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剩餘的歸回

2023-02-19 in , /by

以賽亞書11:16   為主餘剩的百姓，就是從亞述剩下回來的，必有一條大道，如當日以色列從埃及地上來一樣。

閱讀經文：以賽亞書 11:11-16

11 當那日，主必二次伸手救回自己百姓中所餘剩的，就是在亞述、埃及、巴忒羅、古實、以攔、示拿、哈馬並眾海島所剩下的。 12 他必向列國豎立大旗，招回以色列被趕散的人，又從地的四方聚集分散的猶大人。 13 以法蓮的嫉妒就必消散，擾害猶大的必被剪除；以法蓮必不嫉妒猶大，猶大也不擾害以法蓮。 14 他們要向西飛，撲在非利士人的肩頭上，一同擄掠東方人，伸手按住以東和摩押，亞捫人也必順服他們。 15 耶和華必使埃及海汊枯乾，掄手用暴熱的風使大河分為七條，令人過去不致濕腳。 16 為主餘剩的百姓，就是從亞述剩下回來的，必有一條大道，如當日以色列從埃及地上來一樣。

一、前言－－－以色列將由各地歸回

今天所讀的這段經文特別告訴我們，以色列就像主耶穌所說，它像無花果樹，並要發嫩長葉；所以在1948年他們終於復國了，而且也回到他們的家鄉；這個無花果樹一面指著以色列國，同時也指著以色列地；那塊地乃是　神所賜給他們的迦南美地；因著這個緣故，一面來講是政治的歸回，二是實質的回到家鄉。所以從1948年以後，果然就像聖經所預言的，他們陸陸續續的回到迦南地。

The Good King

2023-02-19 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Isaiah 16:1-14.  Let’s go!

Isaiah 16:1-5 (NIV)
1  Send lambs as tribute to the ruler of the land, from Sela, across the desert, to the mount of the Daughter of Zion.
2  Like fluttering birds pushed from the nest, so are the women of Moab at the fords of the Arnon.
3  “Give us counsel, render a decision. Make your shadow like night– at high noon. Hide the fugitives, do not betray the refugees.
4  Let the Moabite fugitives stay with you; be their shelter from the destroyer.” The oppressor will come to an end, and destruction will cease; the aggressor will vanish from the land.
5  In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it– one from the house of David– one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness.

On verses 1-5:  Isaiah 16 continues Isaiah’s oracle concerning Moab.  In Isaiah 15, the Moabites were pictured fleeing from their own country because of an attack, possibly by Assyria.  Now in Isaiah 16, the Moabites are pictured as refugees fleeing to their neighbours in Judah for safety.  To show that they come in peace and in exchange for protection from Judah, the Moabites are urged to “send lambs as tribute…to the daughter of Zion [i.e. Judah]” (v1), much like the king of Moab did in 2 Kings 3:4.  In verses 2-3, the Moabite women are pictured looking to Judah for protection.

Hope In God Alone

2023-02-17 in /by

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Isaiah 14:28 to 15:9.  Let’s go!

Isaiah 14:28-32 (NIV)
28  This oracle came in the year King Ahaz died:
29  Do not rejoice, all you Philistines, that the rod that struck you is broken; from the root of that snake will spring up a viper, its fruit will be a darting, venomous serpent.
30  The poorest of the poor will find pasture, and the needy will lie down in safety. But your root I will destroy by famine; it will slay your survivors.
31  Wail, O gate! Howl, O city! Melt away, all you Philistines! A cloud of smoke comes from the north, and there is not a straggler in its ranks.
32  What answer shall be given to the envoys of that nation? “The LORD has established Zion, and in her his afflicted people will find refuge.”

On verses 28-32:  Earlier in Isaiah 6, Isaiah described the vision he saw in the year that King Uzziah died (approximately 739 B.C.)  Now here in Isaiah 14:28, Isaiah describes the message he received many years later in the year when King Ahaz had died and his son Hezekiah is taking over the throne in Judah.

耶西之根

2023-02-17 in , /by

以賽亞書11:2 耶和華的靈必住在他身上，就是使他有智慧和聰明的靈，謀略和能力的靈，知識和敬畏耶和華的靈。

閱讀經文：以賽亞書 11:1-10

1從耶西的本必發一條，從他根生的枝子必結果實。 2 耶和華的靈必住在他身上，就是使他有智慧和聰明的靈，謀略和能力的靈，知識和敬畏耶和華的靈。 3 他必以敬畏耶和華為樂，行審判不憑眼見，斷是非也不憑耳聞； 4 卻要以公義審判貧窮人，以正直判斷世上的謙卑人，以口中的杖擊打世界，以嘴裡的氣殺戮惡人。 5 公義必當他的腰帶，信實必當他脅下的帶子。

「從耶西的本必發一條」，這一句話中的本字下有小字「原文作不」，這個不字非不字，音墩，其意指木禿其上，而僅餘留的根株（六13）。粵人以截木作墊為不。文理本聖經譯為「耶西之根株必將萌蘖」。呂振中譯本作「從耶西的樹墩子必生出一根枝條來」。在粵語本及客話本譯為樹頭。但最容易使人明白的譯詞為樹墩，就是樹被砍伐或鋸斷所留下樹根的禿出部分，英文聖經譯為Stump，亦即為木頭墩或樹樁之意。中英譯法，意音都很相近，在原文上是一個字，其他中文譯本多譯為樹幹（參伯十四8）。這裡所說從耶西的本或稱為樹不（墩）所發的枝條，乃是豫言彌賽亞基督，他是從耶西的根而生，是大衛的苗裔，這事早已應驗。―― 李道生《舊約聖經問題總解》

從這一章裡，我們可以看出神創世的本意。神把管理世界的權柄交給神子耶穌，也就是彌賽亞基督，耶西的根。在〈約翰福音〉第十三章第3節裡記載：“耶穌知道父已將萬有交在他手裡，且知道自己是從神出來的，又要歸到神那裡去”；在第十四章裡耶穌說：“你們若認識我，也就認識我的父。從今以後，你們認識祂，並且已經看見祂”。耶穌不斷地強調：“我在父裡面，父在我裡面”。

Satan’s Fall and Our Rescue

2023-02-16 in /by

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.

斧鋸和棍

2023-02-16 in , /by

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。

錯誤的引導者

2023-02-15 in , /by

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。

Bye Bye Babylon

2023-02-15 in /by

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.

Jesus Is Your Salvation, Strength and Song

2023-02-14 in /by

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).

因有一嬰孩為我們而生

2023-02-14 in , /by

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。