以賽亞書10:5-19

10:5 亞述是我怒氣的棍，手中拿我惱恨的杖。
10:6 我要打發他攻擊褻瀆的國民，吩咐他攻擊我所惱怒的百姓，搶財為擄物，奪貨為掠物，將他們踐踏，像街上的泥土一樣。
10:7 然而，他不是這樣的意思；他心也不這樣打算。他心裡倒想毀滅，剪除不少的國。
10:8 他說：我的臣僕豈不都是王嗎？
10:9 迦勒挪豈不像迦基米施嗎？哈馬豈不像亞珥拔嗎？撒馬利亞豈不像大馬士革嗎？
10:10 我手已經搆到有偶像的國；這些國雕刻的偶像過於耶路撒冷和撒馬利亞的偶像。
10:11 我怎樣待撒馬利亞和其中的偶像，豈不照樣待耶路撒冷和其中的偶像嗎？
10:12 主在錫安山和耶路撒冷成就他一切工作的時候，主說：「我必罰亞述王自大的心和他高傲眼目的榮耀。」
10:13 因為他說：我所成就的事是靠我手的能力和我的智慧，我本有聰明。我挪移列國的地界，搶奪他們所積蓄的財寶；並且我像勇士，使坐寶座的降為卑。
10:14 我的手搆到列國的財寶，好像人搆到鳥窩；我也得了全地，好像人拾起所棄的雀蛋。沒有動翅膀的；沒有張嘴的，也沒有鳴叫的。
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。
10:16 因此，主─萬軍之耶和華必使亞述王的肥壯人變為瘦弱，在他的榮華之下必有火著起，如同焚燒一樣。
10:17 以色列的光必如火；他的聖者必如火焰。在一日之間，將亞述王的荊棘和蒺藜焚燒淨盡；
10:18 又將他樹林和肥田的榮耀全然燒盡，好像拿軍旗的昏過去一樣。
10:19 他林中剩下的樹必稀少，就是孩子也能寫其數。

Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger—

the club in their hands is my fury!

6

Against a godless nation I send him,

and against the people of my wrath I command him,

to take spoil and seize plunder,

and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

7

But this is not what he intends,

nor does he have this in mind;

but it is in his heart to destroy,

and to cut off nations not a few.

8

For he says:

“Are not my commanders all kings?

9

Is not Calno like Carchemish?

Is not Hamath like Arpad?

Is not Samaria like Damascus?

10

As my hand has reached to the kingdoms of the idols

whose images were greater than those of Jerusalem and Samaria,

11

shall I not do to Jerusalem and her idols

what I have done to Samaria and her images?”

¹² When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the arrogant boasting of the king of Assyria and his haughty pride. ¹³For he says:

“By the strength of my hand I have done it,

and by my wisdom, for I have understanding;

I have removed the boundaries of peoples,

and have plundered their treasures;

like a bull I have brought down those who sat on thrones.

14

My hand has found, like a nest,

the wealth of the peoples;

and as one gathers eggs that have been forsaken,

so I have gathered all the earth;

and there was none that moved a wing,

or opened its mouth, or chirped.”

15

Shall the ax vaunt itself over the one who wields it,

or the saw magnify itself against the one who handles it?

As if a rod should raise the one who lifts it up,

or as if a staff should lift the one who is not wood!

16

Therefore the Sovereign, the Lord of hosts,

will send wasting sickness among his stout warriors,

and under his glory a burning will be kindled,

like the burning of fire.

17

The light of Israel will become a fire,

and his Holy One a flame;

and it will burn and devour

his thorns and briers in one day.

18

The glory of his forest and his fruitful land

the Lord will destroy, both soul and body,

and it will be as when an invalid wastes away.

19

The remnant of the trees of his forest will be so few

that a child can write them down.

**************

    上帝給亞述有力量去懲罰各國，但是不希望亞述自高自大、自義為是。趁著上帝給的機會來壯大自己，高舉自己。這就展現出人的罪性，尤其是在人感受到自己有辦法和有能力的時候，這樣的驕傲一定會顯現出來！而驕傲來，羞恥也會跟著出現的！

    所以，弟兄姊妹們，我們寧可感覺自己是無能的、是軟弱的，讓我們好好倚靠上帝，不要自以為有能力有辦法，就覺得自己不需要倚靠上帝了，或是認為自己比上帝厲害！

    我們不要追求全力和能力，這些都會讓我們忘記自己是誰，甚至做了許多不蒙上帝喜悅的事！我們要謹記一句話：「絕對的權力，絕對的敗壞！」

    為信主的人都知道權力需要制衡，在教會中更是如此，對那些自立權柄的人，高舉自己的人，更是要出來制衡，以免教會遭受上帝的憤怒！