See the Goodness of God
Photo: Matheo JBT; Design: Jonathan Yao
“I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord.” (Psalm 27:13-14, NAS)
In Psalm 27, verses 1 through 6, King David expressed his confidence in a God of whom he has had deep communion with. Then in verses 7 through 14, he turned from praise to plaintiff prayer of dependence and hope in a redemptive God. This Psalm has been known as one of “composites” with extreme high of joy and jubilance in the first half and thence sinking to the depth of sadness and near despair in the latter part (Pulpit Commentary).
Read how verse 13, as part of the ending verses, unify these extremes to produce hope in us.
Hear My Cry, O Lord
Photo: Guillaume de Germain. Design: Jonathan Yao
“Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!” (Psalm 27:7, ESV)
As David wrote Psalm 27, in verse 7, he pivoted from praise to prayer. There is a sense of plaintiff cry for help in verses 7 to 14. In the original language, verse 7 is succinct and direct: “Hear, O Lord; with my voice I call; pity me, and answer me” (Pulpit Commentary).
Know God, No Fear
Photo: Joshua Hibbert. Design: Jonathan Yao.
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1, KJV)
This psalm of King David speaks of a personal YHWH who enlightens, guides, protects, and empowers the psalmist and freed him from the fear of others, of the known and the unknown. This ultimately causes him to seek God’s face and presence “all the days of his life” (Ps. 27:4). In poetic form, this three-part psalm consists of confident praise (vv. 1-6), plantiff prayer (vv. 7-12), and waiting hope (vv. 13-14) (Pulpit Commentary).
As children of God, we too know Him who is the way-maker, the truth-teller, and the life-giver. May we likewise pursue Christ with the constancy of heart, mind, and soul. Because He is my God, I need not fear. Shalom.
Webinar: 约伯.苦难.疫情
Organised by Cru Singapore and presented by East Asia School of Theology, a Mandarin webinar on “Job, Suffering and COVID-19” was conducted on 4 June 2020. The speaker was Rev Estella Liu, a Resident Faculty of EAST. Please view the video of the webinar above.
中文教会的弟兄姐妹们，平安。新加坡学园传道会于六月四日傍晚举办了一个网络研讨会，主题是 “约伯.苦难.新 冠疫情”。与东亚神学院携手举办，这网络研讨会将探索如何从经文中学习应对人生苦难的心境与态度。
想更了解如何有个正面的生活方针，请前往 https://xinshengming.com/
Integrity will be Tested and Rewarded
Photo by Casey Horner. Design by Jonathan Yao.
3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. ~ Proverbs 11:3 (NIV)
“If you want to influence others, the most important thing you can do is be a living example of the principles, ideals, and faith that you advocate.” ~ Nick Vujicic
In Old Testament Hebrew, “integrity” means in a state of completeness, perfection, soundness, uprightness, and wholeness without blemish. Similarly, in New Testament Greek, it means honesty and having a habit of good works.
“Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” ~ Proverbs 4:25-27 (NIV)
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” ~ Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
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