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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).

归回救恩的伟大邀请

2023-04-24 in , /by

以赛亚书55: 6   当趁耶和华可寻找的时候寻找祂，相近的时候求告祂。

阅读经文：53:1-13

1「你们一切干渴的，都当就近水来！没有银钱的，也可以来！你们都来，买了吃。不用银钱，不用价值，也来买酒和奶。 2 你们为何花钱买那不足为食物的，用劳碌得来的买那不使人饱足的呢？你们要留意听我的话，就能吃那美物，得享肥甘，心中喜乐。 3 你们当就近我来，侧耳而听，就必得活。我必与你们立永约，就是应许大卫那可靠的恩典。 4 我已立他做万民的见证，为万民的君王和司令。 5 你素不认识的国民，你也必召来，素不认识你的国民，也必向你奔跑，都因耶和华你的神以色列的圣者，因为他已经荣耀你。」

先知在前一章论到神应许耶路撒冷将充满归回之民，圣城将在神大能庇护之下永远获得平安之预言后，进一步以本章正式向余民邀请，鼓励他们不要在古列下诏使他们重获自由之后，仍留恋富裕的巴比伦追求他们商业上的亨通而不愿归回。当然，先知也考虑到，余民们或许也会想到归回耶路撒冷时的长途跋涉，路上也可能遇到危险，因此犹豫不肯回国。

因此，在本章一开始，先知便点出了信息的重点，他告诉百姓，那该注重的不是他们可以能透过商业贸易在巴比伦的获利，而是他们需要神救恩之水来治他们的心灵干渴（55:1-2「你们为何花钱买那不足为食物的，用劳碌得来的买那不使人得饱足的呢？」此语乃是象征神劝勉将归回的百姓，不要留恋在巴比伦所获得的产业，因为这一些都不能使百姓获得心灵的真平安）。

信心之歌

2023-04-23 in , /by

以赛亚书54: 7    我离弃你不过片时，却要施大恩将你收回。

阅读经文：54:1-17

1「你这不怀孕不生养的，要歌唱！你这未曾经过产难的，要发声歌唱，扬声欢呼！因为没有丈夫的，比有丈夫的儿女更多。」这是耶和华说的。 2 「要扩张你帐幕之地，张大你居所的幔子，不要限制；要放长你的绳子，坚固你的橛子。 3 因为你要向左向右开展，你的后裔必得多国为业，又使荒凉的城邑有人居住。

本章为诗歌体裁，乃是在受苦的仆人完成其就赎事工之后的欢欣胜利之歌。本章分为两个部份，第一部份为54:1-10，主要论到拯救与复兴。第二部份为54:11-17，内容提到复兴的荣耀。它同时也被称为信心之歌。

先知在第一部份首先提到神的百姓，因着受苦的仆人所成就的事工而蒙祝福。因此先知以「不怀孕、不生养的」要歌唱（在古代的中东地区对不能生育的妇女，认为她是受了咒诅），来比喻荒凉的耶路撒冷将获得生养众多的欢乐。因为神的圣城耶路撒冷将有许多的归回之民如潮水般的涌进来，以致于它必须以「扩张帐幕之地，张大居所的幔子」来容纳突然暴增的百姓（54:2）。先知也预示他们，归回之后的百姓，将要向左右的邻国扩展，并得他们的地业，使一切荒凉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.)

弥赛亚的救赎大功

2023-04-21 in , /by

以赛亚书53: 11  祂必看见自己劳苦的功效，便心满意足。有许多人因认识我的义仆得称为义，并且祂要担当他们的罪孽。

阅读经文：53:1-12

1我们所传的有谁信呢？耶和华的膀臂向谁显露呢？ 2 他在耶和华面前生长如嫩芽，像根出于干地；他无佳形美容，我们看见他的时候，也无美貌使我们羡慕他。3 他被藐视，被人厌弃，多受痛苦，常经忧患。他被藐视，好像被人掩面不看的一样，我们也不尊重他。

4 他诚然担当我们的忧患，背负我们的痛苦，我们却以为他受责罚，被神击打苦待了。 5 哪知他为我们的过犯受害，为我们的罪孽压伤。因他受的刑罚我们得平安，因他受的鞭伤我们得医治。 6 我们都如羊走迷，各人偏行己路，耶和华使我们众人的罪孽都归在他身上。

本章乃是接续52:13-15对弥赛亚受苦仆人的形容，里面充满著主耶稣生平事奉与经历，受苦与得胜的预言。52:13-15其实是53:1-12的摘要。在五十三章中，先知描述了耶和华神对世人的救赎计划，53:1-9是第一部份，论到受苦的道路，53:10-12则是第二部份，宣示最终的得胜。

在第一部份（53:1-9）中，一开始先知以他和众先知所传的救赎主被厌弃的惊问做为开头。他质问百姓，但并不期待他们回答，只是要表达他的感叹罢了！任谁也料想不到耶和华神竟然会差遣一位并无佳形美容，也没有出众的出生背景的仆人（53:1-2「像根出于干地」一语乃是象征弥赛亚出生于穷乡僻壤，不为世人所看重之地）来施行救赎（这也是继52:14之后对这一位受苦仆人的叙述：「的面貌比别人憔悴，他的形容比世人枯槁」，象征受苦的仆人被世人弃绝之后所产生的忧患）。因此他被众人所厌弃，因为他们从外表上实在看不出他有甚么特别（53:3）。然而，这一位仆人却要显露出神的大能膀臂。

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).

苦杯饮尽后的拯救

2023-04-20 in , /by

以赛亚书52: 13   我的仆人行事必有智慧，必被高举上升，且成为至高。

阅读经文：51:17-52:15

51:17 耶路撒冷啊，兴起，兴起！站起来！你从耶和华手中喝了他愤怒之杯，喝了那使人东倒西歪的爵，以至喝尽。 18 她所生育的诸子中没有一个引导她的，她所养大的诸子中没有一个搀扶她的。 19 荒凉、毁灭、饥荒、刀兵，这几样临到你，谁为你举哀？我如何能安慰你呢？ 20 你的众子发昏，在各市口上躺卧，好像黄羊在网罗之中，都满了耶和华的愤怒，你神的斥责。

在51:17第二个「兴起！兴起！」为开头语的呼吁中，先知论到耶路撒冷将饮尽神公义「忿怒的杯」，那会让耶路撒冷「东倒西歪」（指陷入混乱）。这杯代表的是战祸，并因而导致的一连串效应──荒凉、毁灭、饥荒（51:19）。先知以「黄羊入网罗」象征耶路撒冷的困境（黄羊属鹿类，产于巴勒斯坦与阿拉伯旷野，常在沙漠中疾奔，因而难于补获）。但因为51:9先知已经宣告耶和华的膀臂已为耶路撒冷而兴起了，因此，本句乃是回应51:9的呼吁，宣告耶路撒冷已经在耶和华神的膀臂拯救下，已「喝尽了这杯」（表示已受完了神的管教），以后再也不再喝这困苦的杯了（51:21-22）。反倒是那苦待耶路撒冷的巴比伦，将要接续著喝这苦杯（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. 

对忠信者的安慰与鼓励

2023-04-19 in , /by

以赛亚书51:15   我是耶和华你的神，搅动大海，使海中的波浪砰訇，万军之耶和华是我的名。

阅读经文：51:1-16

1「你们这追求公义、寻求耶和华的，当听我言！你们要追想被凿而出的磐石，被挖而出的岩穴。 2 要追想你们的祖宗亚伯拉罕和生养你们的撒拉，因为亚伯拉罕独自一人的时候，我选召他，赐福于他，使他人数增多。」

3 耶和华已经安慰锡安和锡安一切的荒场，使旷野像伊甸，使沙漠像耶和华的园囿，在其中必有欢喜、快乐、感谢和歌唱的声音。

在接着50:10-11对忠信者与对不敬虔者的信息之后，先知就从本段起，分别论到耶和华神对两者的结局。首先是51:1-16先知论到耶和华神将给忠信者的结局是安慰与欢欣（51:3）。耶和华神对这些「追求公义，寻求耶和华」的忠信者，要他们从几个角度来贴近祂将要赐下的安慰。

第一个角度是「追想」──神要他们追想以色列民族乃是神亲手雕凿出来的，神是他们的磐石，也是他们躲避仇敌的岩穴（51:1）。他们要有信心与他们信心的祖先亚伯拉罕与撒拉相称（51:1-2）。因为当亚伯拉罕「独自一人」的时候，神便选召了他，赐福与他，使他人数增多。神使人看为不可能的事，全部都按祂的旨意成就，。因此以色列百姓对上帝应当要有信心。