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So Much Depends on Leadership

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Isaiah 3:1-26.  Let’s go!

Isaiah 3:1-3 (NIV)
1  See now, the Lord, the LORD Almighty, is about to take from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: all supplies of food and all supplies of water,
2  the hero and warrior, the judge and prophet, the soothsayer and elder,
3  the captain of fifty and man of rank, the counselor, skilled craftsman and clever enchanter.

Verses 1-3:  Isaiah warns that in response to Jerusalem and Judah’s sins, God is about to take away from Jerusalem and Judah the things which they used to rely on for supply and support.  In addition to a famine (v1), there would also be a leadership drought in Jerusalem and Judah (v2-3), such that everyone that Jerusalem and Judah would otherwise rely on for leadership and guidance will be taken away by the Lord.

顛倒的社會

以賽亞書3:13   耶和華起來辯論,站著審判眾民。

閱讀經文:以賽亞書3:1-26

1主萬軍之耶和華從耶路撒冷和猶大除掉眾人所倚靠的、所仗賴的,就是所倚靠的糧、所仗賴的水;2除掉勇士和戰士,審判官和先知,占卜的和長老,3五十夫長和尊貴人,謀士和有巧藝的,以及妙行法術的。4主說:「我必使孩童做他們的首領,使嬰孩轄管他們。5百姓要彼此欺壓,各人受鄰舍的欺壓。少年人必侮慢老年人,卑賤人必侮慢尊貴人。6人在父家拉住弟兄說:『你有衣服,可以做我們的官長,這敗落的事歸在你手下吧!』7那時,他必揚聲說:『我不做醫治你們的人,因我家中沒有糧食,也沒有衣服,你們不可立我做百姓的官長。』」8耶路撒冷敗落,猶大傾倒,因為他們的舌頭和行為與耶和華反對,惹了他榮光的眼目。9他們的面色證明自己的不正,他們述說自己的罪惡,並不隱瞞,好像所多瑪一樣。他們有禍了!因為作惡自害。10你們要論義人說,他必享福樂,因為要吃自己行為所結的果子。11惡人有禍了!他必遭災難,因為要照自己手所行的受報應。

查爾斯.史丹利牧師曾說:“聖經中的詩人大衛曾這麼說:‘耶和華阿,我知道你的判語是公義的,你使我受苦是以誠實待我。’有些苦難臨到的時候,我們常會想,神在做什麼?事實上,祂正忠實於祂的話語。神極愛我們,因此不希望我們犯罪、得罪祂、悖逆祂,所以有的時候祂會怎麼做呢?祂會用苦難引起我們注意,使我們改變心態,然後開始順服神,這也就是為什麼詩人會說‘祢使我受苦,是以誠實待我’的緣故了。有時我們認為苦難和艱辛都是壞事,都不是從神而來的,但是我們錯了,有些苦難的確是從神而來的管教,那事實上是神信實的舉動,為了使我們歸正,活在神的心意中”。

What Pressure Reveals About Us

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Isaiah 2:6-22.  Let’s go!

Isaiah 2:6-22 (NIV)
6  You have abandoned your people, the house of Jacob. They are full of superstitions from the East; they practice divination like the Philistines and clasp hands with pagans.
7  Their land is full of silver and gold; there is no end to their treasures. Their land is full of horses; there is no end to their chariots.
8  Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made.
9  So man will be brought low and mankind humbled– do not forgive them.

On verses 6-22:  When my sister and I were much younger, we would take a bunch of our favourite stuffed animals, put them on a large blanket, and with a hand on each corner of the blanket, we would shake the blanket up and down.  The animals would bounce high in the air before coming down either back onto the blanket or onto the ground.  We would keep shaking that blanket until only one animal was left on the blanket, and that surviving animal we called the winner of our “animal battle royal”.

預備自己迎向將來

以賽亞書2:5    雅各家啊,來吧,我們在耶和華的光明中行走!

閱讀經文:以賽亞書2:1-22

1亞摩斯的兒子以賽亞得默示,論到猶大和耶路撒冷。2末後的日子,耶和華殿的山必堅立超乎諸山,高舉過於萬嶺,萬民都要流歸這山。3必有許多國的民前往,說:「來吧!我們登耶和華的山,奔雅各神的殿。主必將他的道教訓我們,我們也要行他的路,因為訓誨必出於錫安,耶和華的言語必出於耶路撒冷。」4他必在列國中施行審判,為許多國民斷定是非。他們要將刀打成犁頭,把槍打成鐮刀。這國不舉刀攻擊那國,他們也不再學習戰事。

“你有沒有想過,幾年後我們的生活跟現在有多麼不一樣?憑什麼敢說「我們將來的生活與工作,一定這樣過」?” 在《遠見雜誌》最近的一篇文章裡說,2020年因人工智慧的發展,市場行銷部的分析業務、行程調整等辦公室業務都自動化了。我相信到那個時候,不僅是市場行銷部的分析業務、行程調整等辦公室業務都自動化,很多工作都會被電腦取代。所以有很多人想到將來就想到失業,也不知道現在應該叫孩子們學什麼,將來才能找到好工作。

以前我們想到的“將來”,就是隔著遙遠的太平洋,也能和家人面對面地說話;就是家裡有事,不管人在哪裡,都可以立刻送錢過去支援;不必再等信,只要手指一按,立即收到,等等。我們以前想望的“將來”,現在都實現了。還有更多的“將來”帶給人許多憧憬,也帶給人許多憂心。但是在這裡,先知要讓我們看到更遙遠的“將來”,知道這個“將來”,會影響我們對生命的看法,影響我們在人生中所做的選擇。

饑荒真正的元凶

以賽亞書1:18b   你們的罪雖像朱紅,必變成雪白;雖紅如丹顏,必白如羊毛。

閱讀經文:以賽亞書1:18-31

18耶和華說:「你們來,我們彼此辯論。你們的罪雖像朱紅,必變成雪白;雖紅如丹顏,必白如羊毛。19你們若甘心聽從,必吃地上的美物;20若不聽從,反倒悖逆,必被刀劍吞滅。」這是耶和華親口說的。

21可嘆忠信的城變為妓女!從前充滿了公平,公義居在其中,現今卻有凶手居住!22你的銀子變為渣滓,你的酒用水摻兌。23你的官長居心悖逆,與盜賊做伴,各都喜愛賄賂,追求贓私。他們不為孤兒申冤,寡婦的案件也不得呈到他們面前。

有一次大衛鮑森接受澳洲廣播電台ABC的採訪,主持人對大衛鮑森充滿敵意,他說:「我剛剛從衣索匹亞回來,在那裡看見許許多多人挨餓,如果神是良善的神,怎麼會容許這種事情發生?」大衛鮑森回答說:「你知不知道全世界有足夠的糧食可以餵飽所有的人。」

根據聯合國糧食組織的報告,全球每一年有足夠的糧食,可以餵飽所有的人。人之所以會挨餓並不是神的錯,有些國家的胖子太多,因為他們吃得太多,有些國家的糧食卻不夠,這不是神的錯,因為神每年都供應足夠的食物給全世界的人,問題在於我們不肯分享。西方社會丟掉很多食物,但是第三世界會很樂意吃那些食物,所以不要把饑荒歸咎到神身上,這不是神的錯,神應許盡到祂的責任,讓春夏秋冬四季持續運轉,祂守住了承諾,問題出在我們身上,我們讓祂失望,霸佔了太多食物不肯分享給別人。(好消息電視台:饑荒真正的元凶)

Welcome to the Mountain of God

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Isaiah 2:1-5.  Let’s go!

Isaiah 2:1-2 (NIV)
1  This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
2  In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.
 
On verses 1-2:  Isaiah foresees the day when the worship of the LORD will be the most prominent movement in the world (“chief among the mountains” – v2), when the church grows from a small, miniscule, inconspicuous mustard seed of a faith to the largest force in the world that no one can ignore, and people from all nations will be a part of it.

Sin Can Transform You, but So Can God

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Isaiah 1:21-31.  Let’s go!

Isaiah 1:21-23 (NIV)
21  See how the faithful city has become a harlot! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her– but now murderers!
22  Your silver has become dross, your choice wine is diluted with water.
23  Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them.

On verses 21-23:  These verses describe two transformations that the people of Judah would go through.  The first is a negative transformation as a result of sin (v21-23):  Jerusalem was once “the faithful city (v21) but has become a whore.  Her riches are now depleted and diluted (v22).  Once they had the almighty, just and compassionate God as their best friend, ruler and protector, but now, having forsaken Him, they have heartless rebels for rulers and evil thieves for companions (v23).

再一次機會

以賽亞書1:17   學習行善,尋求公平,解救受欺壓的,給孤兒申冤,為寡婦辨屈。

閱讀經文:以賽亞書1:9-17

10你們這所多瑪的官長啊,要聽耶和華的話!你們這蛾摩拉的百姓啊,要側耳聽我們神的訓誨!11耶和華說:「你們所獻的許多祭物與我何益呢?公綿羊的燔祭和肥畜的脂油,我已經夠了;公牛的血、羊羔的血、公山羊的血,我都不喜悅。12你們來朝見我,誰向你們討這些,使你們踐踏我的院宇呢?13你們不要再獻虛浮的供物!香品是我所憎惡的,月朔和安息日並宣召的大會也是我所憎惡的,做罪孽又守嚴肅會我也不能容忍。14你們的月朔和節期,我心裡恨惡,我都以為麻煩,我擔當便不耐煩。15你們舉手禱告,我必遮眼不看,就是你們多多地祈禱我也不聽,你們的手都滿了殺人的血。

所多瑪和蛾摩拉不是已經滅亡了嗎?怎麼會有所多瑪的官長和蛾摩拉的百姓在這裡出現呢?先知在這裡是以這兩個城巿在比喻哪些人?當年的所多瑪和蛾摩拉為何會滅亡呢?在〈創世記〉十三章,作者描述當年羅得看見約旦河的全平原,直到瑣珥,都是滋潤的。那地在耶和華未滅所多瑪、蛾摩拉以先如同耶和華的園子,也像埃及地。當年的所多瑪和蛾摩拉何等蒙福,如同耶和華的園子,也就是伊甸園。神祝福那地,使其水草豐盛,所以羅得選擇了約旦河的全平原。

羅得住在平原,漸漸挪移帳篷,直到所多瑪。《聖經》記載:“所多瑪人在耶和華面前罪大惡極”。接著,因為所多瑪王、蛾摩拉王和其他三王背約,所以來自東方兩河流域的四王聯合來攻打在約旦河平原的五王。四王顯然十分強悍,驍勇善戰,把五王打得落花流水。羅得因為住在他們當中,所以他和家人及一切所有的都被擄去了。亞伯拉罕當年真是神勇,帶著318個精練家丁,不但打敗四王,還把羅得和其他人及財物通通救回來。

若不是

以賽亞書1:9    若不是萬軍之耶和華給我們稍留餘種,我們早已像所多瑪、蛾摩拉的樣子了。

閱讀經文:以賽亞書1:1-9

1當烏西雅、約坦、亞哈斯、希西家做猶大王的時候,亞摩斯的兒子以賽亞得默示,論到猶大和耶路撒冷。2天哪,要聽!地啊,側耳而聽!因為耶和華說:「我養育兒女,將他們養大,他們竟悖逆我。3牛認識主人,驢認識主人的槽,以色列卻不認識,我的民卻不留意。」

在1947年的春天,有兩個牧羊少年人在死海旁康隆的一個山崖腳下牧羊,因為羊走失,去找羊的時候,年輕人無聊便隨意丟了一個石子到崖上的一個小洞裡。原本他以為會聽到石子打到岩洞裡石塊的響聲,沒想到聽到嘩啦的物體破碎聲,他便嚇得跑回家。後來他開始想或許那個洞不是什麼野狼狐狸洞,而是黃金財寶洞。於是他與他的伙伴回去,便發現那的洞裡有很多細長的瓶子。其中還有一個裡頭有很多皮革。這些腐蝕的皮革就是有名的「死海卷軸」。

在這之前,有很多人認為當時所用的《聖經》和3500年以前的原著有很大的出入,所以攻擊《聖經》是最靠不住、最敗壞、最不可信的一本書。但是死海卷軸出現之後,證明我們今天所用的《聖經》和原始《聖經》的內容完全相同,內中並沒有攙雜一點錯誤(翻譯或印刷排版之錯不算在內),這便堵住了那些不信者的攻擊。在這一切古卷中,〈以賽亞書〉全卷最為完整,它被抄錄在一塊寬一尺,長二十四尺的羊皮卷上,藏在瓦質的瓶中,並用麻布包裹,外面還澆上瀝青。現在被保存在耶路撒冷的希伯來大學圖書館裡。(摘自《聖經與死海古卷》)

What True Worship Looks Like

Hi GAMErs!

Today’s passage is Isaiah 1:10-20.  Let’s go!

Isaiah 1:10 (NIV)
10  Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the law of our God, you people of Gomorrah!

On verse 10:  Why is God now addressing the people of Sodom and Gomorrah?  He’s not.  Rather God is calling the people of Judah “you rulers of Sodom…you people of Gomorrah”.  It’s because Sodom and Gomorrah were two cities that were destroyed for their wickedness and God is now equating the level of Judah’s sin to that of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Isaiah 1:11-17 (NIV)
11  “The multitude of your sacrifices– what are they to me?” says the LORD. “I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats.
12  When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts?