他发了誓，虽然自己吃亏，也不更改

亚洲路德宗神学院「每週灵粮」

诗篇 15:4 ……他发了誓，虽然自己吃亏，也不更改

《论语》孔子说：“君子耻，其言而过其行” – 君子言胜于行。孔子在此处和其他段落中，对我们的「言语」讲了很多教训，因为他认识到人类语言的力量。他看到当我们作出承诺时，手中便握著了未来的自己。我们说 : “我会成为某某” 或 “我会做这个或那个”。而当我们履行誓言时，过去的我和现在的我便连结起来，成为一个更整全一体的人。但是当我们不信守承诺，我们不仅辜负了他人，还使自己分裂了。

圣经 ，不单是智慧话语，还是上帝的说话 – 对我们的「言语」也有很多教导。这篇诗篇特别告诉我们，无论多麽痛苦，都必须要信守承诺。在圣经的其他部分，也教导我们要避免流言蜚语，不要自夸。如果我们能完全遵守这些事情，不说闲话、不自夸、不说谎，我们就会像上帝一样完全（雅各书 3:2）。

然而，如果我们说别人的闲话、不遵守诺言、夸耀自己，我们便无法像上帝一样完全；我们必须像诗篇 15:1 那样发问：“谁能寄居你的帐幕？谁能住在你的圣山？” 谁可以一直信守承诺？谁从未侮辱过朋友或邻居？谁人从不说谎？当然不是我们。

但感恩的是，上帝是信守承诺的。祂应许要派一位救赎者来过完美的生活和说话完全（彼得前书 2:22）。感谢上帝差遣了耶稣为我们过了完美的一生；感谢上帝差遣耶稣为我们死，使我们得著新生命，并且在祂裡面变得完整。虽然现在我们有时仍然未有守住承诺，但靠著基督的力量，纵然会受伤，我们也会继续努力遵守诺言。

你今天说话如何可以小心一些？
今天在与他人交谈之前，请先祈祷上帝会给你话语。

祷告：主上帝，我的话并不完美。当我自吹自擂，反对我的邻居，或当我没有信守承诺时，请原谅我。请帮助我记住祢是一位可靠的上帝，不说谎、信实可靠。并请你赐下神圣灵，让我活得可以更加像祢。阿门。

Keeping an Oath

ALS Weekly Devotions

Psalm 15:4 … who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind;

In the Analects Kongzi says,”君子恥，其言而過其行”,”The gentleman is ashamed when his words exceed his actions.” In this and other passages, Confucius has much to say about what we say. This is because he recognizes the power of human speech. He sees that when we make a promise we are holding our future selves in our hand. We say, “I will be such-and-such” and “I will do this or that.” When we do it, when we fulfill our vows, there is a continuity between our past selves and current selves, we are, as it were, a more whole, complete person. When fail to keep our word, however, we fail not only others, but we splinter our very selves.
The Bible too—which is much more than wises words, it is the very word of God—has much to say about how we speak. This psalm in particular tells us that no matter how much it hurts, we must keep our word. In other places the Bible tells us to avoid gossip and that we must not boast in ourselves. If we could do these things perfectly, never gossip, never boast, and never lie, we would be whole as God is whole (James 3:2).
Yet if gossiping about others, if not keeping our word, and if boasting about ourselves all keep us from being whole like God, we must ask, as Psalm 15:1 one does, “How can we dwell in God’s sanctuary? Or live on his holy hill?” For what person has always kept their word? Who has never insulted a friend or neighbor? Who has never told a lie? Certainly not us.
Thankfully, however, God always keeps his word. He promised to send a redeemer, one who would live a perfect life, one’s who’s words would be perfect (1 Peter 2:22). Thank God for sending Jesus to live and speak perfectly for us. Thank God for sending Jesus to die for us that we may have new life and be whole in him. Now, though we sometimes fail in keeping our word, by the power of Christ let us strive to keep our word, even if it hurts.

How can you be careful when you speak today?
Before speaking with others today say a prayer that God might give you words to say.
Prayer: Lord God, my words are not always perfect. Please forgive me when I boast in myself, when I speak against my neighbor or when I fail to keep a promise. Help me to remember that you are a trustworthy God who does not lie and you always keep your promises. Give me your Spirit that I might live more like you. Amen.