Remembering to Forget 铭记恩典有助忘却痛苦
Dexu Xia
Why, my soul, are you downcast? . . . Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 42:5
Today’s Scripture Psalm 42:1-8
Today's Insights
Psalm 42 is a song of ups and downs. The singer rises to crescendo (vv. 1-4) with a statement of praise and celebration, joining the throng in worship (presumably at the temple or tabernacle). The singer then expresses a deep emotional low, “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (v. 5). This pattern follows in the remainder of the psalm by showing the psalmist’s trust in Him in verse 8 only to repeat his lament in verse 11. When he feels that He has forsaken him (vv. 9-10), he remembers to put his “hope in God” (v. 11). Today, when we find it difficult to move beyond our pain, it can provide comfort to remember that God is faithful.
Today's Devotional
Author Richard Mouw tells of a Black theologian from South Africa who struggled with dark memories of life under apartheid. Mouw wrote, “He told a story about an African child whose teacher asked her to define ‘memory.’ After thinking about it, the child said, ‘Memory is that thing that helps me to forget.’ ” Out of the mouths of babes! Her past held much she didn’t want to recall, so she wanted to remember the good things.
Many carry the scars of terrible, seemingly unforgettable things. But that child’s wisdom offers hope. If we learn to remember better things, those memories can strengthen us to move forward from our painful past. In Psalm 42, the psalmist feels like a deer running for its life. However, he also says, “These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng” (v. 4).
The singer’s memories of worshiping God encouraged him to praise, even in the midst of pain. “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God” (v. 5). Remembering who our God is—and that we are His—can help us move beyond the painful past we can’t forget.
Reflect & Pray
What dark memories of struggles and pains haunt you? How will you allow the God of all hope to move you beyond them?
Dear Father, You know my scars and wounds, my anger and grief. Please wrap me in Your goodness and mercy; give me healing from hurts long past but not forgotten.
By Bill Crowder
我的心哪，你为何忧闷？……应当仰望神，因我还要称赞他，他是我救主，我的神。（诗篇 42:5）
今日经文：诗篇 42篇1-8 节
今日感悟 诗篇 42 篇是一首跌宕起伏的诗歌。诗人以赞美和欢庆的宣告将情感推向高潮（1-4 节），加入到敬拜的人群中（大概是在圣殿或会幕里）。随后，诗人表达了深深的忧伤：“我的心哪，你为何忧闷？为何在我里面烦躁不安？应当仰望神，因我还要称赞他，他是我救主，我的神。”（5 节）诗篇其余部分也遵照同样的模式：诗人在第8节表达了对神的信赖，却在11节再次发出哀叹。当他感到神离弃他时（9-10节），他提醒自己要“仰望神”（11节）。今天，当我们难以走出痛苦时，铭记神的信实就能得到安慰。
今日灵修 作者理查德·穆讲述了一位来自南非的黑人神学家的故事，他曾饱受种族隔离时期黑暗记忆的折磨。穆写道：“他讲了一个非洲小女孩的故事，老师让她解释‘记忆’的含义。小女孩想了想，说：‘记忆就是帮助我忘却（痛苦）的东西。’”真是童言无忌！她的过去充满了她不愿回忆的痛苦，所以她只想记住美好的事物。许多人身上都带着可怕的、看似无法忘记的伤痕。但那孩童的智慧却带来了希望。如果我们学会铭记美好的事物，这些记忆就能赋予我们力量，帮助我们走出痛苦的过去。在诗篇42篇中，诗人感觉自己如同逃命的鹿。然而，他也写道：“我倾心吐意，追念这些事：我曾在全能者的庇护下，到神的殿，在欢呼赞美的人群中”（第4节）。 诗人对敬拜神的记忆激励着他，即使在痛苦之中也能赞美神。“我的心哪，你为何忧闷？为何在我里面烦躁？应当仰望神，因我还要称赞他，他是我救主，是我的神”（第5节）。记住我们的神是怎样的神，以及我们是属于他的，可以帮助我们超越那些无法忘记的痛苦过去。
反思与祷告 哪些关于挣扎和痛苦的黑暗记忆萦绕着你？你将如何让那位赐予一切希望的神引领你超越这一切？ 亲爱的天父，你了解我的伤痕和创伤，我的愤怒和悲伤。请用你的良善和怜悯拥抱我；医治我那些久远却难以磨灭的伤痛。 比尔·克劳德