主如果是我的牧人,我就是祂其中一隻羊了。但我喜歡像隻羊嗎?羊的表現,有時真令人覺得牠是動物之中最愚蠢的了。羊不懂得辨別方向,很容易迷路。如果有一隻羊跳起來,其他的羊便會跟隨著一起跳。牠們喜歡隨處亂走,卻又不懂得保護自己。 我們儘管不喜歡自己像隻羊,但我們的表現,卻與羊有不少近似之處,你說是嗎?正因如此,我們才需要有一位牧人。主若是我們的牧人,我們就必然心滿意足了。因為主是我們的大牧人,祂知道我們的需要,祂懂得照顧我們,無論是飲食、休息或其他需要,祂都會為我們妥善安排。 詩的第4節還告訴我們,這位牧人是我們的良伴,特別當我們經過生死之間的黑暗幽谷,祂必與我們同在。我們每個人都經歷過失望和孤單的灰暗日子,就是在那刻,我們才真正體會到耶穌基督這位大牧人與我們同在的寶貴。第5和6節告訴我們,我們可以放心信靠主這位牧人。即使在遭遇逆境的時候,我們還可以信靠祂。人生中的每個片段,祂都與我們同行。人生不就是這樣嗎?一天復一天,沒有兩天是相同的。但無論發生甚麼事,神始終以祂恆久不變的信實、慈愛和看顧,與我們同在。 神這樣愛護我們,我們該怎樣回應祂呢?我們是否只懂得白白領受祂給予的各樣好處,卻不知感恩?讓我們好好反省吧!最後,請記著,無論你遇上甚麼,祂必與你同在。 反思: 你是否只懂得解釋上述的詩篇,抑或你已真正認識了詩中所提及的大牧人? |
Bible Reading: Psalm 23 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. |
If the Lord is my shepherd, I must be one of his sheep. But do I like being called a sheep? They are sometimes the most stupid of animals. A sheep can easily get lost. It doesn't seem to know where it is going. If one jumps, all the rest do the same. It likes to have its own way and it can't defend itself. But even if we don't like it, that sounds a lot like us, doesn't it? And that is just why we need a shepherd. When the Lord is our shepherd, we can be contented. The Lord himself sees what we need. Whether it is care, food or rest, the Shepherd will see that it is there for us. Verse 4 of the Psalm says something more. The Shepherd is our companion, especially in the dark valleys of life and death. All of us have known disappointment and loneliness. It is then we discover how wonderful it is to have our shepherd, Jesus Christ, with us even when the way is darkest. Verses 5 and 6 tell us of the confidence we can have with the Lord as our shepherd. Even when everything is going against us, we can count on him. Every day he is with us, all the days of our lives. And that is what life is, isn't it? Just one day after another. No two days are the same. But no matter what the day brings, God is with us with his constant, loving, faithful care. What is our response to the goodness of God? Do we take it all without thinking or without thanking him? Remember whatever comes today, he is there with you always. A Question: Do you only know the Psalm or do you really know the Shepherd? |
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