靈命日糧 - 2005年4月13日
讀經: 馬太福音26章17-30節

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金句: 「匠人所棄的石頭，已成了房角的頭塊石頭。」（詩篇118篇22節）

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全年讀經: 詩篇7-9篇  

猶太崇拜者頌讚詩篇113-118篇，以慶祝逾越節，這些經節也被稱為「紀念出埃及時的讚美詩」。慶祝活動隨著感謝上帝所賜給的自由和美好的生活而越來越高亢。活動在會眾取悅上帝與表達他們歡悅的頌讚聲中結束。一位猶太教士將這個活動解釋為體驗「對自由流露出的真情喜悅」。
當逾越節的聖餐快結束時，他們會唱下半段的讚美詩歌。據馬太福音記載，耶穌最後一次和祂的門徒一起慶祝完逾越節之後，「他們唱了詩，就出來往橄欖山去」（馬太福音26章30節）。他們可能也唱下面這首詩：


「匠人所棄的石頭，
已成了房角的頭塊石頭。
這是耶和華所做的，
在我們眼中看為希奇。
這是耶和華所定的日子，
我們在其中要高興歡喜。」
（詩篇118篇22-24節）
不管他們所唱的是哪一首詩，耶穌信靠天父的美好，是令人稱奇的。即使祂知道祂將經歷最黑暗的一天，祂還是能夠讚美父上帝。JAL


即使在最黑暗的日子，
我的心還是喜樂頌讚；
不是因上帝說我應該，
而是因我知祂的美善。Link


頌讚能減輕我們的重擔。
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The Darkest Day



Read:Matthew 26:17-30
The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. —Psalm 118:22


Bible In One Year: Psalm 7-9

To celebrate Passover, Jewish worshipers sing Psalms 113-118, a section called the "Egyptian Hallel." The ceremony builds to a crescendo of appreciation for freedom and the beauty of life given by God. It ends with participants singing and praising God both to please Him and to express their own pleasure. One rabbi explains it as experiencing the "emotional joy of freedom."

Near the end of the Passover meal, the second half of these Hallel psalms are sung. According to the gospel of Matthew, Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn and "went out to the Mount of Olives" after celebrating their last Passover together (26:30). They may well have sung this psalm:


The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the Lord's doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:22-24).

Regardless of which hymn they sang, the confidence Jesus had in the goodness of His heavenly Father is astounding. He was able to praise His Father even though He knew He was about to experience His darkest day. —Julie Link


Even on the darkest days
My heart sings in joyful praise,
Not because God says I should
But because I know He's good. —Link

Praise has the power to lighten our heaviest burden.