1 眾海島啊!你們要聽我的話。遠方的萬族啊!你們要留心聽。我在母胎的時候,耶和華就呼召了我;我出母腹的時候,他就提了我的名。
2 他使我的口如快刀,把我藏在他手的陰影之下;他又使我成為磨亮的箭,把我藏在他的箭袋裡。
3 他對我說:“你是我的僕人以色列,我要藉著你得榮耀。”
4 但我說:“我勞碌是徒然的;我用盡氣力,是虛無虛空的;然而我當得的公理是在耶和華那裡,我的賞賜是在我的 神那裡。”
5 現在,耶和華說:(他自我還在母胎的時候,就造了我作他的僕人,好使雅各回轉歸向他,使以色列可以聚集到他那裡;我在耶和華眼中被看為尊貴,我的 神是我的力量。)
6 “你作我的僕人,使雅各眾支派復興,使以色列中得保全的歸回,只是小事,我還要使你作列國的光,使我的救恩傳到地極。”
誦讀:以敞開的心緩慢,柔和地讀,小心地聆聽一字一句,細細體味誦讀的每一部分。注意哪些字、句的部分是今天特別為自己的。
默想:在誦讀中,如果發現某一字或某一句對自己有個別意義,就要對這字或句子反覆思想;可能是感動,欣慰,難過等等。
禱告:然後跟神說話。和神互動時,就像你與愛你、接納你的人交往一樣。告訴神你在默想時,在内心深處的自我覺察和發現。
安歇:最後,安歇在神的愛內;在愛我的神的臨在中,我歡愉地安歇著,無論是對話,或是我無言寂靜地安歇著(詩篇131:2)。
筆錄:將心中的思想,剛才的體驗,或是與神的禱告,記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。
另外讀經:約翰福音13:21-38
最後晚餐,耶穌預指賣祂的人。
1 Listen to me, you islands;
hear this, you distant nations:
Before I was born the LORD called me;
from my mother’s womb he has spoken my name.
2 He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me into a polished arrow
and concealed me in his quiver.
3 He said to me, “You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will display my splendor.”
4 But I said, “I have labored in vain;
I have spent my strength for nothing at all.
Yet what is due me is in the LORD’s hand,
and my reward is with my God.”
5 And now the LORD says—
he who formed me in the womb to be his servant
to bring Jacob back to him
and gather Israel to himself,
for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD
and my God has been my strength—
6 he says:
“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
Read slowly and gently through the passage. Savor each portion of the reading, listening for the “still, small voice” of a word or phrase that somehow says, “I am for you today.”
TAKE in the word or phrase that touches you. Memorize it and slowly repeat it to yourself, allowing it to interact with your inner world of concerns, memories and ideas.
SPEAK to God. Interact with God as you would with one who loves and accepts you. And give to Him what you have discovered in reading and reflection.
REST in God. Rejoicing in the knowledge that God is with you in both words and silence, in spiritual activity and inner receptivity.
Journaling: Write down your experience, any thought, and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.
Suggested Passion Week additional devotional reading: John 13:21-38
Jesus predicts his betrayal.