Scripture Reading : Psalm 85
Theme : Understanding God’s Characters in Salvation
- Past Mercies (1–3). The psalmist is trying to understand Israel’s current troubles and future prospects in light of God’s character and His past deeds. God was gracious and forgiving towards Israel in the past. God forgave Israel many, many times in the wilderness and also after they had entered the land (see Judges, Exodus and Numbers).
- Present Estrangement (4–7). Just as God was gracious to Israel in the past, the psalmist appeals to God to forgive Israel in the present. He asks God not to be angry forever.
- Future Prospects (8-13). The future prospects of Israel is very good. He is sure that God will reconcile with Israel and give them peace. However, Israel should not turn away from God again as they had done constantly in the past. God will accomplish peace with Israel without compromising His character of righteousness. All of God’s characters, including love, faithfulness, righteousness and peace, will work harmonious to fulfill God’s promise. All His characters will embrace and kiss each other. God is perfect and none of His perfect character can be compromised. He cannot disregard one character for another. This is the beauty of God. The fulfillment of peace is found in Jesus who alone can give Israel physical security from enemies, forgiveness of sins and a new heart so that they will never turn away from God again. Through the cross, none of God’s characters are compromised, but they all shine gloriously. He has accomplished His righteousness by judging sinners in Jesus and has displayed His love by sacrificing Jesus and offering forgiving to sinners.
Praying the Scripture
Sinful humans who are mentally corrupted by relativism and utilitarianism (doing things based on personal benefits irrespective of righteousness) can never understand the beauty of God’s characters as displayed through Jesus on the cross. They do not understand the importance of character. They think God can simply just forgive people and not judge sin. Character is who you are. To change your character is to change yourself. God cannot change any of His perfect characters because He is perfect. Therefore, it is puzzling to see how God can have His righteousness and peace kiss each other since they seem to be unharmonious with each other. Righteousness demands justice and punishment of sins, which is opposite of peace. This predicament can only be solved in the person and work of Jesus who humbled Himself to die on the cross for the sins of the world. You can say that humility is the glue that binds righteousness and peace together. God is a marvelous God who is perfect in character and in all that He does. In light of God’s amazing salvation in Jesus, you must live for God with fear, that is with awe and reverence (Phil. 2:12). Pray that you will be more in awe of God’s characters than worldly things.
经文：诗篇85
主题：在救恩里明白神的品德
- 以前的慈爱（1-3）。诗人正在从神的品德和以前的行为了解以色列现在的遭遇和未来的前景。神以往对以色列是有恩慈和宽恕的。以色列在旷野流浪时，神曾无数次赦免了她，并在他们进入应许地后也是如此（参：士师记、出埃及记和民数记）。
- 现在的隔阂（4-7）。就像神过去如何恩待以色列，诗人现在也请求神宽恕以色列。他请求神不要向他们发怒到永远。
- 未来的前景（8-13）。以色列未来的前景是很好的。诗人肯定神会与以色列和好并带给他们平安。但是，以色列不应该像以前一样又拒绝神。神会在不妥协自己的公义属性下成就祂与以色列的和平。神的所有属性，包括爱、信实、公义和平安，都会一同和谐地运作成就神的应许。祂的所有品德会彼此相亲。神是完美的，而祂完美的属性一个也不会被妥协。祂不会忽视任何方面。这就是神的美。耶稣将成就这个和平；只有祂能保护以色列不受敌人的攻击，赦免以色列的罪并赐她一颗新心，叫他们不再拒绝神。藉着十字架，神的属性不受妥协，反而更闪亮耀眼。祂通过耶稣审判罪人成就祂的正义，也通过耶稣的牺牲彰显祂的慈爱以及对罪人的宽恕。
用经文祷告
罪人被相对主义和功利主义（即以个人利益来做事而不按正义）所败坏，因此他们不会明白神藉着耶稣的十字架所展现的美好品德。他们不明白品格的重要性。他们认为神只宽恕人而不会审判罪。品格断定你就是谁；若要改变你的品格就是要你改变自己。神不能改变祂任何一个完美的属性因为祂是完美的。因此，公义和平安能彼此相亲是令人困惑的，因为这两者似乎是不和谐的。公义要求正义和罪的惩罚，这都与平安相反。这个矛盾只有在耶稣的人和工作里得以解决；祂卑微自己，为世人的罪死在十字架上。你可以说谦卑是将公义和平安绑在一起的黏胶。神是极好的神，祂的属性与所做的事都是美好的。鉴于神在耶稣里的伟大救恩，我们要存敬畏的心为神而活（腓2:12）。请求你敬畏神的属性多过于世间的事物。
