Sing again 再次歌唱
Dexu Xia
Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel! Zephaniah 3:14
Australia’s regent honeyeater bird is in trouble—it’s losing its song. Though once an abundant species, just three hundred birds now remain; and with so few others to learn from, the males are forgetting their unique song and failing to attract mates.
Thankfully, conservationists plan to rescue the honeyeaters by singing to them. Or, more precisely, play them recordings of other honeyeaters singing so they can relearn their heart song. As the males pick up the tune and attract females again, it’s hoped the species will flourish once more.
The prophet Zephaniah addressed a people in trouble. With so much corruption among them, he announced that God’s judgment was coming (Zephaniah 3:1–8). When this later came to pass through capture and exile, the people too lost their song (Psalm 137:4). But Zephaniah foresaw a time beyond judgment when God would come to this decimated people, forgive their sins, and sing to them: “He will take great delight in you, in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). As a result, the heart song of the people would be restored (v. 14).
Whether through our own disobedience or the trials of life, we too can lose our heart song of joy. But a Voice is singing over us songs of forgiveness and love. Let’s listen to His melody and sing along.
When do you find it hardest to retain your joy in God? What song, poem, or prayer can you give to God in response to His rejoicing over You?
Loving God, it’s amazing to imagine that You would sing songs of joy over me. I praise You and sing my own song of praise to You.
锡安的民哪，应当歌唱！以色列啊，应当欢呼！—西番雅书3章14节
澳洲的摄政食蜜鸟正身处险境，它所唱的歌正在消失。这种鸟类曾一度数量繁盛，但现在只剩下约300只。由于太少可供学习的对象，雄鸟忘记了它们独特的求偶之歌，因此也无法吸引配偶，加速这种罕见鸟类走向灭绝。
幸好保育人士有一个拯救的计划，就是唱歌给它们听。或者更准确地说，是播放其他摄政食蜜鸟的唱歌录音，好让它们重新学习它们心中的歌。这个计划希望雄鸟学会了求偶的歌曲，能再次吸引雌鸟，使这个物种重新繁盛起来。
先知西番雅亦曾向身处险境的百姓讲话。因为百姓道德败坏，信仰堕落，西番雅宣告上帝的审判即将来临（西番雅书3章1-8节）。这个预言在犹大百姓后来被掳到巴比伦时应验了，那时他们也同样无法唱他们的歌（诗篇137篇4节）。但西番雅也预见审判后的情景，那时上帝会临到遭受重创的百姓当中，赦免他们的罪，并向他们歌唱。西番雅说﹕“祂在你中间必因你欢欣喜乐，默然爱你，且因你喜乐而欢呼”（西番雅书3章17节）。因为这样，人们能再次唱出心中的歌（14节）。
不顺服或生活的磨难，也可能让我们失去心中的乐歌。但上帝正向我们唱宽恕和慈爱之歌，让我们聆听祂的旋律并与祂一起歌唱吧！
你觉得什么时候最难保持在上帝里面的喜乐？
上帝因你喜乐，你会用什么歌曲、
诗词或祷告来回应祂呢？
慈爱的上帝，当我想到祢会为我唱喜乐的歌，
就觉得这真是太奇妙了！
我要赞美祢，并向祢唱出我自己的赞美之歌。