Scripture Reading : Psalm 30
Theme : Mourning into Dancing
- The Rescue (1–5). David was in trouble. This trouble was caused by God’s anger toward him, to discipline him. But he firmly understands God’s character. God is slow to anger and quick to forgive. His favor/grace never departs from His people, it is faithful. God is not a God of wrath. He is not naturally angry, as if he is walking around grumpy all the time and waiting to pound on someone. God is righteous, He is only angry in response to our sin. But His angry response is never isolated from His love. No matter what, His response is always toward the desire/goal to change us and restore us.
- The Foolish Boasting (6–10). David was in trouble because of his foolish boasting in his prosperity. He trusted in himself and his own resources, instead of God. But at the end, he realized that he was strong because of God. If you are in prosperity, beware of your pride and trust in yourself and your resources instead of God. In trouble, David appeals to God’s benefit ultimately, not his own benefit, to deliver him. After all, God would lose a worshipper if he dies. This is an immature plead, but an understandable one since his life is in danger. God does not need people to praise Him, it is a privilege for people to worship God. Also, believers will continue to praise God after he is dead. However, the prayer is in the right direction of being God-centered, instead of self-centered. God is pleased by that.
- The Celebration (11–12). When God delivers David, his soul/glory praises God forever and ever. God brings trouble and then deliverance so that we would stop our foolish self-worship and worship the one who is truly worthy of worship.
Praying the Scripture
- Sometimes God has us go through difficulties in life so that we would wean ourselves from our foolish self-sufficiency and pride. Difficulties reveal the false gods that we have been relying on and turn us to the only God who can be depended on. He is our rock. If you are not praying much, then you have some false gods. It can be your abilities, your wealth or some other resources. Repent, trust God alone and give Him the honor He deserves.
- Sometimes, God brings trouble to our lives so that we would stop taking God’s kindness for granted. Especially when things are going well, we are prone to forget God and take God’s love and grace for granted and live unthankful and selfish lives that worship ourselves instead of God. The brokenness of this world should drive us to long for help from God. When God helps us, we need to leap with joy for His kindness and never take God’s love for granted. May you will recall all your blessings in God. Journal them.
经文：诗篇30
主题：将哀哭变为跳舞
- 拯救（1-5）。大卫曾经受难。这是因为神要管教他，所以对他发怒。然而，大卫十分理解神的属性——神不轻易发怒，又愿意宽恕。祂的恩典从不离开祂的百姓，是可信的。神不是愤怒的神；那不是祂自然的属性，成天脾气暴躁，等着向别人出气。神是公义的；祂发怒是因为我们犯罪。但是，祂的怒气与祂的爱是不分开的。无论如何，祂的目的是要改变我们，复兴我们。
- 愚昧的夸耀（6-10）。大卫之所以有难是因为他愚昧地夸耀了自己的富裕。他依赖自己与自身的资源，不是神。但最终，他觉悟了他是因神才强大。你今日若是富裕的，要提防这份傲气，相信自己和所拥有的资源，不投靠神。大卫遭难时最终靠神所能得的益处求神搭救他，而不是因自己的益处。毕竟，若大卫死了，神会失去一个崇拜者。这是幼稚的祈求，但不是不能理解的，因为他有生命的危险。神不需要人的赞美；能敬拜神是人的特权。再者，信徒就算死了后仍会继续赞美神。然而，这祷告的方向是正确的，是以神为本，不是自私的。神因而喜悦。
- 庆典（11-12）。神搭救大卫后，大卫的灵要永永远远地赞美神。神降苦难，然后行拯救，叫我们不再愚昧地自恋，而是敬拜真正配得我们敬拜的那一位。
用经文祷告
- 有时，神使我们经历苦楚，好除去我们愚昧的骄傲和自给自足的心态。苦难揭穿我们一路以来所依靠的假神，叫我们转向那唯一能依靠的神。祂是我们的磐石。倘若你不常祷告，你心里必有假神。那或许是你的能力、财富或其他资源。要悔改，唯独投靠神，并给予祂应得的荣耀。
- 有时，神在我们生命中降下苦难，叫我们不再视祂的良善为理所当然的。尤其在顺境中，我们常会忘记神，将神的爱和恩典当作理所当然，活出不感恩、自私的生命，敬拜自己而不是神。这世界的破碎当驱使我们渴望神的帮助。当神助我们时，我们当因祂的良善欢呼喜悦，而不是视神的爱为理所当然的。愿你能回想神赐你的一切祝福。要记下它。
