我很喜欢小红莓灌木丛，以及它甜甜的果子。在我父母搬出他们的家之前，我从父亲的园子里尽可能多的连根挖出几株，种满了我在新家后面开拓的一块空地。我移植、培育它们，直到它们长得很茁壮。在我的看护下，它们结出了讨人喜欢的果子。它们的根发出嫩芽，整个灌木丛也长大了。
诗篇80篇讲到一棵“从埃及”被移植的“葡萄树”。神是以温柔、慈爱的看护将这棵树挪出。祂以树荫和篱笆保护它，它就“深深扎根，爬满了地”。这棵葡萄树正是描述以色列——神的百姓繁荣茂盛的图画。
我也是一根被移植的枝子。我的祖父母在一百多年前移民到这里。我的大家庭中最初一两代人保持着他们的信仰，并且很繁盛。但随着时间的流逝，家庭与移民群体的连接就逐渐疏离了。在某些层面上说，这也有好处。但因为这样，与神和神百姓的连接也变得弱了，甚至被隔断了。家庭传承也因此而减弱了。
诗篇80的这段经文是被安置在哀歌里。诚然这棵葡萄树出了一些问题。神的百姓处在痛苦之中，挣扎于神的宠爱之外，他们实在需要悔改。这也是我们今日所处的境地吗？
神啊，感谢祢把我们带进繁茂的日子和境地。帮助我们忠于祢，在我们迷茫徘徊时，呼召我们悔改。神啊，求祢垂听并赦免我们。奉耶稣的名祷告，阿们。
诗篇 80:1-11
1领约瑟如领羊群之以色列的牧者啊，求你留心听！ 坐在二基路伯上的啊，求你发出光来！
2在以法莲、便雅悯、玛拿西前面 施展你的大能，来救我们。
3神啊，求你使我们回转， 使你的脸发光，我们便要得救！
4耶和华－万军之神啊， 你向你百姓的祷告发怒，要到几时呢？
5你以眼泪当食物给他们吃， 又多量出眼泪给他们喝。
6你使邻邦因我们纷争； 我们的仇敌彼此戏笑。
7万军之神啊，求你使我们回转， 使你的脸发光，我们便要得救！
8你从埃及挪出一棵葡萄树， 赶出外邦人，把这树栽上。
9你在这树根前预备了地方， 它就深深扎根，爬满了地。
10它的影子遮满了山， 枝子好像佳美的香柏树。
11它发出枝子，长到大海， 发出蔓子，延到大河。
"You transplanted a vine from Egypt... You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land." — Psalm 80:8-9
I love raspberry bushes and their sweet fruit. Before my parents moved out of their home, I dug up as many roots from my father's garden as I could fit in the space I had carved out behind our new home. I transplanted and nurtured the roots until they became healthy plants. As I watched over these plants, they produced their pleasing fruit. The roots sent out shoots, and the patch grew.
Psalm 80 tells of a transplanted "vine from Egypt." The Lord God transplanted this vine with tender, loving care. The Lord protected it with shade and walls, and "it took root and filled the land." This vine is a picture of Israel, God's people, flourishing.
I am a shoot from a transplant. My grandparents immigrated more than 100 years ago. For the first couple of generations my extended family remained planted in their faith and flourished. Over time, family ties and connections to the immigrant community loosened. In some ways this has been good. But connections with God and God's people have weakened or been severed for some, and the family tree has weakened.
The words of our text in Psalm 80 are nestled in lament. Something has gone wrong with the vine. God's people are in anguish, struggling outside of his favor and needing to repent. Is that the case for us too?
Lord, thank you for bringing us to places and times of flourishing. Help us to be faithful, and call us to repentance when we wander. Hear and forgive us, O Lord. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
