Psalm 84 (New International Version)
For the director of music. According to gittith. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. a]">[a]
1 How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD Almighty!2 My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.
Selah5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools. b]">[b]7 They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.8 Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty;
listen to me, O God of Jacob.
Selah9 Look upon our shield, c]">[c] O God;
look with favor on your anointed one.10 Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
the LORD bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.12 O LORD Almighty,
blessed is the man who trusts in you.
The choir will be presenting a song based on Psalm 84 next week. Listen out for the lyrics and the tune. Personally, it really touches my heart and brings out the yearning in my heart for heaven, where God promises no more tears and suffering, and the enjoyment of His presence forevermore.
And since this was so, I read up a little on the Psalm. I hope I can explain a bit of it to you guys and let you guys appreciate the Book of Psalms in the Bible... which is really the outpouring of praises and prayers to God from the David and other Israelites.
The psalmist was somewhere else and could not come to God in His temple to worship Him. To the Israelites, it was very important to do so and to someone who LOVED God, it would have been very sad for him and he yearned to be in God's presence. (v 1-4)
In v5-8, the psalmist turns his focus on those who were on pilgrimage worship God. The Valley of Baca was a dry and arid place and was also known as the Valley of Weeping, because it was such a hard and tough road to travel. But the tears of these pilgrims turned it into a place of spring and God blessed them with autumn rain. And finally, they see the God of their soul's yearning face to face-- what a comfort!
v10 is indeed what all of us should feel towards the world-- it is infinitely better to be a doorkeeper in the house of the LORD for a day than to be a thousand anywhere else in the tents of the wicked.
Christians walk the small and narrow way, and often it brings about many pain and suffering. Not just human suffering, but also spiritual mourning for those around us who don't love God and refuse His grace. But this psalm encourages us that God will turn our mourning into dancing; night into day!
My question for you is, do you yearn for the courts of the LORD? Do you echo the pslamist in v10, that it is better to be in the house of the LORD? Do you love God so much and long for His appearing, while hating evil?
I remember you all told me whenever we taught on sufferings that you are still young and haven't been through much. Well, now you are at least a year older. And I believe you are beginning to mature and see the world for what it really is. Let's place our hope in our LORD Almighty. His ways are perfect and His road may be tougher and more painful; but we have an eternity of joy ahead of us. Just us Jesus fixed his eyes on the cross and endured its shame for the joy set before Him, let us also run this race with perseverance and throw away all sin that hinders us!
My prayer for you, and myself, is that we may have this desire for God and love Him so much that we realise nothing is more important and precious to us than God Himself; not His miracles, not His provisions, but in God Himself.
As John Calvin puts it: The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.Do you enjoy God?
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Anyway, good job at the Bible Quiz today. Hope you all learned much from it, just like I did. (We need to upgrade our level from pr sch... :P)
Okay kiddos, have a good week in school! Remember to come before God daily and seek Him!
- debra laoshi
I leave you with a beautiful youtube video:
Key Lessons
1) Joseph’s Godliness
§ Joseph resisted temptation of the flesh
James 1:12-15
忍 受 试 探 的 人 是 有 福 的 ， 因 为 他 经 过 试 验 以 後 ， 必 得 生 命 的 冠 冕 ； 这 是 主 应 许 给 那 些 爱 他 之 人 的 。 人 被 试 探 ， 不 可 说 ： 「 我 是 被 神 试 探 」 ； 因 为 神 不 能 被 恶 试 探 ， 他 也 不 试 探 人 。但 各 人 被 试 探 ， 乃 是 被 自 己 的 私 欲 牵 引 诱 惑 的 。私 欲 既 怀 了 胎 ， 就 生 出 罪 来 ； 罪 既 长 成 ， 就 生 出 死 来 。
Like a fish biting on a hook. Evil desire conceived-> gives birth to sin -> sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Put a stop to the desire; run away like Joseph did.
Joseph knew that it was against God that he would sin. (v. 9)
§ Joseph resisted the temptation of greater power
He knew that all power came from God and not from men. He sought to please God and not man. He was also faithful to his earthly master and respected that God had given Potiphar his earthly status to rule.
2) God’s faithfulness
§ God was with Joseph when he served in Potiphar’s house (v. 2) and in prison (v. 21).
§ In both cases, God granted Joseph favour in the eyes of his superiors and God blessed the work of Joseph’s hands. Both superiors did not have to worry about the work delegated to Joseph and were in turn blessed through Joseph.
§ God was with Joseph in the “good” times and the “bad” times.
§ God’s plans often bring us through mountains and valleys. But it does not mean He has deserted us. Often, He brings His people through times of despair and pain through no fault of theirs (e.g. Daniel and the lion’s den, David running away from Saul) to mould their faith and teach them, to prepare them for greater things.
Conclusion
God has a plan in our successes and sufferings.
Genesis 50:20
从 前 你 们 的 意 思 是 要 害 我 ， 但 神 的 意 思 原 是 好 的 ， 要 保 全 许 多 人 的 性 命 ， 成 就 今 日 的 光 景 。
Application
§ Are there weaknesses you have in which you are often tempted to sin against God? Reflect on them and confess them to God.
1 John 1:5-10
神 就 是 光 ， 在 他 毫 无 黑 暗 。 这 是 我 们 从 主 所 听 见 、 又 报 给 你 们 的 信 息 。我 们 若 说 是 与 神 相 交 ， 却 仍 在 黑 暗 里 行 ， 就 是 说 谎 话 ， 不 行 真 理 了 。我 们 若 在 光 明 中 行 ， 如 同 神 在 光 明 中 ， 就 彼 此 相 交 ， 他 儿 子 耶 稣 的 血 也 洗 净 我 们 一 切 的 罪 。我 们 若 说 自 己 无 罪 ， 便 是 自 欺 ， 真 理 不 在 我 们 心 里 了 。我 们 若 认 自 己 的 罪 ， 神 是 信 实 的 ， 是 公 义 的 ， 必 要 赦 免 我 们 的 罪 ， 洗 净 我 们 一 切 的 不 义 。我 们 若 说 自 己 没 有 犯 过 罪 ， 便 是 以 神 为 说 谎 的 ， 他 的 道 也 不 在 我 们 心 里 了 。
Remember that sinning is like cutting yourself again and again on the same spot even after it has healed.
When tempted, run away. Pray. Remember God’s word in your heart.
§ Have you or are you successful? Do you give all glory and thanks to God, and work for God?
Colossians 3:23-24
无 论 做 甚 麽 ， 都 要 从 心 里 做 ， 像 是 给 主 做 的 ， 不 是 给 人 做 的 ，因 你 们 知 道 从 主 那 里 必 得 着 基 业 为 赏 赐 ； 你 们 所 事 奉 的 乃 是 主 基 督 。
§ Have you failed? Do you realise that God has a plan for you, even in the midst of failures?
Romans 8:28
我 们 晓 得 万 事 都 互 相 效 力 ， 叫 爱 神 的 人 得 益 处 ， 就 是 按 他 旨 意 被 召 的 人 。
This site is wayy cool, Look at how Chinese script is related to Biblical teachings!
http://www.yutopian.com/religion/words/
AND...
"Currently, by history's record, the Zhou Dynasty/Chou Dynasty is China's Imperial family. Anyone with the following Chinese surnames is officially a Chinese prince today:
Chow (Chou, Zhou), Lum (Lin), Chang (Cheng), Goo (Ku), Wu (Wo, Woo), Ing (Ng), Ching (Cheng), Ho, Chiang, Mau (Mao), Choy (Tsai), Sun, Yap (Yip, Ye, Yeh), Wong (Wang), Lai, Kee (Ke), Kwock (Kwok, Kok, Kuo, Guo, Kop), Lau (Liu), Loui (Lui), Dang (Teng, Tang, Deng, Dung), Siu (Hsiu, Hsiao), Young (Yang, Yong), Chock (Cheuk, Cho), and Tom (Tan, Tam)."
---http://www.familytreecircles.com/journal_8277.html
I AM OF ROYAL BLOOD(my chinese surname is zhou)!!!!!!!!
And most fo you guys probably are too.
We have Debra and Kenneth for Yap. And Samantha too since she's related to to them.
Huihan and Joel for Wu(Goh IS Wu in Chinese right?)
Yiwei for Tang.
And Yuxun for Ng.
And I guess like 80% of the chinese out there are royals as well.
At least there was a dynasty named after my surname. That kind of makes it a little more special.
WAIT A MINUTE:
"Thereby, it is the Chou Dynasty's Imperial lineage which is China's Imperial lineage and Imperial family today. "
HAHAHA!
“Jacob’s Escape”
Genesis 30-31
1) Jacob’s Family (Gen. 30:1-24)
2) Jacob’s Flocks Increase (Gen. 30: 25-43)
· vv. 25-31: Jacob argues with Laban that God has blessed Jacob in everything he did, helping Laban to prosper—Laban agrees. Jacob now wanted to build his own family and earn for himself.
· vv. 32-36: Both agreed for Jacob to get the offspring of “speckled or spotted sheep, dark-colored lamb and spotted or speckled goat” as wages, while he continued to tend the flock for Laban. Normally goats in that land were black or dark brown, seldom white or spotted with white. On the other hand, the sheep were nearly always white, infrequently black or spotted.
· Jacob would examine the flocks that day, removing all the speckled and spotted animals, and these would be set aside as Laban’s property. These animals would be taken three days’ distance and kept by Laban’s sons. Only those newly born spotted or striped would become Jacob’s property. At some later time the herd would be examined, and the spotted or striped animals would go to Jacob, while the rest would be Laban’s. Removing the spotted and striped which were in the flock benefited Laban in two ways. First, it left these animals to him, not Jacob. Also, it lessened the chances of other spotted or striped animals being conceived, since these would not be mating with the flock.
· It was too good to be true, Laban must have thought. How could he possibly lose? However, it was an open-ended agreement, which encouraged Jacob to attempt to manipulate the outcome and also left God free to overrule the normal course of nature in order to bless Jacob. The agreement was solidified, and the flocks were divided, with Jacob tending the unspotted, unspeckled, and unstriped animals of Laban.
· vv. 37-43: Jacob, however, did not trust in God to work His ways to meet His promise to Jacob. He devised his own schemes to cause the outcome he wanted. Each of the three techniques Jacob employed was predicated on the belief that visual impressions at the time of conception affected the outcome at birth.
a) Peeled branches (looked like stripes)
b) Face streaked and dark-coloured animals
c) Selective breeding in front of branches
· But it was not Jacob’s method that worked. It was scientifically erroneous and spiritually human effort. Later, in Gen. 31:10-12, God revealed that the male goats had mated with the flock that were streaked, speckled or spotted.
3) Jacob Flees from Laban (Gen. 31:1-21)
· vv. 1-2: Laban may have wanted Jacob as adopted son (and hence married his daughters). But now, he had sons of his own and wanted to protect his inheritance, therefore his attitude changed.
· v. 13: God directs Jacob to leave and reminds him of His promise at Bethel. But Jacob was not assured and still feared Laban, thus deceiving and leaving Laban secretly.
· vv. 14-16, 19: The household gods possibly represented headship of the house (inheritance), so Rachel stole them to protect their inheritance.
4) Laban Pursues Jacob (Gen. 31: 22-55)
· Laban pursued them because of how Jacob had accumulated so much wealth and left on the sly; plus his household gods were missing—surely Jacob had cheated him.
· v. 35: Rachel lied.
· v. 52: Laban wanted to make a covenant with Jacob so that he would not come back and fight for inheritance.
5) Conclusion
All the way, Jacob assumed that his success and blessings from God were evidence that God approved of his hard work and faithfulness., it only proved God’s grace in spite of how Jacob did not deserve it. Compared to Esau, Jacob did not have anything better; in fact he lied and cheated and deceived his way through many things. Jacob often did things his way instead of God’s way to accomplish God’s will. But God had chosen him to carry the promise. Actually, it only proved God’s grace in spite of how Jacob did not deserve it. Jacob had thought himself too righteous.
Are we doing the same in our service to God? To achieve the ends, we may use human efforts. Just because God causes growth does not mean we earned it—it is God’s grace in spite of our weaknesses. Success does not mean God necessarily approves our unspiritual methods.
Phil 2: 14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world 16 by holding on to the word of life so that on the day of Christ I will have a reason to boast that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain.
Titus 2: 10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, in order to bring credit to the teaching of God our Savior in everything.
Matthew 6: 33 But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
