Psalm 111
111 Praise the Lord! I will praise the Lord with my whole heart, In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation. 2 The works of the Lord are great, Studied by all who have pleasure in them. 3 His work is honorable and glorious, And His righteousness endures forever. 4 He has made His wonderful works to be remembered; The Lord is gracious and full of compassion. 5 He has given food to those who fear Him; He will ever be mindful of His covenant. 6 He has declared to His people the power of His works, In giving them the heritage of the nations. 7 The works of His hands are verity and justice; All His precepts are sure. 8 They stand fast forever and ever, And are done in truth and uprightness. 9 He has sent redemption to His people;
He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name. 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.
It's a very inspiring hymn, where the poet invite everyone to praise the Lord together from the very first verse. And he himself is determined to praise the Lord with his whole heart in the congregation. "Praise the Lord", is haleluYah (hallelujah) in Hebrew. The poet praise the Lord for He has done great things for the Israel -- He rescued them from slavery in Egypt, gave them manna and quail in the wilderness, and showed kindness and mercy to His people. Then the poet describes how the Lord worked valiantly for them, manifesting His honor, righteousness, and justice, etc. Therefore, he cannot help appealing again to us -- fear the Lord and praise Him!
Dear brothers and sisters, at this turn of year when you look back at God's grace unto you personally or your family, or the testimony how God led us in building our church, how will you declare to people the work of the Lord or introduce what the Lord is? If to speak simply, I would say: the Lord that we believe is who only does wondrous things! He is the Lord Who keeps covenant and mercy! Talking about our Lord, I would say nothing else other than thanksgiving and praise. Because "His praise endures forever"! Amen!
詩篇 111
111 你們要讚美耶和華！我要在正直人的大會中，並公會中，一心稱謝耶和華。2 耶和華的作為本為大，凡喜愛的都必考察。3 他所行的是尊榮和威嚴，他的公義存到永遠。4 他行了奇事，使人記念，耶和華有恩惠，有憐憫。5 他賜糧食給敬畏他的人，他必永遠記念他的約。6 他向百姓顯出大能的作為，把外邦的地賜給他們為業。7 他手所行的是誠實、公平，他的訓詞都是確實的，8 是永永遠遠堅定的，是按誠實、正直設立的。9 他向百姓施行救贖，命定他的約直到永遠，他的名聖而可畏。10 敬畏耶和華是智慧的開端，凡遵行他命令的是聰明人。耶和華是永遠當讚美的！
這是一篇非常激勵人心的讚美詩，詩人從第一節開始就邀請大家一起來讚美 神，他自己更是定意要在聚會中全心全意地稱謝 神！「你們要讚美耶和華」，希伯來語是 haleluYah（哈利路亞）。詩人因著 神為以色列人成就了大事 -- 祂拯救他們出埃及，在曠野賜下嗎哪和鵪鶉，又向百姓施恩惠和憐憫，實在是配受大讚美！緊接著，詩人敘述 神是如何向他們施展大能，並彰顯祂的尊榮、公義、和公正，...等。因此，他忍不住再次呼籲我們 -- 都當敬畏 神，並要向祂讚美！
親愛的弟兄姊妹，值此歲末年初之際，當你回顧 神在你個人身上，或在你們家庭中的恩典，或 神帶領我們教會走過建堂之路的見證，你會如何向人述說 神的作為，或介紹祂是一位怎麼樣的 神呢？如果是簡單地講，我要說：我們所信的 神，是一位獨行奇事的 神！祂是守約、施慈愛的 神！論到我們的 神，我除了感恩還是感恩；除了讚美還是讚美！因為「耶和華是永遠當讚美的」！阿們！
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