84:1 (可拉後裔的詩,交與伶長。用迦特樂器。)萬軍之耶和華啊,你的居所何等可愛!
84:2 我羨慕渴想耶和華的院宇;我的心腸,我的肉體向永生上帝呼籲(或譯:歡呼)。
84:3 萬軍之耶和華─我的王,我的上帝啊,在你祭壇那裡,麻雀為自己找著房屋,燕子為自己找著菢雛之窩。
84:4 如此住在你殿中的便為有福!他們仍要讚美你。(細拉)
84:5 靠你有力量、心中想往錫安大道的,這人便為有福!
84:6 他們經過流淚谷,叫這谷變為泉源之地;並有秋雨之福蓋滿了全谷。
84:7 他們行走,力上加力,各人到錫安朝見上帝。
84:8 耶和華─萬軍之上帝啊,求你聽我的禱告!雅各的上帝啊,求你留心聽!(細拉)
84:9 上帝啊,你是我們的盾牌;求你垂顧觀看你受膏者的面!
84:10 在你的院宇住一日,勝似在別處住千日;寧可在我上帝殿中看門,不願住在惡人的帳棚裡。
84:11 因為耶和華─上帝是日頭,是盾牌,要賜下恩惠和榮耀。他未嘗留下一樣好處不給那些行動正直的人。
84:12 萬軍之耶和華啊,倚靠你的人便為有福!
For the director of music. According to gittith.[b] Of the Sons
of Korah. A psalm.
1 How
lovely is your dwelling place,
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,
Lord
Almighty, my King and my God.
4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.[c]
5 Blessed
are those whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
they make it a place of springs;
the autumn rains also cover it with pools.[d]
7 They go from strength to strength,
till each appears before God in Zion.
8 Hear
my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
listen to me, God of Jacob.
9 Look on our shield,[e] 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 Lord Almighty,
blessed is the one who trusts in you.
**************
在禮拜一開始的宣召,這首詩篇是非常適合的!當然在這裡說到:「萬軍之耶和華啊,你的居所何等可愛!我羨慕渴想耶和華的院宇;我的心腸,我的肉體向永生上帝呼籲(或譯:歡呼)。萬軍之耶和華─我的王,我的上帝啊,在你祭壇那裡,麻雀為自己找著房屋,燕子為自己找著菢雛之窩。如此住在你殿中的便為有福!他們仍要讚美你。」
當然這不是在讚美禮拜的地方,而是心中渴望與上帝同在,因為有上帝同在的地方就是聖殿了!就像雅各要到他的舅舅拉班的家,在野外睡覺的時候,與上的在夢中相遇,雅各睡醒了,說:「耶和華真在這裡,我竟不知道!」就懼怕,說:「這地方何等可畏!這不是別的,乃是上帝的殿,也是天的門。」(創世記28:16-17)
我們要弄清楚詩人真正的意思,就是渴望與上帝同在!正如我們到教會禮拜,除了是週期性的活動,更是渴望上帝的同在,並且經歷與上帝相遇和交流的時光!
因此,到教會不是看禮拜堂有多雄偉,詩班和敬拜讚美的詩歌很感動,還是牧師講道很激勵人!這些都是次要,最重要的是要透過耶穌基督與上帝相遇,生命得著更新!