏者基督。

10在你聖所逗留一日 ，勝過能在別處停留千日；

我寧願選擇站在神的殿之門口等候，也不願在罪惡之城内與罪人同流合污。

11   因為耶和華我主我神是保護我的君王 (是太陽、是盾牌 )，

耶和華我主傾賜給我豐盛的生命(恩惠和榮耀)；

因他連一樣好處都沒有保留而不給那些生活正直的人。

12   耶和華我主我的元帥啊！有福的人就是那完全倚靠你的人。 (李譯, 26/05/2021)

 

May 29-30, 2021
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Simon Lee

 

How spectacular is your house, O God Almighty!

My soul longs to be back at church,

my whole being yearns desperately to be back in your sanctuary,

where I can sing heartily with joy to you the living God.

How I envy the birds that find a home there, and

the sparrows can also find a safe haven there, to nest and raise their young,

right next to the sanctuary, O my King, and my God.

How blessed are those who can find rest in your house,

constantly singing praise to you!

How blessed are those who find strength in you,

in each soul is found a GPS leading them to church

In going through the windy roads and heavy traffic of the weeping city,

God creates many oases of refreshing water, blessings from early rain!

After the road most travelled by many fellow travellers,

every seeker of God can personally approach their God and worship Him.

O Lord God Almighty, hear my prayer,

listen carefully, O God of our forefathers!

Behold our protector,

look with favour on the face of Christ, your anointed One!

One day spent in your sanctuary is better than a thousand spent elsewhere.

I would rather linger and wait at the entrance of the church!

than mix in with the crowds in the parlours and casinos of the wicked world.

For you O Lord God are a royal protector,

and you O Lord, shower me with an abundant life – gifts and honour

The Lord does not hold back extravagant blessings

from those who walk with integrity.

O Lord Almighty,

How blessed is the one who trust fully in you!                       (SL, May 26, 2021)