Read: Psalm 121

We find refuge in the Lord.

耶和华是我的避难所。

The  is your shade at your right hand. Psalm 121:5

耶和华在你右边荫庇你。-诗篇121篇5节

Living in Britain, I don’t usually worry about sunburn. After all, the sun is often blocked by a thick cover of clouds. But recently I spent some time in Spain, and I quickly realized that with my pale skin, I could only be out in the sunshine for ten minutes before I needed to scurry back under the umbrella.

我住在英国，从来不必担心会被烈日灼伤，因为这里天气阴霾，太阳常被厚厚的云层遮蔽。然而，最近我到西班牙小住，很快就领教到艳阳的威力。我的皮肤比较白，只要在阳光下逗留十分钟，就必须躲到伞下，寻找遮荫，否则就会被晒伤。

As I considered the scorching nature of the Mediterranean sun, I began to understand more deeply the meaning of the image of the Lord God as His people’s shade at their right hand. Residents of the Middle East knew unrelenting heat, and they needed to find shelter from the sun’s burning rays.

体验了西班牙骄阳似火的气候，让我明白为何诗人说，耶和华在祂百姓的右边荫庇他们。因为中东地区的天气更加酷热难耐，使他们不得不寻找荫庇之处，以防止灼伤。

The psalmist uses this picture of the Lord as shade in Psalm 121, which can be understood as a conversation on a heart level—a dialogue with oneself about the Lord’s goodness and faithfulness. When we use this psalm in prayer, we reassure ourselves that the Lord will never leave us, for He forms a protective covering over us. And just as we take shelter from the sun underneath umbrellas, so too can we find a safe place in the Lord.

在诗篇121篇，诗人不只将耶和华描述为荫庇之所，在诗中他也自问自答，句句皆发自肺腑，由衷称颂上帝的慈爱和信实。我们可以用诗篇121篇做为祷词，提醒自己上帝永不离弃我们，并且荫庇着我们。正如我们在艳阳天会躲进伞底下一样，我们在困难时也能以上帝为避难所。

We lift our eyes to the “Maker of heaven and earth” (vv. 1–2) because whether we are in times of sunshine or times of rain, we receive His gifts of protection, relief, and refreshment.

我们要仰望“造天地的耶和华” (1-2节) ，因为无论是顺境或逆境，我们都能得着耶和华所赐的保护、安慰和力量。

Heavenly Father, You protect me. Shield me from anything that would take my focus away from You.

天父，恳求祢保护我，荫庇我，让我心单属于祢。除祢以外，别无眷恋。

Psalm 121  A song of ascents.

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—    where does my help come from?       2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel   will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,  nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—  he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

整理：于姊妹