United at Last 万民合一

[Dexu Xia]

All my fountains are in you. Psalm 87:7

In 1960, Otto Preminger provoked controversy with his movie Exodus. Based on Leon Uris’ novel, it provides a fictional account of Jewish refugees emigrating to Palestine after World War II. The film concludes with the bodies of a young European-Jewish girl and an Arab man, both murder victims, buried in the same grave in what would soon be the nation of Israel.

Preminger leaves the conclusion to us. Is this a metaphor for despair, a dream forever buried? Or is it a symbol of hope, as two peoples with a history of hatred and hostilities come together—in death and in life?

Perhaps the sons of Korah, credited with writing Psalm 87, would take the latter view of this scene. They anticipated a peace we still await. Of Jerusalem, they wrote, “Glorious things are said of you, city of God” (v. 3). They sang of a day when nations—all with a history of warring against the Jewish people—will come together to acknowledge the one true God: Rahab (Egypt), Babylon, the Philistines, Tyre, Cush (v. 4). All will be drawn to Jerusalem, and to God.

The conclusion of the psalm is celebratory. People in Jerusalem will sing, “All my fountains [springs] are in you” (v. 7). Who are they singing of? The One who is the Living Water, the Source of all life (John 4:14). Jesus is the only one who can bring lasting peace and unity.  By:  Tim Gustafson

What conflicts, both global and personal, cause you distress? How will you trust God to bring about His peace?

I pray, Father, for the peace and unity of all people as they’re drawn to Your Son

我的泉源都在祢里面。—诗篇87篇7节

在1960年，奥图·普里明杰（Otto Preminger）的电影《出埃及记》引发争议。这部电影是根据利昂·乌里斯（Leon Uris）的小说改编，讲述一个在二战后犹太难民移民到巴勒斯坦的虚构故事。电影结尾是一位年轻的欧洲犹太裔女孩和一位阿拉伯裔男子都被谋杀，双双被埋葬在同一个坟墓中，而那里即将成为以色列的国土。

普里明杰将结论留给观众想像。这是绝望的隐喻，梦想永远被埋葬？还是象征希望，两个相互仇视的民族将同生共死？

或许撰写诗篇87篇的可拉后裔，会以盼望的眼光来看这个场景。他们所期待的，正是你我仍在等待的和平。关于耶路撒冷，他们写道：“上帝的城啊，有荣耀的事乃指着你说的”（3节）。他们高歌吟唱，有一天所有曾与犹太人交战的民族，例如拉哈伯（埃及）人、巴比伦人、非利士人、推罗人和古实人都会聚集在一起，承认那位独一真神（4节）。万民都会被吸引到耶路撒冷，也来到上帝的面前。

这首诗篇是以颂赞为结语，那些在耶路撒冷的人将要高唱：“我的泉源都在祢里面”（7节）。这个“祢”是指谁呢？就是耶稣，祂是活水也是生命的源头（约翰福音4章14节），唯有祂能带来永远的和平与合一。

作者：  葛庭墨

哪些国际或个人的冲突会令你感到忧伤？
你如何相信上帝会带来祂的平安？

对于在世上陷于焦虑和恐惧的人来说，确知自己有个永恒的天家能使他们拥有极大的盼望。

天父，恳求祢让万民被耶稣基督所吸引，好让所有人都能合一，和平共处。