📖 Kitabu cha Zaburi — Sehemu ya 9: Zaburi 103, Hesabu Baraka Zako📖 The Book of Psalms — Unit 9: Psalm 103, Count Your Blessings

1. Hesabu Baraka Zako1. Count Your Blessings

Katika kampeni moja ya uamsho miaka mingi iliyopita, kiongozi wa nyimbo Charles M. Alexander alimwomba mtu mmoja aliyepooza, ambaye alikuwa amesukumwa kwenye kiti chake cha magurudumu hadi mbele kwenye njia ya katikati, ataje wimbo wake aupendao zaidi. Mtu yule alipaza sauti akiomba wimbo "Hesabu Baraka Zako." Hakukuwa na kunung'unika wala kulalamika kutoka kwa mtu yule maskini — kulikuwa tu na hisia hai na thabiti ya wema wa Mungu. Alikuwa na kila sababu ya kidunia ya kunung'unika, lakini badala yake alihesabu baraka zake. Hivyo ndivyo hasa Daudi anavyofanya katika Zaburi 103.In a revival campaign many years ago, the song leader Charles M. Alexander asked a paralyzed man, who had been wheeled down the aisle in his chair, to name his favorite hymn. The man called out for "Count Your Blessings." There was no whining and no complaining from that poor man — only a vivid, settled sense of the goodness of God. He had every earthly reason to grumble, and instead he counted his blessings. That is exactly what David does in Psalm 103.

Wimbo ule wa zamani unasema, "Hesabu baraka zako, uzitaje moja moja, nawe utashangaa yale Bwana aliyokutendea." Daudi aliketi ili kufanya jambo hilo hasa — kuhesabu fadhili zote za Mungu. Shida pekee ilikuwa kwamba zilikuwa nyingi mno, hata ikamlazimu kuzifunga katika mafurushi ili aweze kuzikumbuka zote, kisha akayageuza mafurushi hayo kuwa wimbo. Kama sisi Wakristo wengi zaidi tungemsifu Mungu kwa baraka zake na kuacha kulalamika na kujihurumia, tungekuwa na furaha zaidi sana, na tungeweza kuupindua ulimwengu. Ni jambo la kusikitisha sana kuona Wakristo wasio na shukrani, wanaolalamika, wakitangaza habari njema za Yesu Kristo — kama watu wenye njaa kali walioajiriwa kubeba mabango ya mgahawa bora kabisa mjini. Ni wakati wa kuhesabu baraka zetu badala ya mahangaiko yetu.The old hymn says, "Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done." David sat down to do just that — to count up all the benefits of God. The only trouble was that there were so many of them he had to tie them into bundles to remember them all, and then he shaped the bundles into a song. If more of us as Christians would praise God for His blessings and stop complaining and feeling sorry for ourselves, we would be far happier, and we could turn the world upside down. It is a tragic thing to see ungrateful, complaining Christians advertising the good news of Jesus Christ — like starving men hired to carry signs for the finest restaurant in town. It is time we counted our blessings instead of our anxieties.

2. Baraka ya Kwanza: Anatusamehe Dhambi Zetu2. The First Blessing: He Forgives Our Sins

Fadhili ya kwanza ambayo Daudi anaitaja ni msamaha: "akusamehe maovu yako yote." Katika Biblia yote, dhambi inaelezwa kama ugonjwa — ugonjwa wa kutisha ambao daima huua, na kila mmoja wetu anaubeba. Kama Warumi 3:23 inavyosema, "wote wamefanya dhambi, na kupungukiwa na utukufu wa Mungu." Ugonjwa huu unaua, lakini kuna dawa moja tu: Yesu alikufa msalabani ili kutusamehe dhambi zetu. Haidhuru ni dhambi gani, zinaweza kusamehewa; tunapewa nafasi ya pili.The first benefit David names is forgiveness: "who forgives all your iniquities." All through the Bible, sin is pictured as a disease — a terrible disease that is always fatal, and every one of us carries it. As Romans 3:23 says, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." The disease is fatal, but there is one cure: Jesus died on the cross to forgive our sins. No matter what they are, they can be forgiven; we are given a second chance.

Mfikirie yule mwanamke aliyekamatwa katika dhambi yake na kuburutwa mbele ya Yesu, ambaye umati ulikuwa tayari kumpiga kwa mawe. Yesu hakuyapuuza aliyoyatenda, lakini pia hakumhukumu; alisema, "Wala mimi sikuhukumu. Enenda zako; wala usitende dhambi tena." Huo ndio muujiza wa baraka hii ya kwanza. Hatia ambayo ingetuponda, na kumbukumbu ya makosa iliyosimama dhidi yetu, Mungu ameishughulikia pale msalabani. Tunapohesabu baraka zetu, hapa ndipo kuhesabu kunapaswa kuanzia — si kwa afya wala mali, bali kwa nafsi iliyosamehewa.Think of the woman caught in her sin and dragged before Jesus, whom the crowd was ready to stone. He did not excuse what she had done, but neither did He condemn her; He said, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." That is the wonder of this first blessing. The guilt that would have crushed us, the record that stood against us, God has dealt with at the cross. When we count our blessings, this is where the counting must begin — not with health or wealth, but with a forgiven soul.

3. Baraka ya Pili: Anatuponya Magonjwa Yetu3. The Second Blessing: He Heals Our Diseases

Fadhili ya pili ni uponyaji: "akuponya magonjwa yako yote." Ni mtu tu aliyewahi kuteseka kwa ugonjwa mkali kisha akapona ndiye anayeweza kuithamini kikamilifu zawadi ya afya. Inaonekana mtunga zaburi alikuwa amepitia ugonjwa fulani wa kutisha uliokuwa umeuharibu mwili wake na kuivunja roho yake, na sasa kwa kuwa alikuwa mzima tena hakuweza kuacha kumsifu Mungu kwa ajili ya jambo hilo.The second benefit is healing: "who heals all your diseases." Only a person who has suffered a severe illness and recovered can fully appreciate the gift of health. Apparently the psalmist had passed through some terrible sickness that had wrecked his body and crushed his spirit, and now that he was well again he could not stop praising God for it.

Namshukuru Mungu kwa kila chombo cha uponyaji alichotupa — madaktari, wauguzi, dawa, hospitali, na miujiza yote ya tiba ya kisasa. Lakini ninasadiki kwamba hatimaye uponyaji wote ni uponyaji wa Kimungu na zawadi kutoka kwa Mungu. Madaktari hufanya yote wawezayo, kisha tunamtegemea Mungu alete uponyaji. Mkumbuke yule mwanamke aliyekuwa akitokwa damu kwa miaka kumi na miwili. Alikuwa amehama kutoka kwa daktari mmoja hadi mwingine na kutumia vyote alivyokuwa navyo, bila kupona. Kisha siku moja alikutana na Tabibu Mkuu, Yesu Kristo, akanyoosha mkono na kuugusa upindo wa vazi lake, akapona mara moja. Nguvu zilitoka kwa Yesu, naye akamwambia, "Jipe moyo, binti yangu; imani yako imekuponya." Ikiwa anaponya kupitia mikono ya daktari au kwa rehema yake mwenyewe moja kwa moja, uponyaji ni zawadi yake, na ni sababu ya kulihimidi jina lake.I thank God for every instrument of healing He has given us — the doctors, the nurses, the medicines, the hospitals, all the miracles of modern medicine. But I am convinced that all healing is finally divine healing and a gift from God. The doctors do all they can do, and then we depend on God to bring the healing. Remember the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. She had gone from doctor to doctor and spent everything she had, with no cure. Then one day she met the Great Physician, Jesus Christ, reached out and touched the hem of His garment, and was healed at once. Power flowed from Jesus, and He said to her, "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well." Whether He heals through a physician's hands or by His own direct mercy, the healing is His gift, and it is cause to bless His name.

4. Baraka ya Tatu: Anatukomboa na Shimo4. The Third Blessing: He Redeems Us from the Pit

Fadhili ya tatu ni uokoaji: "aukomboa uhai wako na kaburi" — kwa maana halisi, na shimo. Neno "shimo" linaweza kuashiria kaburi na kifo chenyewe; huenda kulikuwa na wakati wa giza ambapo maisha ya mtunga zaburi yalikuwa hatarini, naye Mungu akanyoosha mkono na kumvuta arudi. Lakini pia kuna shimo lenye kina zaidi linalokusudiwa hapa — shimo la milele ambalo Yesu aliliita jehanamu. Wakati mwingine watu huambiana kwa wepesi, "Nenda jehanamu," lakini jehanamu si jambo la mzaha, nasi hatungemtakia mtu yeyote. Baraka kuu ya Injili ni kwamba wale waliomwamini Yesu hawatatupwa kamwe katika shimo lile la milele.The third benefit is rescue: "who redeems your life from destruction" — literally, from the pit. The word "pit" may point to the grave and to death itself; there may have been a dark moment when the psalmist's life hung in the balance, and God reached down and pulled him back. But there is also a deeper pit in view — the eternal pit that Jesus called hell. People sometimes say lightly to one another, "Go to hell," but hell is no light matter, and we would not wish it on anyone. The great blessing of the gospel is that those who have trusted in Jesus will never be cast into that everlasting pit.

5. Baraka ya Nne: Anatuvika Taji ya Upendo na Rehema5. The Fourth Blessing: He Crowns Us with Love and Mercy

Fadhili ya nne ni heshima: "akutia taji ya fadhili na rehema." Hii si taji ya dhahabu, bali ni taji ya upendo usiokoma na rehema. Huenda Daudi anamaanisha jinsi ilivyo karibu — hakuna kitu kilicho karibu zaidi na kichwa cha mtu kuliko taji. Huenda anamaanisha jinsi inavyotuzunguka kikamilifu, kwa maana taji huzunguka kichwa. Vyovyote picha kamili ilivyo, kweli ni kwamba upendo na rehema ya Mungu vipo daima, vikituzunguka pande zote, vikikaa juu yetu.The fourth benefit is honor: "who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies." This is no crown of gold, but a crown of steadfast love and mercy. Perhaps David means how close it is — nothing is nearer a person's head than a crown. Perhaps he means how completely it surrounds us, for a crown encircles the head. Whatever the exact picture, the truth is that God's love and mercy are always there, all the way around us, resting on us.

Hakuna kitu kinachoweza kamwe kutufanya tuupoteze upendo huo. Wakati mwingine tunahisi kana kwamba dhambi yetu lazima imetugharimu upendo wa Mungu, lakini Yesu aliahidi kwamba atakuwa pamoja nasi siku zote. Nikiwa mzazi, najua sitaacha kamwe kuwapenda watoto wangu. Naweza kusikitishwa nao, naweza kukasirika, huenda hata nikalazimika kuwaadibisha — lakini hakuna kitu kinachoweza kunifanya niache kuwapenda, kwa maana upendo wangu hautegemei matendo yao. Na ni jambo la ajabu kupita maneno kujua kwamba hata ninapotenda dhambi, Mungu bado ananivika taji ya upendo wake na rehema yake. Wakati mwingine tunahisi kana kwamba tumeupoteza upendo huo kwa sababu hakujibu kama tulivyotumaini au hakuponya kama tulivyoomba. Lakini kumbuka kwamba baadhi ya watumishi wa Mungu walio bora kabisa hawakuponywa kamwe katika maisha haya — mtume Paulo aliendelea kuwa na mwiba wake katika mwili, naye Mungu akamwambia, "Neema yangu yakutosha." Taji ya upendo bado inakaa juu yetu.Nothing can ever cause us to lose that love. Sometimes it feels as though our sin must surely have cost us God's affection, but Jesus promised He would be with us always. As a parent, I know I will never stop loving my children. I may be disappointed with them, I may be angry, I may even have to discipline them — but nothing could make me stop loving them, for my love does not depend on their performance. And it is wonderful beyond words to know that even when I sin, God still crowns me with His love and His mercy. Sometimes it feels as though we have lost that love because He has not answered as we hoped or healed as we asked. But remember that some of God's choicest servants were never healed in this life — the apostle Paul kept his thorn in the flesh, and God told him, "My grace is sufficient for you." The crown of love rests on us still.

6. Baraka ya Tano: Anatushibisha kwa Mema6. The Fifth Blessing: He Satisfies Us with Good

Fadhili ya tano ni riziki: "akushibisha kinywa chako kwa mema" (SUV: "aushibisha mema uzee wako"). Hakuna hitaji la mwanadamu ambalo hatimaye Mungu huliacha bila kulitosheleza. Yeye huweka chakula mezani; huyavika mashamba; katika maongozi yake humtunza mnyama mdogo kabisa na ua la kawaida kabisa. Hakika, basi, tunaweza kumtumaini atutunze sisi. Daudi aliandika mahali pengine, "Nalikuwa kijana nami sasa ni mzee, wala sijamwona mwenye haki ameachwa, wala wazao wake wakiomba chakula" — nami pia, katika miaka yangu yote, sijaona hivyo.The fifth benefit is provision: "who satisfies your mouth with good things." No human need is finally left unsatisfied by God. He puts food on the table; He clothes the fields; in His providence He cares for the tiniest animal and the most ordinary flower. Surely, then, we can trust Him to care for us. David wrote in another place, "I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread" — and neither, in all my years, have I.

Kwa kuwa Mungu hutupa chakula chetu siku kwa siku, hatupaswi kamwe kukichukulia kuwa jambo la kawaida. Mwanafunzi mmoja wa chuo aliwahi kuketi kwenye meza ya mkahawa wa chuo pamoja na wasichana wengine watano, akainamisha kichwa chake kimya kimya ili kuomba baraka ya chakula. Baadhi ya wengine walicheka. Alipomaliza, aliuliza kwa nini walicheka. "Je, ninyi hamna shukrani?" alisema. "Kwa ajili ya nini?" mmoja alijibu. "Tumekilipia." "Mlipata wapi pesa?" "Kutoka kwa familia zetu." "Wao walizipata wapi?" "Walifanya kazi kuzipata." "Na walipata wapi nguvu za kufanya kazi — vyote hivyo hatimaye vilitoka wapi?" Jioni ile, wasichana wawili zaidi waliinamisha vichwa kuomba baraka kabla ya chakula cha jioni; siku iliyofuata, wote sita walifanya hivyo. Tunamhimidi Mungu kwa sababu anazishibisha tamaa zetu kwa mema.Because God gives us our food day by day, we must never take it for granted. A college student once sat down at a cafeteria table with five other girls and quietly bowed her head to say grace. Some of the others laughed. When she finished, she asked why they had laughed. "Aren't you thankful?" she said. "For what?" one replied. "We paid for it." "Where did you get the money?" "From our families." "Where did they get it?" "They worked for it." "And where did they get the strength to work — where did all of it finally come from?" That evening, two more of the girls bowed to say grace before supper; the next day, all six of them did. We bless God because He satisfies our desires with good things.

7. Baraka ya Sita: Anaifanya Upya Nguvu Yetu7. The Sixth Blessing: He Renews Our Strength

Fadhili ya sita ni kufanywa upya: ujana wetu unarejezwa kama wa tai. Mojawapo ya shauku kuu za moyo wa mwanadamu ni kubaki kijana; mabilioni hutumika kila mwaka kwa vipodozi, upasuaji na mazoezi ili kurudisha saa nyuma. Ponce de León hakuwa wa kwanza wala wa mwisho kutafuta chemchemi ya ujana. Lakini mapema au baadaye wakati huuchakaza kila mwili wa kidunia. Kufanywa upya ambako Daudi anakuimbia ni jambo jingine kabisa. Kama Isaya alivyoahidi, "wao wamngojeao BWANA watapata nguvu mpya; watapanda juu kwa mbawa kama tai; watapiga mbio, wala hawatachoka; watakwenda kwa miguu, wala hawatazimia." Kufanywa upya kwa namna hiyo hakuhusiani kabisa na umri. Nimewajua vijana wasio na sababu ya kuishi wala kusudi lolote, na nimewajua watakatifu wenye umri wa miaka sabini, themanini na tisini waliokuwa wakipaa pamoja na tai — wakiwa na hamu kubwa ya maisha, hamu kubwa ya kushuhudia, hamu kubwa ya Mungu. Wanapata wapi nguvu kama hizo? Wanafanywa upya daima na Mungu mwenyewe.The sixth benefit is renewal: our youth renewed like the eagle's. One of the deepest longings of the human heart is to stay young; billions are spent every year on cosmetics and surgery and exercise to turn back the clock. Ponce de León was neither the first nor the last to search for the fountain of youth. But sooner or later time wears down every earthly body. The renewal David sings of is something else entirely. As Isaiah promised, "those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." That kind of renewal has nothing to do with age. I have known young people with no reason to live and no purpose, and I have known saints in their seventies and eighties and nineties who were soaring with the eagles — a zest for life, a zest for witnessing, a zest for God. Where do they get such strength? They are renewed continually by God Himself.

8. Kuisimulia kwa Pumzi Yetu ya Mwisho8. Telling It with Our Last Breath

Basi Daudi anazikusanya pamoja fadhili zote za Mungu — msamaha, uponyaji, kuokolewa na shimo, taji ya upendo, kushibishwa kwa mema, na nguvu iliyofanywa upya — na kuzifunga kuwa wimbo mmoja mkuu wa sifa. Mshukuru Mungu kwamba anaifanya upya nguvu yetu kupitia Yesu Kristo, na kutupa ujana ambao ulimwengu na miaka haviwezi kamwe kuugusa. Ee nafsi yangu, umhimidi BWANA, wala usizisahau fadhili zake zote. Zihesabu, uzitaje moja moja, nawe utashangaa yale Bwana aliyokutendea.So David gathers up all the benefits of God — forgiveness, healing, rescue from the pit, the crown of love, satisfaction with good, and renewed strength — and ties them into one great song of praise. Thank God that He renews our strength through Jesus Christ, and gives us a youth that the world and the years can never touch. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. Count them, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

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