Ask Great Things of God 向神寻求最美好的事

取自《Everyday Prayer with the REFORMERS》 

Psalm 诗篇 36

1 Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes.

2 For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.

3 The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit; he has ceased to act wisely and do good.

4 He plots trouble while on his bed; he sets himself in a way that is not good; he does not reject evil.

5 Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.

6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; your judgments are like the great deep; man and beast you save, O LORD.

7 How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.

8 They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.

9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.

10 Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know you, and your righteousness to the upright of heart!

11 Let not the foot of arrogance come upon me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away.

12 There the evildoers lie fallen; they are thrust down, unable to rise.

1恶人的罪过在他心里说：“我眼中不怕神。”

2他自夸自媚，以为他的罪孽终不显露，不被恨恶。

3他口中的言语尽是罪孽诡诈，他与智慧善行已经断绝。

4他在床上图谋罪孽，定意行不善的道，不憎恶恶事。

5耶和华啊，你的慈爱上及诸天，你的信实达到穹苍。

6你的公义好像高山，你的判断如同深渊。耶和华啊，人民、牲畜，你都救护。

7神啊，你的慈爱何其宝贵！世人投靠在你翅膀的荫下。

8他们必因你殿里的肥甘得以饱足，你也必叫他们喝你乐河的水。

9因为在你那里有生命的源头，在你的光中，我们必得见光。

10愿你常施慈爱给认识你的人，常以公义待心里正直的人。

11不容骄傲人的脚践踏我，不容凶恶人的手赶逐我。

12在那里，作孽的人已经仆倒。他们被推倒，不能再起来。

It is apparent to us: God is God... and we are not! This is one of our most basic beliefs. God is our Creator; we are God's creatures.

对我们来说是显而易见：神就是神……而我们不是神！这是我们最基本的信仰之一。神是我们的创造主；我们是神的受造物。

Thus, the divine goodness to us -- when we are aware of it -- must be greater than we are and greater than we can imagine. After all, divine goodness comes from God!

这样，我们就意识到，神对我们的美善超越我们，也超越我们的想象。毕竟，神的美善是来自于祂自己！

The psalmist loved this when he proclaimed, "How precious is your steadfast love, O God! ... For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light" (Ps 36:7, 9).

诗人喜爱这一点，他宣告说：“神啊，你的慈爱何等宝贵！……因为在你那里有生命的泉源，在你的光中，我们必得见光。”（诗篇 36:7, 9）。

Martin Luther picked up the "fountain" image as he vigorously proclaimed God's goodness in prayer: "Because he is God, he also claims from us the honor of giving far more abundantly and liberally than anyone can comprehend -- like an eternal, inexhaustible fountain, which, the more it gushes forth and overflows, the more it continues to give. He desires nothing more than that we ask many and great things of him. And, on the contrary, he is angered if we do not ask and demand with confidence."

马丁路德引用了“泉源”的意象，并在祷告中强而有力地宣告神的美善：“因为祂是神，祂也要求我们承认，祂比任何人所知道的，能给予得更丰富和慷慨——就像一个永恒、取之不尽的泉源，泉水涌流得越多，给予得也越多。祂只希望我们向祂求更多更美好的事。相反，如果我们不怀着信心去祈求，祂会不悦。”

We need a vigorous life of prayer! We receive steadfast love from God as the "eternal, inexhaustible fountain," who gushes forth and is overflowing. God continues to give to us -- and God gives much greater blessings than we can comprehend! God desires us to "ask many and great things." We must confidently pray boldly!

我们需要一个充满活力的祷告生活！我们从神那里领受到坚定不移的爱，正如那“永恒、取之不尽的泉源”，不断涌流、溢出。神持续地赐给我们——而且神赐予的祝福远超过我们的想象！神希望我们“祈求许多大事”。我们必须大胆地、充满信心地祷告！

Prayer Point: Pray the most bold and confident prayer you can imagine. Imagine God as the great overflowing fountain who wants you to ask for great things!

祷告要点：为你的想象中最大胆和最有信心的祷告。想象神是那位伟大的、不断涌流泉源的，祂希望你向祂祈求大事！