詩篇 119:57-80 Psalms 119:57-80
- 馬克牧師
- May 8
- 8 min read
各位弟兄姊妹平安，今天我們要一起分享的是詩篇119篇，第57到80節的經文。在這段經文中，有一個非常核心的主題，就是「受苦與美善」。
我們常常會問一個問題：為什麼好人會受苦？為什麼義人也要經歷苦難？作為基督徒，我們相信神是良善的，跟隨祂應該能帶來豐盛的生命與祝福——那為什麼我們仍然會遇見掙扎、困難，甚至是悲劇呢？
這是一個很多人都曾問過、甚至正在問的問題：如果神是良善的，為什麼祂的子民還要經歷這麼多的痛苦？為什麼信主之後，我們的人生沒有變得「更輕鬆」？
在詩篇119:57–80的經文中，有好幾節都直接提到詩人所經歷的苦難。像是第61節提到惡人的繩索纏繞他，第67節說他曾經走迷了路，第69節講到驕傲人編造謊言攻擊他，第78節甚至提到那些無理加害他的人。
但相對的，我們也看到詩人對苦難有非常不一樣的解讀。第68節說：「你本為善，所行的也善，求你將你的律例教訓我。」第71節說：「我受苦是與我有益，為要使我學習你的律例。」而第75節則說：「我知道你按公義判斷我，使我受苦，是以誠實待我。」
這裡揭示了一個非常深刻的觀點，也是基督信仰中對「苦難」最獨特、最具盼望的解釋。
在傳統的因果報應觀念中，苦難常被看作是「償還」。也就是說，你這輩子受苦，是因為前世做錯事，現在來還債。所以在這種邏輯下，苦難是有罪的結果，是不好的。這不僅僅是一個不夠透徹的說法，也讓那些身在苦難中的人更失去盼望，覺得自己是 “活該”。
孟子則將對苦難的解釋層次更提升一些，他說：「天將降大任於斯人也，必先苦其心志、勞其筋骨……」這代表苦難是一種訓練，是為了承擔更大的責任，這讓苦難具有目的與價值。
但基督教的觀點比這更高。聖經說：苦難本身可以是神的愛，是祂以誠實對待我們、為了我們的益處而允許發生的事。它不是單純的懲罰，也不只是訓練，更是愛的安排，是神用來雕塑我們生命、讓我們更靠近祂、學習祂話語的方式。就如父母教訓孩子，可能杖責和責罵會帶來一些痛楚，但出發點是愛，而造成的改變是一生之久，是孩子能夠走上正路，這樣看來，短暫的痛苦對於未來獲得的好處是極輕的代價。
在詩人眼中，受苦不是咒詛，而是通往祝福的通道；不是神的離棄，而是祂信實的印記。受苦更是一種 “包裝過後的祝福”。在詩篇119:57–80這段經文中，詩人表達了他在困難與壓力中，如何緊緊抓住神的話語。特別是在第67節他說：「我未受苦以先走迷了路，現在卻遵守你的話。」這是一個靈命中的轉折點——苦難並沒有讓他遠離神，反而讓他更深認識神話語的寶貴。
第71節更直接指出：「我受苦是與我有益，為要使我學習你的律例。」這不是一種逃避痛苦的心理安慰，而是一種屬靈的眼光——苦難成為屬靈成長的催化劑，讓人更深扎根在神的應許中。
整段經文充滿了對神話語的堅持（第61節：「惡人的繩索纏繞我，我卻沒有忘記你的律法」），也有對神信實的依靠（第76節：「願你的慈愛安慰我，照你向你僕人所應許的」）。這顯示出，詩人不只是把神的話當知識，而是視為在混亂和苦痛中唯一穩固的依靠。
神的話語不是讓苦難消失，而是在苦難中成為引路的光、安慰的泉源。甚至它還有一個重要的作用：讓我們更緊抓住神的應許，讓我們更靠近神。以我自己為例，我記得自己最緊抓神的時候，就是那些令我被欺騙，被背叛，心中痛苦的時候，我的禱告更為懇切，我讀經的時候像是溺水的人找尋上帝話語中的浮木。回頭看看，這些時候也是讓我更為堅強，更為穩固的一段重要的訓練。這裡其實也觸碰到一個很重要的信仰現象，那就是現代教會裡有些「榮耀神學」或「成功神學」的傾向，會傾向淡化甚至避開苦難的主題。
有一派基督徒認為，講太多關於苦難的經文，比如以色列國的滅亡、大衛的犯罪、先知們的逼迫，或者使徒的受苦，會讓信徒灰心，覺得信主之後怎麼還要經歷這些低谷。為了保護信徒的心，他們選擇不談這些經文，甚至把「信主就得豐盛」、「有信心就不會苦難」當作教導的主軸。
但當我們真正去看耶穌的一生，我們會發現：祂真正的重點並不在於祂行的神蹟、地上的成就，或那些曾經短暫的榮耀，而是在於祂最終走向十字架的那條苦路。
耶穌清楚地說過：「若有人要跟從我，就當捨己，天天背起他的十字架來跟從我。」祂沒有避開苦難，祂反而走進苦難，親自承擔我們的罪與痛苦，為的是愛、為的是救贖。而這，就是基督信仰的核心力量。
我們的盼望，不是來自地上暫時的豐盛，而是來自在苦難中與神的同行。就像詩篇119這段經文所表達的，苦難不是毫無意義的挫折，而是神雕塑我們的工具，是祂愛的方式。
保羅也說：「萬事都互相效力，叫愛神的人得益處。」這「萬事」不只是好事，也包括那些我們不理解、甚至讓我們痛苦的事。因為神的手在其中，祂知道怎麼透過每一次修剪、每一次打磨，使我們的生命更合祂心意。
所以，如果你正在經歷苦難，不要覺得這是信心的失敗，也不要以為神離棄了你。相反，這可能正是祂最貼近你的時候。祂在這過程中做工，是為了使你成長、使你得著真正的益處。
若我們正在經歷傷心事，若我們看見了身邊的人受傷，甚至遭遇到相當悲傷的事情，願你能夠從這一段經文得安慰。請記得，上帝的話語不動搖，上帝的應許不動搖，在地上仍有苦難，但上帝與我們同行。祂與我們同歡笑，同悲傷，而我們也不只是定睛在地上的事，這是我們通往天國的必經之路，而在那終點我們知道，我們是充滿榮耀和喜樂的。
感謝各位的聆聽，我們明天繼續分享詩篇119篇豐盛的信息。願上帝祝福各位。
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, peace to you all.
Today we’re going to reflect on Psalm 119, verses 57 to 80. A key theme in this passage is the connection between suffering and goodness.
We often wrestle with the question: Why do good people suffer? Why do the righteous face hardship? As Christians, we believe God is good. We expect that following Him should lead to a blessed and abundant life. Yet we still encounter struggle, pain, and sometimes even tragedy.
This is a question many have asked, and perhaps you are asking it now: If God is good, why do His people go through so much suffering? Why doesn't life get easier after we come to faith?
In this portion of Psalm 119, the psalmist speaks honestly about suffering. Verse 61 describes how the wicked have bound him with ropes. Verse 67 tells us he went astray before he was afflicted. In verse 69, the proud have forged lies against him. And in verse 78, he mentions those who wronged him without cause.
Yet the psalmist doesn’t stop there. He offers a profound interpretation of suffering. Verse 68 says, “You are good, and what You do is good; teach me Your decrees.” Verse 71 declares, “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn Your decrees.” And verse 75 says, “I know, O Lord, that Your laws are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.”
Here we see one of the most hopeful and unique perspectives on suffering in the Christian faith.
In traditional karma-based beliefs, suffering is often seen as repayment for wrongdoing in a previous life. The logic says: You're suffering now because you sinned before. This turns suffering into a punishment, a debt to be repaid—something shameful.
Confucian thought, particularly in the words of Mencius, offers a nobler view: “When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on someone, it first frustrates their spirit and hardens their resolve…” In other words, suffering is a preparation for greater responsibility.
But the Christian perspective goes even further. The Bible teaches that suffering can be an expression of God's love. It’s not simply punishment or training—it’s purposeful. It’s how God lovingly shapes us, draws us closer to Himself, and helps us internalize His Word. Like a parent who disciplines a child—not out of cruelty, but out of deep care—God allows temporary pain for long-term good. In that light, our suffering is not meaningless, but a precious part of our sanctification.
To the psalmist, affliction is not a curse—it’s the doorway to blessing. It’s not a sign of God’s absence, but a mark of His faithfulness. In a way, suffering becomes a “gift wrapped in pain.”
In verses 57–80, the psalmist shows us how he clings to God’s Word in the midst of hardship. Verse 67 says, “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey Your word.” That’s a turning point—not away from God, but toward Him. Suffering didn’t drive the psalmist to bitterness; it drove him deeper into God's truth.
Verse 71 says directly, “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn Your decrees.” This isn’t shallow comfort—it’s spiritual insight. Suffering becomes a catalyst for spiritual growth, pushing the psalmist to sink deeper roots into God’s promises.
We see his unwavering trust in Scripture (v. 61: “Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget Your law”) and his dependence on God’s faithfulness (v. 76: “May Your unfailing love be my comfort, according to Your promise to Your servant”). God’s Word wasn’t just information to him—it was his anchor amid the storm.
God’s Word doesn’t always remove the suffering, but it becomes our light in the darkness, our comfort in pain. In fact, it often draws us closer to God. Personally, I’ve found that the times I clung most tightly to God’s promises were the times I was heartbroken—when I had been betrayed, disappointed, or left in pain. My prayers became more earnest. I read Scripture like a drowning person clinging to driftwood. Looking back, those seasons became the most formative and strengthening times in my spiritual walk.
This touches on a broader issue in the modern church—the tendency in some circles, particularly in "glory theology" or "prosperity gospel" teachings, to avoid the topic of suffering altogether.
Some Christians believe that focusing on suffering—like Israel’s fall, David’s failure, the suffering of the prophets and apostles—might discourage believers. They worry it will dampen our faith. So they downplay it and emphasize only the blessing, success, and joy of following Jesus.
But when we look at Jesus Himself, we see a very different message. His mission wasn’t about earthly fame or worldly comfort. His greatest moment of glory was not walking on water or feeding the five thousand—it was walking toward the cross.
Jesus said, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” He didn’t avoid suffering. He embraced it, endured it, and carried it for our sake. That is the true power of the Christian message.
Our hope isn’t based on temporary ease or worldly wealth. It’s rooted in walking with God through suffering. Just like Psalm 119 reveals—suffering isn’t a dead end; it’s a tool in the hands of a loving God. It’s how He chisels away what doesn’t belong and shapes us into something more like Christ.
As Paul reminds us: “In all things God works for the good of those who love Him.” And “all things” includes pain, confusion, and even loss. God’s hand is present in every pruning, every trial, every tear.
So if you’re in a season of suffering, don’t assume it means you’ve failed in faith, and don’t believe that God has abandoned you. It might be the very opposite—He may be drawing nearer than ever, shaping you for something deeper.
If you're grieving, if you’re seeing others suffer, or if you’re walking through deep sadness yourself, I pray this passage brings you comfort. Remember: God's Word never fails. His promises are unshakable. Yes, in this world we will have trouble—but we are never alone. God walks with us through every moment—He rejoices with us, He weeps with us. And our eyes are not fixed only on this world, but on the kingdom to come.
This road we walk leads to a place of glory and eternal joy.
Thank you for listening. Tomorrow, we’ll continue exploring the richness of Psalm 119. May the Lord bless you all.
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