JY Bible Notes 聖經小筆記

from: Kwan  【恶人一出母胎，就与神疏远；一离母腹，便走错路，说谎话。】（诗：58：3） 《诗篇》经常提到的几个词，都有特定的意思。如：一、【义人】是指敬畏神、遵行律法、远离恶事的人；二、【罪人】是指所有犯罪、不信神的人；三、【恶人】是指所有不信、反对神、犯罪作恶、为非作歹的人。大卫在此提到恶人一出母腹就远离神、走错路，可见父母敬畏神是何等的要紧！ 大卫的父亲耶西是敬畏神的人，他的祖父俄备得是波阿斯和路得的儿子，都是敬畏神的。整个家族对大卫的影响实在深远，所有他从小就爱神和神的话，正如他说：【我在母怀里，你就使我有倚靠的心。】（诗：22：9节） 《圣经》又让我们看见，先知撒母耳的信心是受母亲哈拿的影响，因此他愿意从小就远离父母，居住在耶和华的会幕中。提摩太从小明白《圣经》，对神有信心，乃因他的母亲友尼基和祖母罗以的影响（提后：1：5）。相反的，以色列王亚哈大大行恶，他的儿子效法他一味行恶，直到惹来神忿怒的审判。 弟兄姊妹们，我们应该敬虔爱主，叫我们的下一代也受影响同来爱主。自婴儿在母腹中，父母就当常为此代祷，直到他们一生在基督里成长，被主得着。这样一代影响一代的事奉主，多有福啊！

Jimmy Lau Psa 147:3   He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.  Who Are The Broken-Hearted? 1. Those whose hearts are broken by circumstances . Israel in exile was broken-hearted. Their spirit was crushed and broken by their long captivity: “ By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion ” (Psalm 137:1).   Your heart may be broken by the current pandemic affecting the whole world. Perhaps you have lost your job. Perhaps you have lost a loved one to the pandemic. Remember our God heals the broken-hearted and binds up the wounds. Psalm 119:50 says: “ This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. ”   The word “quickened” is an old English word which means to give life. In his most depressing moments, the Psalmist’s spirit was revived, comforted by the Word of God.   Today, when we are suffering afflictions, we can find the same comfort from the Word of God. Paul wrote: “ For ...

Jimmy Lau Psa 142:5   I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.  In this world, many find their refuge and portion in material possessions. The world is in a pandemic and a recession. If you have money saved up in the banks or if your job is secured, you have a good refuge and portion. But all the earthly refuge and portions cannot redeem our souls from a greater disaster – DEATH! Psalm 49:6 and 7 says: “ They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches ; None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him . ”  Riches cannot buy us a place in heaven.   Jeremiah wrote: “ The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him ” (Lamentations 3:24). Someone cleverly stated it this way: " Serve the Lord, the benefits package is out of this world !"   Christ is the world’s only answer for their sins. God made Christ the ref...

Jimmy Lau Only God can examine the thoughts of men: “ Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off ” (Psa 139 v.2).   Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising  – It means all our actions and all our movements. Men may see our actions but they cannot see the motives behind those actions. But God can! He knows us inside out!   Thou understandest my thought afar off  – Men examine the actions but God examines the thoughts. It is all right if our actions are misunderstood by men (as they are prone to do) because it is better to be vindicated by God than by men.   Thoughts make the men: “ But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies ” (Matthew 15:18, 19).   So, you see, no one knows us better than God. My wife may know much more about me than the...

Jimmy Lau  Psa 138:8   The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.  The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me – “Perfect” as used here means to bring it to completion. God will complete what He has begun.  What are the things that concern David that God will bring them to fruition? First and foremost is the kingdom. God promised David the kingship; David is confident He will bring it to pass. Never mind the current setbacks he is facing; David believes God will remove all those obstacles one by one until he is crowned king.  Life is not about not having obstacles but clearing obstacles. God allows us to go through trials to help us learn and grow: “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me” (v.7). We will never arrive at a point ...

Jimmy Lau Psa 134:3  The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.  Psalm 134 is the last and the shortest of the “Songs of Degrees” or Psalms of Ascent. We have learned that the Psalms of Ascent were originally sung by the pilgrims as they made their ascent up to Jerusalem for the great feasts. With this psalm, they had reached the top of the hill and were standing on top of Mount Zion, with the temple in front of them. The feeling was one of jubilation and the first thought was: “ Come, bless the LORD .”   It is a very important lesson for us: If we desire God’s blessings, we have first to bless Him. The true Zion is the church of God: “ But  ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem , and to innumerable hosts of angels ” (Hebrews 12:22, ASV). Are we in Zion paying our homage to God? The life that first blesses God is a life that will be blessed by God.   Some expect God to bless them first BEFORE th...

Jimmy Lau Life is joyous when we curb our passions. Paul is right: “ But godliness with contentment is great gain ” (1 Timothy 6:6). Contentment is finding joy in what God has given to us. The tendency for men is to want more. Contentment is an attitude learned from life. Paul says “ I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content ” (Philippians 4:12, ESV). Discontentment brings anxieties and unhappiness; contentment results in happiness. Choose contentment.   Psalm 131 is a very short psalm but it contains the secret to happiness: 1) Practise humility. 2) Learn contentment. 3) Live in hope.

Jimmy Lau The frightening news is that God does keep a record of sins. Read the following verses:   Matthew 25:42 : “ For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:  [43]  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. ” 2Corinthians 5:10 : “ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body,  according to that he hath done , whether it be good or bad .”  Revelation 20:13 : “ And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man  according to their works .”    The truth of the matter is, no one can stand before God  IN  his sin: “ For the wages of sin is death ” (Romans 6:23a). But, fear not, the Psalmist continues: “ But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared ” (Psa...

Jimmy Lau Life is a continuous struggle. Do you think that after you have retired from your work, you will not have any more struggles? Far from it. A new phase in life has its own struggles – old age diseases will start to appear, loneliness may come in especially if you have lost your life partner, and money may be an issue if you did not save enough for retirement. Life is a continuing battle, and it only ends when we cross over to the other side. Only true FAITH will win.   The Psalmist was an old man recalling the things since his youth. He had been there, done it. God was his victory (Psa. 129 v.4). He wants us to feel and live the FAITH we preach about. We need to trust that God will get us through the hard times: “ The LORD is righteous; he has cut the cords of the wicked ” (Psa. 129 v.4).

Jimmy Lau Psalm 109 is known as an Imprecatory Psalm . The word “Imprecatory” means “to swear, curse, or blaspheme, to invoke or bring down (evil, a curse, etc)” ( www.dictionary.com ). Imprecatory Psalms, are those that invoke judgment, calamity, or curses, upon one's enemies or those perceived as the enemies of God. In this psalm, we see David wishing calamities and destruction upon his enemies.   Psalm 109 begins with an appeal by David to God to hear his complaints about his enemies (v.1-5). He prays that they will be cursed and destroyed (v.6-20). He prays to God to bless him (v.21-31).   I feel uncomfortable when I read David’s prayer. Our Lord’s teaching is that we should “ Love your enemies,  bless them that curse you , do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you ” (Matthew 5:44).   The word “bless” means to speak well. Hence, as Christians, there is no room for us to curse our enemies. We should instead sp...

Jimmy Lau Psa 101:2   I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.  This psalm describes the rightful conduct of an Israelite king. It is applicable to us too. We can divide this psalm into two sections. In the first section (v.1-4), the Psalmist declares the principles on which he intends to act in his private life. In the second section (v.5-8), he declares that he will choose the right kind of friends and ministers.   I will walk within my house with a perfect heart  – It is easier for most folks to walk with a perfect heart in the Church, or even in the world, than in their own families; don’t you think so? It is easier to be a Mr. Nice Guy outside than at home.   David intends to start the perfect walk from his house. How will he do it? 1. It begins with his worship : “ I will sing of mercy and judgment ” (v.1). True piety begins at home. If there is no piety at home...