歷代志上16:7-36

16:7 那日，大衛初次藉亞薩和他的弟兄以詩歌稱頌耶和華，說：
16:8 你們要稱謝耶和華，求告他的名，在萬民中傳揚他的作為！
16:9 要向他唱詩、歌頌，談論他一切奇妙的作為。
16:10 要以他的聖名誇耀；尋求耶和華的人，心中應當歡喜。
16:11 要尋求耶和華與他的能力，時常尋求他的面。
16:12 他僕人以色列的後裔，他所揀選雅各的子孫哪，你們要記念他奇妙的作為和他的奇事，並他口中的判語。
16:13 【併於上節】
16:14 他是耶和華─我們的上帝，全地都有他的判斷。
16:15 你們要記念他的約，直到永遠；他所吩咐的話，直到千代，
16:16 就是與亞伯拉罕所立的約，向以撒所起的誓。
16:17 他又將這約向雅各定為律例，向以色列定為永遠的約，
16:18 說：我必將迦南地賜給你，作你產業的分。
16:19 當時你們人丁有限，數目稀少，並且在那地為寄居的；
16:20 他們從這邦游到那邦，從這國行到那國。
16:21 耶和華不容甚麼人欺負他們，為他們的緣故責備君王，
16:22 說：不可難為我受膏的人，也不可惡待我的先知！
16:23 全地都要向耶和華歌唱！天天傳揚他的救恩，
16:24 在列邦中述說他的榮耀，在萬民中述說他的奇事。
16:25 因耶和華為大，當受極大的讚美；他在萬上帝之上，當受敬畏。
16:26 外邦的神都屬虛無，惟獨耶和華創造諸天。
16:27 有尊榮和威嚴在他面前，有能力和喜樂在他聖所。
16:28 民中的萬族啊，你們要將榮耀能力歸給耶和華，都歸給耶和華！
16:29 要將耶和華的名所當得的榮耀歸給他，拿供物來奉到他面前；當以聖潔的（的：或譯為）妝飾敬拜耶和華。
16:30 全地要在他面前戰抖，世界也堅定不得動搖。
16:31 願天歡喜，願地快樂；願人在列邦中說：耶和華作王了！
16:32 願海和其中所充滿的澎湃；願田和其中所有的都歡樂。
16:33 那時，林中的樹木都要在耶和華面前歡呼，因為他來要審判全地。
16:34 應當稱謝耶和華；因他本為善，他的慈愛永遠長存！
16:35 要說：拯救我們的上帝啊，求你救我們，聚集我們，使我們脫離外邦，我們好稱讚你的聖名，以讚美你為誇勝。
16:36 耶和華─以色列的上帝，從亙古直到永遠，是應當稱頌的！眾民都說：「阿們！」並且讚美耶和華。

7 On that day David gave to Asaph and his fellow Levites this song of thanksgiving to the LORD:

8 Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness.
  Let the whole world know what he has done.
9 Sing to him; yes, sing his praises.
  Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.
10 Exult in his holy name;
  rejoice, you who worship the LORD.
11 Search for the LORD and for his strength;
  continually seek him.
12 Remember the wonders he has performed,
  his miracles, and the rulings he has given,
13 you children of his servant Israel,
  you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.

14 He is the LORD our God.
  His justice is seen throughout the land.
15 Remember his covenant forever—
  the commitment he made to a thousand generations.
16 This is the covenant he made with Abraham
  and the oath he swore to Isaac.
17 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree,
  and to the people of Israel as a never-ending covenant:
18 "I will give you the land of Canaan
  as your special possession."

19 He said this when you were few in number,
  a tiny group of strangers in Canaan.
20 They wandered from nation to nation,
  from one kingdom to another.
21 Yet he did not let anyone oppress them.
  He warned kings on their behalf:
22 "Do not touch my chosen people,
  and do not hurt my prophets."

23 Let the whole earth sing to the LORD!
  Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.
24 Publish his glorious deeds among the nations.
  Tell everyone about the amazing things he does.
25 Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise!
  He is to be feared above all gods.
26 The gods of other nations are mere idols,
  but the LORD made the heavens!
27 Honor and majesty surround him;
  strength and joy fill his dwelling.

28 O nations of the world, recognize the LORD,
  recognize that the LORD is glorious and strong.
29 Give to the LORD the glory he deserves!
  Bring your offering and come into his presence.
Worship the LORD in all his holy splendor.
30   Let all the earth tremble before him.
  The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.

31 Let the heavens be glad, and the earth rejoice!
  Tell all the nations, "The LORD reigns!"
32 Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!
  Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy!
33 Let the trees of the forest rustle with praise,
  for the LORD is coming to judge the earth.

34 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good!
  His faithful love endures forever.
35 Cry out, "Save us, O God of our salvation!
  Gather and rescue us from among the nations,
so we can thank your holy name
  and rejoice and praise you."

36 Praise the LORD, the God of Israel,
  who lives from everlasting to everlasting!

And all the people shouted "Amen!" and praised the LORD.

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

    這是一首讚美詩，是因為大衛將上帝的約櫃，安置在會幕之後所吟唱的。在這首讚美詩中述說：紀念上帝過去的作為、宣告上帝的榮耀、並且要獻上祭物、求上帝的拯救！

    其實在我們的信仰生活也是這樣，要常常紀念上帝在我們身上的作為，讚美上帝歸榮要給祂，獻上自己為活祭—為基督而活，並且要求上帝救我們脫離仇敵的綑綁與挾制，不在生活在悖逆上帝的生命之中。

    當然我們更要期盼上帝完全勝利，上帝國完全實現的日子，那時我們必要在主的面前讚美與歡呼，因為祂的拯救完完全全實現了！我們不再是罪的奴僕，而是上帝的兒女了！

以賽亞書4章

     以賽亞書4:1-6  ,

以賽亞書4:1-6

4:1 在那日，七個女人必拉住一個男人，說：「我們吃自己的食物，穿自己的衣服，但求你許我們歸你名下；求你除掉我們的羞恥。」
4:2 到那日，耶和華發生的苗必華美尊榮，地的出產必為以色列逃脫的人顯為榮華茂盛。
4:3 主以公義的靈和焚燒的靈，將錫安女子的污穢洗去，又將耶路撒冷中殺人的血除淨。那時，剩在錫安、留在耶路撒冷的，就是一切住耶路撒冷、在生命冊上記名的，必稱為聖。
4:4 【併於上節】
4:5 耶和華也必在錫安全山，並各會眾以上，使白日有煙雲，黑夜有火焰的光。因為在全榮耀之上必有遮蔽。
4:6 必有亭子，白日可以得蔭避暑，也可以作為藏身之處，躲避狂風暴雨。

Seven women shall take hold of one man in that day, saying,

“We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes;

just let us be called by your name;

take away our disgrace.”

² On that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be the pride and glory of the survivors of Israel. ³Whoever is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem, ⁴once the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning. ⁵Then the Lord will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over its places of assembly a cloud by day and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night. Indeed over all the glory there will be a canopy. ⁶It will serve as a pavilion, a shade by day from the heat, and a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain.

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

    上帝要使自己的榮光重新充滿耶路撒冷，使得上帝的榮光在此在人間，因為上帝要將祂真正的拯救臨到祂所愛的人當中，這就是我們今日可以在基督裡享受到的恩典與慈愛！

    也因為如此，上帝在舊約當中的預言，就成全在新約的時代。基督裡是上帝實現他承諾和應許的所在，使得屬基督人真正感受到透過耶穌基督的拯救，真真成為上帝的兒女！

    這是何等的美事！有沒有享受到呢？快快來到基督裡，透過聖靈的引導，使我們真真享受上帝奇妙的救恩，並且以歡喜快樂的心來盼望，盼望上帝的國快快實現，上帝的榮光充滿全地！

以賽亞書3:16-26

3:16 耶和華又說：因為錫安的女子狂傲，行走挺項，賣弄眼目，俏步徐行，腳下玎璫，
3:17 所以，主必使錫安的女子頭長禿瘡；耶和華又使她們赤露下體。
3:18 到那日，主必除掉她們華美的腳釧、髮網、月牙圈、
3:19 耳環、手鐲、蒙臉的帕子、
3:20 華冠、足鍊、華帶、香盒、符囊、
3:21 戒指、鼻環、
3:22 吉服、外套、雲肩、荷包、
3:23 手鏡、細麻衣、裹頭巾、蒙身的帕子。
3:24 必有臭爛代替馨香，繩子代替腰帶，光禿代替美髮，麻衣繫腰代替華服，烙傷代替美容。
3:25 你的男丁必倒在刀下；你的勇士必死在陣上。
3:26 錫安（原文是她）的城門必悲傷、哀號；她必荒涼坐在地上。

The Lord said:

Because the daughters of Zion are haughty

and walk with outstretched necks,

glancing wantonly with their eyes,

mincing along as they go,

tinkling with their feet;

17

the Lord will afflict with scabs

the heads of the daughters of Zion,

and the Lord will lay bare their secret parts.

¹⁸ In that day the Lord will take away the finery of the anklets, the headbands, and the crescents; ¹⁹the pendants, the bracelets, and the scarfs; ²⁰the headdresses, the armlets, the sashes, the perfume boxes, and the amulets; ²¹the signet rings and nose rings; ²²the festal robes, the mantles, the cloaks, and the handbags; ²³the garments of gauze, the linen garments, the turbans, and the veils.

24

Instead of perfume there will be a stench;

and instead of a sash, a rope;

and instead of well-set hair, baldness;

and instead of a rich robe, a binding of sackcloth;

instead of beauty, shame.

25

Your men shall fall by the sword

and your warriors in battle.

26

And her gates shall lament and mourn;

ravaged, she shall sit upon the ground.

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

    先知以賽亞藉由女子的狀況，來說明耶路撒冷的敗落。這是很鮮活的筆法，因為女性的流行服飾，是都會中奢華的表現，許多的生意都是從女子的需要來的。而女子的穿著，常常是城市繁榮的指標，越繁榮的城市女子的穿著越是花俏，這是古今中外不變的道理。

    然而這些奢華常常是需要有安定的社會，而安定的社會通常需要有政治、軍事與經濟力量的維持。這些力量正是世界勢力的展現，這樣的勢力通常是與上帝為敵的。但是，許多的基督徒看不清楚，常常去倚靠與追求這些力量。

    也因為如此，許多的基督徒能可去追求政治、軍事與經濟的力量，以為如此可以鞏固教會與個人。其實，這是與上帝為敵的力量，上帝要人臣服於基督，尊崇基督的王權，不是倚靠基督以外的勢力！

以賽亞書3章

    以賽亞書3:1-15  ,   以賽亞書3:16-26 ,

以賽亞書3:1-15

3:1 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；
3:2 除掉勇士和戰士，審判官和先知，占卜的和長老，
3:3 五十夫長和尊貴人，謀士和有巧藝的，以及妙行法術的。
3:4 主說：我必使孩童作他們的首領，使嬰孩轄管他們。
3:5 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。
3:6 人在父家拉住弟兄，說：你有衣服，可以作我們的官長。這敗落的事歸在你手下吧！
3:7 那時，他必揚聲說：我不作醫治你們的人；因我家中沒有糧食，也沒有衣服，你們不可立我作百姓的官長。
3:8 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。
3:9 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。
3:10 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。
3:11 惡人有禍了！他必遭災難！因為要照自己手所行的受報應。
3:12 至於我的百姓，孩童欺壓他們，婦女轄管他們。我的百姓啊，引導你的使你走錯，並毀壞你所行的道路。
3:13 耶和華起來辯論，站著審判眾民。
3:14 耶和華必審問他民中的長老和首領，說：吃盡葡萄園果子的就是你們；向貧窮人所奪的都在你們家中。
3:15 主─萬軍之耶和華說：你們為何壓制我的百姓，搓磨貧窮人的臉呢？

For now the Sovereign, the Lord of hosts,

is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah

support and staff—

all support of bread,

and all support of water—

2

warrior and soldier,

judge and prophet,

diviner and elder,

3

captain of fifty

and dignitary,

counselor and skillful magician

and expert enchanter.

4

And I will make boys their princes,

and babes shall rule over them.

5

The people will be oppressed,

everyone by another

and everyone by a neighbor;

the youth will be insolent to the elder,

and the base to the honorable.

6

Someone will even seize a relative,

a member of the clan, saying,

“You have a cloak;

you shall be our leader,

and this heap of ruins

shall be under your rule.”

7

But the other will cry out on that day, saying,

“I will not be a healer;

in my house there is neither bread nor cloak;

you shall not make me

leader of the people.”

8

For Jerusalem has stumbled

and Judah has fallen,

because their speech and their deeds are against the Lord,

defying his glorious presence.

9

The look on their faces bears witness against them;

they proclaim their sin like Sodom,

they do not hide it.

Woe to them!

For they have brought evil on themselves.

10

Tell the innocent how fortunate they are,

for they shall eat the fruit of their labors.

11

Woe to the guilty! How unfortunate they are,

for what their hands have done shall be done to them.

12

My people—children are their oppressors,

and women rule over them.

O my people, your leaders mislead you,

and confuse the course of your paths.

13

The Lord rises to argue his case;

he stands to judge the peoples.

14

The Lord enters into judgment

with the elders and princes of his people:

It is you who have devoured the vineyard;

the spoil of the poor is in your houses.

15

What do you mean by crushing my people,

by grinding the face of the poor? says the Lord God of hosts.

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

    先知書當中的動力是來自上帝的智慧，正如這段經文所說的，上帝將一切人所倚靠的全部推翻，讓人知道除了倚靠上帝之外，沒有別的好倚靠的。這是一種革命性的論述，也只有在先知書中可以看到。

    其實基督徒本身也要有革命性的看見，不要受到常規的限制，要以上帝為我們的倚靠和動力的來源，勇敢打破任何企圖在上帝之外建立權威的勢力，包括任何的政權、任何的權勢！因為，任何的權柄是來自上帝，若不是上帝的旨意，誰也無法建立權柄！

    也因此，我們確定將來只有基督是王，屬基督的也要同基督做王，享受基督的榮耀與王權到永遠！這就是基督賜給人的獎賞，我們所追求的，也就是得著基督、與基督聯合到永遠！