7. Singing Hymns 唱诗

1) Q. When we sing hymns who should we sing them to?
A. All hymns of praise, thanksgiving, and prayer are sung to God. For example, psalm 51 is a famous psalm of prayer to God.
问:当我们唱诗时,应该向着谁唱呢?
答:所有赞美的诗、感谢的诗、祷告的诗,都是向着神唱的。例如,有名的诗篇五十一篇,就是向神祈求的诗。


2) Q. Should God be the only focus of our hymn singing?
A. We can have hymns that are directed toward man but the main goal of the hymns is to direct men toward God.
问:神是否该是我们唱诗的唯一焦点呢?
答:向着人去的诗也可以有。但是,诗的主要目的,乃是向着神去的。


3) Q. Is it okay if I like to sing hymns to myself?
A. Many passages in the book of Psalms include the phrase “O my soul!” All these hymns are directed to oneself. Such hymns often end with a turn to God.
问:我喜欢向着自己唱诗,可以吗?
答:在诗篇中,有许多地方说,“我的魂哪!”这些都是向着自己唱的。这样的诗,常常在末了的时候,引到神面前去。


4) Q. How should I sing hymns when I am singing them to God or to myself?
A. We should sing with the exercise of our spirit to be filled with the Spirit. The best way to exercise the spirit is by praying and singing.
问:当我向着神或向着自己唱诗时,该怎么唱呢?
答:我们要借着唱诗操练灵,使我们被圣灵充满。操练灵最好的路就是祷告、唱诗。


5) Q. Is singing hymns the only way to be filled with the Spirit?
A. We can be filled by speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and psalming with our heart to the Lord. Psalms are primarily for speaking then singing.
问:唱诗是被那灵充满唯一的路吗?
答:借着用诗章、颂辞、灵歌,彼此对说,从心中向主歌唱、颂咏,我们就能被充满。诗歌首先都是为着说,然后才是为着唱。


6) Q. Why is the singing of hymns with the exercise of the spirit important when we have meetings?
A. Without the exercise and overflow of the spirit, our meeting will be dead. Our singing should be the overflow from the spirit and be sung from the spirit.
问: 我们在聚会时,操练灵唱诗为什么这么重要呢?
答:没有灵的操练与洋溢,我们的聚会就会是死沉的。我们的唱诗应该是从灵里洋溢出来的,从灵里唱出来的。


7) Q. Is it okay if certain hymns make me feel closer toward God than others?
A. God does not meet us according to the poetic sentiment of a hymn, but according to the truth conveyed in a hymn. If we do not come to God in truth, we are in error and will not touch the reality.
问:比起其他的诗歌来,某些诗歌会让我感觉离神更近,这好吗?
答:神不能让我们凭着诗意来朝见祂,只能让我们凭着诗中的真理来朝见祂。若不是在真理中来到神面前,那就是错的,就摸不着实际。


8) Q. In addition to truth, what else makes a hymn a hymn?
A. Accurate doctrines alone do not constitute a hymn. After the truth, there is still the need for poetry in form and structure. Only when there is poetry is a hymn like a hymn.
问:除了真理以外,还有什么才能使诗像诗?
答:道理准确的并不一定是诗。真理对了,还得有诗的形式和结构,那才像一首诗。


9) Q. Why am I not always impressed with hymns that are full of truth in poetic form?
A. In addition to the truth and poetic structure and form, a hymn needs to provide spiritual impact. It must touch spiritual reality.
问:对于一些既有诗的形式,也满有真理的诗歌,我为什么总是感触不太深呢?
答:一首诗除了需要有真理、需要有诗的形式和结构之外,还需要有属灵的接触,必须摸着属灵的实际。


10) Q. What else do I need to know about writing hymns?
A. In order to write hymns we must have three prerequisites: the knowledge of the truth, the experience of life, and be able to produce poetry in various forms.
问:关于写诗歌,我还需要知道些什么?
答:我们写诗歌必须具备三件事:真理的认识,生命的经历,还得能够写不同体裁的诗歌。