Sermon Summary
讲道摘要
Sermon Title: The Faithful God
讲道主题：《信实的上帝》
Scripture Passage: Psalm 121
**经文：**诗篇 121 篇
Sermon By: Marianne Liaw
**讲员：**廖玛丽安
Transcript-Based Summary
根据讲道实录整理
Introduction
引言
Psalm 121 is one of the Songs of Ascent (Psalms 120–134), sung by the Israelites as they journeyed toward Jerusalem for worship. These were not leisure trips. The road was dangerous, steep, and filled with uncertainty. As pilgrims ascended the hills, they sang to remind themselves of who God is and where their hope truly lies.
诗篇 121 篇是“上行之诗”（诗篇 120–134 篇）之一，是以色列人在前往耶路撒冷敬拜时所唱的诗歌。这并不是轻松的旅程，而是充满危险、艰难与未知。当朝圣者攀登山路时，他们用诗歌提醒自己：上帝是谁，他们真正的盼望在哪里。
The psalm opens with a deeply human question:
诗篇以一个极其真实的人性问题开始：
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?” (Psalm 121:1)
“我要向山举目；我的帮助从何而来？”（诗篇 121:1）
This is not a poetic reflection on scenic beauty, but a cry of dependence in the face of danger. In the same way, believers today are pilgrims on a journey through life—facing grief, illness, injustice, fear, abandonment, and unanswered questions. Psalm 121 invites us to confront our realities honestly and to place our trust in the faithful God.
这并不是对美景的诗意描写，而是在危险面前发出的依靠呼喊。同样，今天的信徒也是人生旅途中的朝圣者，面对忧伤、疾病、不公、恐惧、被遗弃与无解的问题。诗篇 121 篇邀请我们诚实面对现实，并将信靠放在那位信实的上帝身上。
Main Points
主要信息
1. The Question We All Ask: Where Does My Help Come From?
1. 我们都会问的问题：我的帮助从何而来？
Scripture: Psalm 121:1
**经文：**诗篇 121:1
Life’s journey is filled with “hills”—moments of hardship, loss, pain, and uncertainty. Scripture does not deny these realities, nor does it call believers to pretend that everything is fine. Instead, the psalmist voices the question many carry silently in their hearts.
人生的旅途充满“高山”——艰难、失落、痛苦与不确定。圣经并不否认这些现实，也不要求信徒假装一切都很好。相反，诗人替许多人说出了心中真实的疑问。
This question confronts every believer:
What are the hills you are facing today?
Who or what are you turning to for help?
这个问题挑战每一位信徒：
你目前正面对哪些人生的高山？
你正向谁，或向什么寻求帮助？
2. Our Help Comes from the Lord, the Creator
2. 我们的帮助来自创造主耶和华
Scripture: Psalm 121:2
**经文：**诗篇 121:2
“My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
“我的帮助从造天地的耶和华而来。”
The psalmist answers his own question by affirming that help comes from the Lord—not from circumstances, strength, or human systems, but from the Creator of all things.
诗人自己回答了这个问题：帮助不是来自环境、能力或人所建立的系统，而是来自那位创造万有的主。
Key Truth:
Faith is strengthened when we remember who God is, especially in times of difficulty.
核心真理：
当我们在困境中重新认识上帝是谁，信心就会被坚固。
3. God’s Help Is Constant and Unceasing
3. 上帝的帮助是持续不断的
Scripture: Psalm 121:3–4
**经文：**诗篇 121:3–4
“He who watches over you will not slumber… the Lord will neither slumber nor sleep.”
“保护你的必不打盹；保护以色列的，也不打盹，也不睡觉。”
Unlike human caregivers who grow tired or fail, God’s watchful care never stops. He is always attentive, always present, and always active.
与会疲惫、失误的人不同，上帝的看顾从不停止；祂始终警醒、同在，并且持续作工。
Key Truth:
God’s protection over His people is continuous—day and night.
核心真理：
上帝对祂子民的保护是全天候、昼夜不息的。
4. God’s Help Is Comprehensive and Protective
4. 上帝的帮助是全面且守护的
Scripture: Psalm 121:5–6
**经文：**诗篇 121:5–6
“The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand.”
“保护你的是耶和华；耶和华在你右边荫庇你。”
God is described as our keeper—one who guards, preserves, and protects. His help covers every area of life, shielding His people from both seen and unseen dangers.
上帝被称为我们的“保护者”，祂看守、保守并守护我们。祂的帮助涵盖生命的各个层面，遮挡看得见与看不见的危险。
Key Truth:
God’s care often goes beyond what we can perceive or understand.
核心真理：
上帝的看顾常常超越我们的察觉与理解。
5. God’s Help Is Eternal and Assured
5. 上帝的帮助是永恒而确实的
Scripture: Psalm 121:7–8
**经文：**诗篇 121:7–8
“The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
“耶和华要保护你出你入，从今时直到永远。”
This promise extends beyond the present life into eternity. Its ultimate fulfillment is found in Jesus Christ, who bore our sins on the cross.
这个应许不只关乎今生，更延伸到永恒。它最终的成就在耶稣基督身上——祂在十字架上担当了我们的罪。
Key Truth:
Because of the cross, believers can face life and death with confidence.
核心真理：
因着十字架，信徒可以坦然面对生命与死亡。
Conclusion
结论
Psalm 121 reminds us that the Christian life is not free from hardship, but it is never free from God’s presence. The faithful God does not promise an easy journey, but He promises to keep His people.
诗篇 121 篇提醒我们：基督徒的人生并不免除艰难，却永不缺少上帝的同在。信实的上帝未应许平坦的道路，却应许必定看顾祂的子民。
Takeaway Message
带走的信息
Life’s journey includes difficult hills, but we do not walk alone.
God’s help is constant, comprehensive, and eternal.
Because of Christ, we can trust God in both life and death.
人生的旅程虽有高山，但我们不是独自前行。
上帝的帮助是持续的、全面的、永恒的。
因着基督，我们在生与死中都能信靠上帝。
May we declare with confidence:
愿我们都能坚定宣告：
“My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
“我的帮助从造天地的耶和华而来。”
Reflective answers to the questions:
### 1. What “hills” are you confronted with in your life? Where are you looking to for help?
The "hills" I face are those steep, uncertain journeys—times of anxiety about the future, seasons of grief or loss, relational strains, and internal struggles with fear or doubt. Like the pilgrims, the path sometimes feels dangerous and beyond my strength.
In the past, my instinct has been to look for help in my own planning, in human reassurance, or in temporary comforts. The sermon challenges this by pointing to the psalmist's decisive turn: **"My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."** I am learning to lift my eyes above the immediate struggle to the One who created and sustains all things. True help is not found in the hills themselves, nor in my ability to climb them, but in the faithful God who watches over the journey.
### 2. What is your view and understanding of God? How does it impact the way you respond in the face of adversity?
My view of God is shaped by this psalm: He is the **Creator** (v. 2), the **ever-watchful Guardian** who never slumbers (v. 3–4), my **protective shade** (v. 5–6), and the **eternal Keeper** of my going out and coming in (v. 7–8). He is not distant or indifferent; His care is active, constant, and comprehensive.
This understanding changes everything when adversity comes. Instead of reacting with panic or despair, I can **pause and remember who God is**. If He neither sleeps nor slumbers, then I am not alone in the long, dark hours. If He is my shade, then even in scorching trials, He provides refuge. This truth doesn’t always remove the hardship, but it anchors my heart. It moves me from asking "Why is this happening?" to declaring "My help comes from You."
### 3. God's help is constant and comprehensive. How should that shape the way you face challenges in life?
Knowing God’s help is **constant** means I can face challenges without the fear that He will grow weary of me or my situation. His vigilance never fails—not in my weakest moment, not in the deepest night. This allows me to **rest even in the midst of struggle**, trusting that His watchful care continues even when I am exhausted or cannot see a way forward.
Knowing His help is **comprehensive** means there is no aspect of my life—physical, emotional, spiritual, relational—outside His protective care. He guards me from "all evil" and preserves my whole life (v. 7–8). This shifts my focus from trying to control every detail to **entrusting every area to His keeping**. I can face challenges with holistic trust, not fragmented worry.
Ultimately, this promise finds its fulfillment in Jesus. Because of the cross, God’s keeping power covers me for eternity. Therefore, I can face life’s hills with **confidence rather than dread**, knowing that the same faithful God who guides my steps today will safely bring me home.
