Satan’s Fall and Our Rescue

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Isaiah 14:1-27.  Let’s go!

Isaiah 14:1-11 (NIV)
1  The LORD will have compassion on Jacob; once again he will choose Israel and will settle them in their own land. Aliens will join them and unite with the house of Jacob.
2  Nations will take them and bring them to their own place. And the house of Israel will possess the nations as menservants and maidservants in the LORD’s land. They will make captives of their captors and rule over their oppressors.
3  On the day the LORD gives you relief from suffering and turmoil and cruel bondage,
4  you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has come to an end! How his fury has ended!

On verses 1-11:  I know these verses are technically part of Isaiah’s oracle against Babylon that started in the previous chapter.  But when I read these verses from Isaiah 14, I can’t help but think about how well these verses describe what God did for us through Jesus Christ: how God, through Jesus Christ, set us free from the burden of the “king of Babylon”, from Satan the king of false religion who once held us captive (v4).  In fact, the entire Isaiah 14 seems to speak in much bigger, more cosmic, more spiritual terms than just talking about the fall of one ancient kingdom.

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斧鋸和棍

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以賽亞書10:15    斧豈可向用斧砍木的自誇呢？鋸豈可向用鋸的自大呢？好比棍掄起那舉棍的，好比杖舉起那非木的人。

閱讀經文：以賽亞書 10:1-34

1 禍哉，那些設立不義之律例的和記錄奸詐之判語的， 2 為要屈枉窮乏人，奪去我民中困苦人的理，以寡婦當做擄物，以孤兒當做掠物。 3 到降罰的日子，有災禍從遠方臨到，那時你們怎樣行呢？你們向誰逃奔求救呢？你們的榮耀[a]存留何處呢？ 4 他們只得屈身在被擄的人以下，仆倒在被殺的人以下。雖然如此，耶和華的怒氣還未轉消，他的手仍伸不縮。

中國傳統帝制的官箴，概以宋太宗的〈誡石銘〉為典範，其上寫著：“爾俸爾祿，民膏民脂，下民易虐，上天難欺” 來警戒官員，可惜用了那麼多年，看來成效並不顯著，貪官污吏彼彼皆是。在〈以賽亞書〉第十章的第一段，神對那些設立律例和記錄判語的人做出了如下的定罪：一,他們屈枉窮乏人；二, 奪去困苦人的理。他們以寡婦當做擄物，以孤兒當做掠物，也就是欺負弱勢者。因此，有一天，神要讓他們變成弱勢者，成為被擄之人，仆倒被殺。

人所設的律例和神所定的律例相比較，我們就知道神和人之不同。神的律例不管經過幾千年，仍然立定天下，到處都可以應用；但是人訂的律例不同，因為都是因應時勢潮流而定，因此經常要改。何況擁有統治權的人自己並沒有公義和公平，訂起律例也都有私心，因此對一些人有利，對一些人不利。

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錯誤的引導者

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以賽亞書9:16   因為引導這百姓的使他們走錯了路，被引導的都必敗亡。

閱讀經文：以賽亞書 9:8-21

8主使一言入於雅各家，落於以色列家，9這眾百姓，就是以法蓮和撒馬利亞的居民，都要知道。他們憑驕傲自大的心說：10「磚牆塌了，我們卻要鑿石頭建築；桑樹砍了，我們卻要換香柏樹。」11因此，耶和華要高舉利汛的敵人來攻擊以色列，並要激動以色列的仇敵，12東有亞蘭人，西有非利士人，他們張口要吞吃以色列。雖然如此，耶和華的怒氣還未轉消，他的手仍伸不縮。

台灣有一些新聞，講到一些不良的補習班老師趁著補習時誘姦女學生。這樣的新聞讓人嘆息不已，因為老師的職責原是要帶領學生走正途，不料這些衣冠禽獸卻以他們的情慾污染了學生的一輩子。也讓更多家長警惕，若是不加倍留意孩子的動向，很可能賠了夫人又折兵，交錢去補習，卻賠上女兒的一生。在這段經文裡，神講到以色列家的滅亡，正是因為引導百姓的使他們走錯了路，以致於被引導的都必敗亡。這是神最深沉的傷痛。群羊的滅亡不是因牠們的無知，而是牧羊人的錯誤。

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Bye Bye Babylon

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Isaiah 13:1-22.  Let’s go!

Isaiah 13 marks the beginning of a new section in Isaiah which is sometimes called the “book of burdens”.  That is because from Isaiah 13 to 23, Isaiah delivers 10 messages to specific nations and Isaiah calls each of these messages in Hebrew a “massa”, or in English a “burden” (sometimes also translated an “oracle”).  When you read Isaiah 13-23 the tone and content are certainly heavy since much of Isaiah 13-23 is talking about judgment against various nations.  Still there are some important lessons we can learn as we go through this section of Isaiah.

Isaiah 13:1-9 (NIV)
1  An oracle concerning Babylon that Isaiah son of Amoz saw:
2  Raise a banner on a bare hilltop, shout to them; beckon to them to enter the gates of the nobles.
3  I have commanded my holy ones; I have summoned my warriors to carry out my wrath– those who rejoice in my triumph.
4  Listen, a noise on the mountains, like that of a great multitude! Listen, an uproar among the kingdoms, like nations massing together! The LORD Almighty is mustering an army for war.

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Jesus Is Your Salvation, Strength and Song

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Isaiah 12:1-6.

Isaiah 12:1-6 (NIV)
1  In that day you will say: “I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me.
2  Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.”
3  With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
4  In that day you will say: “Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted.
5  Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world.
6  Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

On verses 1-6:  Here is Isaiah painting a beautiful picture of what will happen in the end. “In that day” (v1, 4) when the Messiah comes to reign, it will be a time when the people of God sing of how good God is, how God’s anger turned away and God’s comfort came (v1), how their fears were overcome by trusting in God (v2), and how God became their salvation, strength and song (v2-3).  Instead of complaining or taking for granted God’s goodness, God’s people will give thanks to God and want to make Him known everywhere (v4-5), especially through shouts and joyful singing (v6).

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因有一嬰孩為我們而生

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以賽亞書9:6  因有一嬰孩為我們而生，有一子賜給我們，政權必擔在祂的肩頭上。祂名稱為奇妙、策士、全能的神、永在的父、和平的君。

閱讀經文：以賽亞書 9:6-7

6 因有一嬰孩為我們而生，有一子賜給我們，政權必擔在祂的肩頭上。祂名稱為奇妙策士、全能的神、永在的父、和平的君。 7 祂的政權與平安必加增無窮，祂必在大衛的寶座上治理祂的國，以公平、公義使國堅定穩固，從今直到永遠。萬軍之耶和華的熱心必成就這事。

在〈詩篇〉八章2節，詩人說：“祢因敵人的緣故，從嬰孩和吃奶的口中建立了能力，使仇敵和報仇的閉口無言”。神真是非常幽默。以色列人期待彌賽亞救世主從天來臨，拯救他們脫離敵人的摩掌。祂賜給他們的，卻不是像基甸那樣的勇士，也不是像耶弗他那樣充滿智慧的領導者，祂賜給以色列人和全世界一個嬰孩。

在世人眼中，嬰孩沒有自主的能力，要完全倚靠人的幫助和供應，但是這個奇妙的嬰孩，卻有特別的能力，使仇敵和報仇的閉口無言。這使我們想起，主耶穌當年面對那些向祂挑釁的宗教界人士時，祂只說一句話，就讓他們慚愧地離開；每一次面對邪靈，祂只說一句話，就讓牠們抱頭鼠竄，逃得無影無蹤。這個嬰孩的口中充滿了能力。這個嬰孩就是彌賽亞耶穌。

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耶穌一來

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以賽亞書9:2  在黑暗中行走的百姓看見了大光，住在死蔭之地的人有光照耀他們。

閱讀經文：以賽亞書 9:1-5

1但那受過痛苦的，必不再見幽暗。從前神使西布倫地和拿弗他利地被藐視，末後卻使這沿海的路，約旦河外，外邦人的加利利地，得著榮耀。 2 在黑暗中行走的百姓看見了大光，住在死蔭之地的人有光照耀他們。 3 你使這國民繁多，加增他們的喜樂。他們在你面前歡喜，好像收割的歡喜，像人分擄物那樣的快樂。 4 因為他們所負的重軛和肩頭上的杖，並欺壓他們人的棍，你都已經折斷，好像在米甸的日子一樣。 5 戰士在亂殺之間所穿戴的盔甲，並那滾在血中的衣服，都必作為可燒的，當做火柴。

西布倫是雅各的第十個兒子，利亞所生的第六個兒子，名字的意思是”同住”，也是以色列十二支派中的西布倫支派的祖先。雅各臨終前給他的祝福是：“西布倫必住在海邊，必成為停船的海口；他的境界必延到西頓”（創49:13）。摩西論西布倫說，西布倫哪，你出外可以歡喜（申33:18）。

拿弗他利是雅各的第六個兒子，是拉結的使女辟拉所生，拉結為其取名拿弗他利，就是“相爭”的意思。雅各臨終前對他的祝福是：“拿弗他利是被釋放的母鹿，他出嘉美的言語”（創49:21）。意譯為：“拿弗他利是多產的母鹿，生出可愛的小鹿。”雅各祝福拿弗他利出產豐富，如多產的母鹿生下美好的小鹿。摩西對拿弗他利支派的祝福：“拿弗他利啊，你足沾恩惠，滿得耶和華的福，可以得西方和南方為業”（申33:18）。

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The Branch Called Messiah

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Isaiah 11:1-16.  This passage teaches us about who this promised Messiah is, what this Messiah will do and the impact this Messiah will have.

Isaiah 11:1 (NIV)
1  A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

On verse 1:  For some reason Isaiah has a thing with trees.  In Isaiah 10, Isaiah likens the Assyrians to a forest of tall cedar trees in Lebanon that will be cut down, never to rise again (10:33-34).  In Isaiah 6 Isaiah likens Judah to a bunch of terebinth and oak trees that have been cut down to their stump (6:13), but will rise again.

Now we come to chapter 11 verse 1 where Isaiah says that “[a] shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit”.  Who is Jesse?  Jesse was the father of King David, who lived centuries before Isaiah’s time.  So Isaiah is implying that just when Jesse and King David’s “family tree” seemed to be almost cut down like a stump, a leader will rise up.  This leader, who is called the “shoot” and the “Branch”, is God’s promised Messiah.

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The Ax Holder Is More Important Than The Ax

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Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Isaiah 10:5-34.

Isaiah 10:5-19 (NIV)
5  “Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger, in whose hand is the club of my wrath!
6  I send him against a godless nation, I dispatch him against a people who anger me, to seize loot and snatch plunder, and to trample them down like mud in the streets.
7  But this is not what he intends, this is not what he has in mind; his purpose is to destroy, to put an end to many nations.
8  ‘Are not my commanders all kings?’ he says.

On verses 5-19:  God was using Assyria as an instrument to carry out God’s wrath against nations like Judah and Israel.  However, Assyria was oblivious to this fact and pridefully assumed that all of its power and dominance was the result of Assyria’s own power, prowess and ability.  For example, in this passage:
–        the King of Assyria boasts that his commanders are kings (v8) and that the cities of Judah and Israel are destroyed just like other cities that the Assyrians defeated (v9-11).
–        the King of Assyria boasts that by his own strength and wisdom he conquered other nations (v13-14)

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當以訓誨和法度為標準

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以賽亞書8:20   人當以訓誨和法度為標準。他們所說的若不與此相符，必不得見晨光。

閱讀經文：以賽亞書 8:11-22

16你要捲起律法書，在我門徒中間封住訓誨。17我要等候那掩面不顧雅各家的耶和華，我也要仰望他。18看哪，我與耶和華所給我的兒女，就是從住在錫安山萬軍之耶和華來的，在以色列中作為預兆和奇蹟。

從第11節起，以賽亞以第一人稱講述自己的小故事︰「耶和華以大能的手，指教我不可行這百姓所行的道，對我這樣說」(8:11)。以賽亞面對眾人的壓力，也有搖擺不定的時候，但神用大能的手托住他，神的靈在他身上，使他感受到神的力量。「這百姓說同謀背叛，你們不要說同謀背叛。他們所怕的，你們不要怕，也不要畏懼。但要尊萬軍之耶和華為聖，以他為你們所當怕的，所當畏懼的。」(8:12-13) 「你們」顯示出以賽亞並非獨自一人，他有妻兒家室，也有門徒。無論在任何光景中，我們都要惟獨敬畏那能殺身體又殺靈魂的神。

「他必作為聖所，卻向以色列兩家作絆腳的石頭，跌人的磐石；向耶路撒冷的居民作為圈套和網羅。」(8:14) 北國以色列和南國猶大在最關鍵的問題上沒有倚靠神，一定會跌倒。「你要捲起律法書，在我門徒中間封住訓誨。」(8:16) 「訓誨」指第一至七章神對以色列的訓誨，神讓以賽亞寫下來，然後封存，在歷史上成為見證，證實神話語會真實應驗。

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