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5 Things To Do When Facing a Difficult Time

2023-04-24 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Isaiah 63:15-64:12.  Let’s go!

Isaiah 63:15-19 (NIV)
15  Look down from heaven and see from your lofty throne, holy and glorious. Where are your zeal and your might? Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us.
16  But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; you, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.
17  Why, O LORD, do you make us wander from your ways and harden our hearts so we do not revere you? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes that are your inheritance.
18  For a little while your people possessed your holy place, but now our enemies have trampled down your sanctuary.
19  We are yours from of old; but you have not ruled over them, they have not been called by your name.

On 63:15-64:12:  As I noted yesterday, Isaiah 63:7-64:12 can be seen as one unit.  Isaiah is wrestling with a picture that he sees of Jerusalem being in ruins, and yet he began by recalling God’s goodness (Isaiah 63:7-14).  Now in Isaiah 63:15-64:12 Isaiah gets real with God about the tough emotions he is experiencing.  In this way, Isaiah 63:7-64:12 reads like something from the Psalms.  Isaiah starts by recounting how God famously helped and delivered His people in the past (Isaiah 63:7-14), then he speaks of how difficult and desperate His people’s current circumstances are, and then he is going to cry out for God to act (Isaiah 63:15-64:12).

歸回救恩的偉大邀請

2023-04-24 in , /by

以賽亞書55: 6   當趁耶和華可尋找的時候尋找祂，相近的時候求告祂。

閱讀經文：53:1-13

1「你們一切乾渴的，都當就近水來！沒有銀錢的，也可以來！你們都來，買了吃。不用銀錢，不用價值，也來買酒和奶。 2 你們為何花錢買那不足為食物的，用勞碌得來的買那不使人飽足的呢？你們要留意聽我的話，就能吃那美物，得享肥甘，心中喜樂。 3 你們當就近我來，側耳而聽，就必得活。我必與你們立永約，就是應許大衛那可靠的恩典。 4 我已立他做萬民的見證，為萬民的君王和司令。 5 你素不認識的國民，你也必召來，素不認識你的國民，也必向你奔跑，都因耶和華你的神以色列的聖者，因為他已經榮耀你。」

先知在前一章論到神應許耶路撒冷將充滿歸回之民，聖城將在神大能庇護之下永遠獲得平安之預言後，進一步以本章正式向餘民邀請，鼓勵他們不要在古列下詔使他們重獲自由之後，仍留戀富裕的巴比倫追求他們商業上的亨通而不願歸回。當然，先知也考慮到，餘民們或許也會想到歸回耶路撒冷時的長途跋涉，路上也可能遇到危險，因此猶豫不肯回國。

因此，在本章一開始，先知便點出了信息的重點，他告訴百姓，那該注重的不是他們可以能透過商業貿易在巴比倫的獲利，而是他們需要神救恩之水來治他們的心靈乾渴（55:1-2「你們為何花錢買那不足為食物的，用勞碌得來的買那不使人得飽足的呢？」此語乃是象徵神勸勉將歸回的百姓，不要留戀在巴比倫所獲得的產業，因為這一些都不能使百姓獲得心靈的真平安）。

信心之歌

2023-04-23 in , /by

以賽亞書54: 7    我離棄你不過片時，卻要施大恩將你收回。

閱讀經文：54:1-17

1「你這不懷孕不生養的，要歌唱！你這未曾經過產難的，要發聲歌唱，揚聲歡呼！因為沒有丈夫的，比有丈夫的兒女更多。」這是耶和華說的。 2 「要擴張你帳幕之地，張大你居所的幔子，不要限制；要放長你的繩子，堅固你的橛子。 3 因為你要向左向右開展，你的後裔必得多國為業，又使荒涼的城邑有人居住。

本章為詩歌體裁，乃是在受苦的僕人完成其就贖事工之後的歡欣勝利之歌。本章分為兩個部份，第一部份為54:1-10，主要論到拯救與復興。第二部份為54:11-17，內容提到復興的榮耀。它同時也被稱為信心之歌。

先知在第一部份首先提到神的百姓，因著受苦的僕人所成就的事工而蒙祝福。因此先知以「不懷孕、不生養的」要歌唱（在古代的中東地區對不能生育的婦女，認為她是受了咒詛），來比喻荒涼的耶路撒冷將獲得生養眾多的歡樂。因為神的聖城耶路撒冷將有許多的歸回之民如潮水般的湧進來，以致於它必須以「擴張帳幕之地，張大居所的幔子」來容納突然暴增的百姓（54:2）。先知也預示他們，歸回之後的百姓，將要向左右的鄰國擴展，並得他們的地業，使一切荒涼的外邦城市重新有人居住（54:3）。

Your Memory Makes a Difference

2023-04-23 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Isaiah 63:7-14.  Let’s go!

Isaiah 63:7-8 (NIV)
7  I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us– yes, the many good things he has done for the house of Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.
8  He said, “Surely they are my people, sons who will not be false to me”; and so he became their Savior.

On verses 7-8:  Isaiah seems to begin a new unit that starts here at Isaiah 63:7 and ends in Isaiah 64:12.  This whole unit – Isaiah 63:7 to Isaiah 64:12 – is Isaiah trying to grapple with a disconcerting picture he sees of Jerusalem being in ruins.  This sad situation would happen in the relatively near future for Isaiah, compared to chapters 60 to 62 where Isaiah talks about the very distant future – the end of time – when Jerusalem’s situation is exceptionally glorious.  While it is clear that Isaiah is speaking about a future time when Jerusalem will be in ruins, the exact time period Isaiah is referring to is not clear.  (Isaiah might be painting a picture of 586 B.C. when the Babylonians would capture Jerusalem and destroy the temple, but he could also be describing a later period, since Jerusalem and its temple would be destroyed more than once.)

彌賽亞的救贖大功

2023-04-21 in , /by

以賽亞書53: 11  祂必看見自己勞苦的功效，便心滿意足。有許多人因認識我的義僕得稱為義，並且祂要擔當他們的罪孽。

閱讀經文：53:1-12

1我們所傳的有誰信呢？耶和華的膀臂向誰顯露呢？ 2 他在耶和華面前生長如嫩芽，像根出於乾地；他無佳形美容，我們看見他的時候，也無美貌使我們羨慕他。3 他被藐視，被人厭棄，多受痛苦，常經憂患。他被藐視，好像被人掩面不看的一樣，我們也不尊重他。

4 他誠然擔當我們的憂患，背負我們的痛苦，我們卻以為他受責罰，被神擊打苦待了。 5 哪知他為我們的過犯受害，為我們的罪孽壓傷。因他受的刑罰我們得平安，因他受的鞭傷我們得醫治。 6 我們都如羊走迷，各人偏行己路，耶和華使我們眾人的罪孽都歸在他身上。

本章乃是接續52:13-15對彌賽亞受苦僕人的形容，裡面充滿著主耶穌生平事奉與經歷，受苦與得勝的預言。52:13-15其實是53:1-12的摘要。在五十三章中，先知描述了耶和華神對世人的救贖計劃，53:1-9是第一部份，論到受苦的道路，53:10-12則是第二部份，宣示最終的得勝。

在第一部份（53:1-9）中，一開始先知以他和眾先知所傳的救贖主被厭棄的驚問做為開頭。他質問百姓，但並不期待他們回答，只是要表達他的感嘆罷了！任誰也料想不到耶和華神竟然會差遣一位並無佳形美容，也沒有出眾的出生背景的僕人（53:1-2「像根出於乾地」一語乃是象徵彌賽亞出生於窮鄉僻壤，不為世人所看重之地）來施行救贖（這也是繼52:14之後對這一位受苦僕人的敘述：「的面貌比別人憔悴，他的形容比世人枯槁」，象徵受苦的僕人被世人棄絕之後所產生的憂患）。因此他被眾人所厭棄，因為他們從外表上實在看不出他有甚麼特別（53:3）。然而，這一位僕人卻要顯露出神的大能膀臂。

The War After The Wedding

2023-04-21 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Isaiah 63:1-6.  Let’s go!

Isaiah 63:1-6 (NIV)
1  Who is this coming from Edom, from Bozrah, with his garments stained crimson? Who is this, robed in splendor, striding forward in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save.”
2  Why are your garments red, like those of one treading the winepress?
3  “I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing.
4  For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redemption has come.
5  I looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support; so my own arm worked salvation for me, and my own wrath sustained me.
6  I trampled the nations in my anger; in my wrath I made them drunk and poured their blood on the ground.”
 
On verses 1-6:  After describing a wedding with God as the groom and His people as His bride (Isaiah 62), we move into a violent scene.  It’s the war after the wedding.  But contrary to the experience of many newlyweds, the war here is not between the bride and the groom. 

The Wedding We’ve All Been Waiting For

2023-04-20 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Isaiah 62.  Let’s go!
 
Isaiah 62:1-12 (NIV)
1  For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch.
2  The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow.
3  You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
4  No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married.

On verses 1-12:  Here in Isaiah 62 Isaiah writes about how glorious God will make Jerusalem one day.   Instead of Jerusalem being deserted or desolate anymore, God will give her a new name (v2).  She will be called “Hephzibah” which means “my delight is in her” and “Beulah” which means “married” (v4).  Other names Jerusalem will be given are “the Holy People, the Redeemed of the LORD…Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted” (v12).

苦杯飲盡後的拯救

2023-04-20 in , /by

以賽亞書52: 13   我的僕人行事必有智慧，必被高舉上升，且成為至高。

閱讀經文：51:17-52:15

51:17 耶路撒冷啊，興起，興起！站起來！你從耶和華手中喝了他憤怒之杯，喝了那使人東倒西歪的爵，以至喝盡。 18 她所生育的諸子中沒有一個引導她的，她所養大的諸子中沒有一個攙扶她的。 19 荒涼、毀滅、饑荒、刀兵，這幾樣臨到你，誰為你舉哀？我如何能安慰你呢？ 20 你的眾子發昏，在各市口上躺臥，好像黃羊在網羅之中，都滿了耶和華的憤怒，你神的斥責。

在51:17第二個「興起！興起！」為開頭語的呼籲中，先知論到耶路撒冷將飲盡神公義「忿怒的杯」，那會讓耶路撒冷「東倒西歪」（指陷入混亂）。這杯代表的是戰禍，並因而導致的一連串效應──荒涼、毀滅、饑荒（51:19）。先知以「黃羊入網羅」象徵耶路撒冷的困境（黃羊屬鹿類，產於巴勒斯坦與阿拉伯曠野，常在沙漠中疾奔，因而難於補獲）。但因為51:9先知已經宣告耶和華的膀臂已為耶路撒冷而興起了，因此，本句乃是回應51:9的呼籲，宣告耶路撒冷已經在耶和華神的膀臂拯救下，已「喝盡了這杯」（表示已受完了神的管教），以後再也不再喝這困苦的杯了（51:21-22）。反倒是那苦待耶路撒冷的巴比倫，將要接續著喝這苦杯（51:23）。

Jesus Did It All

2023-04-19 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Isaiah 61.  Let’s go!
 
Isaiah 61:1-4 (NIV)
1  The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2  to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn,
3  and provide for those who grieve in Zion– to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.
4  They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
 
On verses 1-4:  Who is speaking in Isaiah 61:1?  It’s the Servant, the one whom God will send to deliver His people from their captivity to sin. 
 
According to Luke 4, one day Jesus went to the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth.  He was asked to read Scripture and was given the scroll of Isaiah. 

對忠信者的安慰與鼓勵

2023-04-19 in , /by

以賽亞書51:15   我是耶和華你的神，攪動大海，使海中的波浪砰訇，萬軍之耶和華是我的名。

閱讀經文：51:1-16

1「你們這追求公義、尋求耶和華的，當聽我言！你們要追想被鑿而出的磐石，被挖而出的巖穴。 2 要追想你們的祖宗亞伯拉罕和生養你們的撒拉，因為亞伯拉罕獨自一人的時候，我選召他，賜福於他，使他人數增多。」

3 耶和華已經安慰錫安和錫安一切的荒場，使曠野像伊甸，使沙漠像耶和華的園囿，在其中必有歡喜、快樂、感謝和歌唱的聲音。

在接著50:10-11對忠信者與對不敬虔者的信息之後，先知就從本段起，分別論到耶和華神對兩者的結局。首先是51:1-16先知論到耶和華神將給忠信者的結局是安慰與歡欣（51:3）。耶和華神對這些「追求公義，尋求耶和華」的忠信者，要他們從幾個角度來貼近祂將要賜下的安慰。

第一個角度是「追想」──神要他們追想以色列民族乃是神親手雕鑿出來的，神是他們的磐石，也是他們躲避仇敵的巖穴（51:1）。他們要有信心與他們信心的祖先亞伯拉罕與撒拉相稱（51:1-2）。因為當亞伯拉罕「獨自一人」的時候，神便選召了他，賜福與他，使他人數增多。神使人看為不可能的事，全部都按祂的旨意成就，。因此以色列百姓對上帝應當要有信心。