Since 2021, I have translated a psalm about “those who are blessed” into Chinese every Lunar New Year. It is my hope that I can keep sharing with you the fullness of the blessing and joy God bestows in the psalms. This year, I have chosen Psalm 32 for three reasons.

        First, clearing out the old and welcoming the new is a long-standing Chinese custom. As the lunar year draws to a close, many do a deep cleaning of the house to prepare for the new year. This year, the second day of the new year is also a special day for Christians – Ash Wednesday. This day marks the beginning of Lent (40 days leading up to Easter, not counting Sundays), during which Christians focus on repentance, fasting, prayer and devotion to prepare our hearts to remember the suffering and resurrection of Christ. When these two occasions overlap, it is most fitting to pay extra attention to the spiritual “old made new” and pray that the Holy Spirit will renew our lives.

        Second, Psalm 32 contains many words about transgression and forgiveness that overlap significantly with the record of the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16. There is a threefold expression of sin: “transgressions,” meaning willful rebellion/defiance; “sins,” meaning missing the mark/falling short; and “iniquity,” meaning a twisted nature/moral guilt. Corresponding to these are three words of the Lord’s forgiveness: “forgiven,” meaning taken away/borne by another; “covered,” meaning buried and no longer seen; and “does not count,” meaning no longer reckoned/recorded. For the study of Leviticus, this psalm helps us experience from another angle that God’s grace is rich and complete. Thanks be to the Heavenly Father!

        Third, this is the Year of the Horse, and this psalm carries the word “horse”.

詩篇三十二篇 (Psalm 32 )^[1]

屬大衛的   智慧之歌

1   是有福的  忤逆得赦  罪尤蒙掩

2  有福的人  誠正磊落

     雖有罪過  上主不咎

3   若不作聲  形銷骨立  終日哀鳴

4   晝夜無間  祢手催促

     心力消散  如臨暑旱  (細拉)

5   坦承己罪  不掩罪過

      今願張口  向主陳明  我眾罪尤

      祢赦罪過  免我罪責  (細拉)

6   正因如此

     忠信之人  抓緊時機  速求告主

     大水襲來  何能淹至

7   祢之於我  護蔭拒敵  藏身佳所

      拯救樂歌  四面環繞  (細拉)

8   容我教你  當行之路

      在我眼前  給你建言

9   毋學馬兒  勿像騾子  沒有自知

      韁繩約束  方服己身

10  惡人多苦  獨靠主者  慈愛環繞

11  一眾義人  當靠上主  歡喜快樂 

      心誠正者  齊聲歡呼

Finally, on behalf of the pastoral team, I wish all members of the NPAC family the following:

         With sincere and upright hearts,

         May your whole beings be light and free!

         Surrounded by unfailing love,

         May you rejoice and be filled with gladness!

         Leaving behind the old and welcoming the new,

         May blessings come swiftly to you on horseback!

[1] Please read Psalm 32 in the English Bible for reference.