以賽亞書1:2-10

1:2 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。
1:3 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。
1:4 嗐！犯罪的國民，擔著罪孽的百姓；行惡的種類，敗壞的兒女！他們離棄耶和華，藐視以色列的聖者，與他生疏，往後退步。
1:5 你們為甚麼屢次悖逆，還要受責打嗎？你們已經滿頭疼痛，全心發昏。
1:6 從腳掌到頭頂，沒有一處完全的，盡是傷口、青腫，與新打的傷痕，都沒有收口，沒有纏裹，也沒有用膏滋潤。
1:7 你們的地土已經荒涼；你們的城邑被火焚毀。你們的田地在你們眼前為外邦人所侵吞，既被外邦人傾覆就成為荒涼。
1:8 僅存錫安城（原文是女子），好像葡萄園的草棚，瓜田的茅屋，被圍困的城邑。
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。
1:10 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，要側耳聽我們上帝的訓誨！

Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth;

for the Lord has spoken:

I reared children and brought them up,

but they have rebelled against me.

The ox knows its owner,

and the donkey its master’s crib;

but Israel does not know,

my people do not understand.

Ah, sinful nation,

people laden with iniquity,

offspring who do evil,

children who deal corruptly,

who have forsaken the Lord,

who have despised the Holy One of Israel,

who are utterly estranged!

 Why do you seek further beatings?

Why do you continue to rebel?

The whole head is sick,

and the whole heart faint.

From the sole of the foot even to the head,

there is no soundness in it,

but bruises and sores

and bleeding wounds;

they have not been drained, or bound up,

or softened with oil.

 Your country lies desolate,

your cities are burned with fire;

in your very presence

aliens devour your land;

it is desolate, as overthrown by foreigners.

And daughter Zion is left

like a booth in a vineyard,

like a shelter in a cucumber field,

like a besieged city.

If the Lord of hosts

had not left us a few survivors,

we would have been like Sodom,

and become like Gomorrah.

 Hear the word of the Lord,

you rulers of Sodom!

Listen to the teaching of our God,

you people of Gomorrah!

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    以賽亞先知在此說猶大人的悖逆，雖然他們是上帝的選民，仍然是悖逆者，是上帝所憎惡的，就像所多瑪和蛾摩拉的人民是會遭上帝毀滅的民！但是，上帝不忍心將他們毀滅，還是為他們留下餘種，使上帝的選民不致斷絕。當然，上帝是期盼餘種悔改。

    同樣基督徒也是上帝在這世界的餘種，以至於使得人不致被滅絕。因為上帝造人的目的，是要人來彰顯祂的榮耀！所以，上帝必定保守祂所愛的人，透過這些人完成祂的使命。

    而上帝揀選餘種是透過耶穌基督，若不是耶穌基督，我們就像所多瑪、蛾摩拉的人民一般會滅亡！是耶穌基使我們不致滅亡，反得永生！