以賽亞書10:20-34

10:20 到那日，以色列所剩下的和雅各家所逃脫的，不再倚靠那擊打他們的，卻要誠實倚靠耶和華─以色列的聖者。
10:21 所剩下的，就是雅各家所剩下的，必歸回全能的上帝。
10:22 以色列啊，你的百姓雖多如海沙，惟有剩下的歸回。原來滅絕的事已定，必有公義施行，如水漲溢。
10:23 因為主─萬軍之耶和華在全地之中必成就所定規的結局。
10:24 所以，主─萬軍之耶和華如此說：「住錫安我的百姓啊，亞述王雖然用棍擊打你，又照埃及的樣子舉杖攻擊你，你卻不要怕他。
10:25 因為還有一點點時候，向你們發的忿恨就要完畢，我的怒氣要向他發作，使他滅亡。
10:26 萬軍之耶和華要興起鞭來攻擊他，好像在俄立磐石那裡殺戮米甸人一樣。耶和華的杖要向海伸出，把杖舉起，像在埃及一樣。
10:27 到那日，亞述王的重擔必離開你的肩頭；他的軛必離開你的頸項；那軛也必因肥壯的緣故撐斷（或譯：因膏油的緣故毀壞）。」
10:28 亞述王來到亞葉，經過米磯崙，在密抹安放輜重。
10:29 他們過了隘口，在迦巴住宿。拉瑪人戰兢；掃羅的基比亞人逃跑。
10:30 迦琳的居民（原文是女子）哪，要高聲呼喊！萊煞人哪，須聽！哀哉！困苦的亞拿突啊。
10:31 瑪得米那人躲避；基柄的居民逃遁。
10:32 當那日，亞述王要在挪伯歇兵，向錫安女子的山─就是耶路撒冷的山─掄手攻他。
10:33 看哪，主─萬軍之耶和華以驚嚇削去樹枝；長高的必被砍下，高大的必被伐倒。
10:34 稠密的樹林，他要用鐵器砍下；黎巴嫩的樹木必被大能者伐倒。

²⁰ On that day the remnant of Israel and the survivors of the house of Jacob will no more lean on the one who struck them, but will lean on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. ²¹A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. ²²For though your people Israel were like the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will return. Destruction is decreed, overflowing with righteousness. ²³For the Lord God of hosts will make a full end, as decreed, in all the earth.

²⁴ Therefore thus says the Lord God of hosts: O my people, who live in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrians when they beat you with a rod and lift up their staff against you as the Egyptians did. ²⁵For in a very little while my indignation will come to an end, and my anger will be directed to their destruction. ²⁶The Lord of hosts will wield a whip against them, as when he struck Midian at the rock of Oreb; his staff will be over the sea, and he will lift it as he did in Egypt. ²⁷On that day his burden will be removed from your shoulder, and his yoke will be destroyed from your neck.

 

He has gone up from Rimmon,

28

he has come to Aiath;

he has passed through Migron,

at Michmash he stores his baggage;

29

they have crossed over the pass,

at Geba they lodge for the night;

Ramah trembles,

Gibeah of Saul has fled.

30

Cry aloud, O daughter Gallim!

Listen, O Laishah!

Answer her, O Anathoth!

31

Madmenah is in flight,

the inhabitants of Gebim flee for safety.

32

This very day he will halt at Nob,

he will shake his fist

at the mount of daughter Zion,

the hill of Jerusalem.

33

Look, the Sovereign, the Lord of hosts,

will lop the boughs with terrifying power;

the tallest trees will be cut down,

and the lofty will be brought low.

34

He will hack down the thickets of the forest with an ax,

and Lebanon with its majestic trees will fall.

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

    以賽亞先知一直再鋪陳亞述必敗之論點，讓以色列和猶大的百姓再一次對上帝的權能有信心。因為亞述再厲害，也是上帝所設立的，豈能高過設立她的上帝呢！豈可向上帝誇口呢！

    然而人常常忘記自己能有今天是上帝的恩典，以為能力和財富自己努力來的，就自高和自傲，甚至悖逆上帝。這樣是自取滅亡，因為人是無法與上帝為敵，人是勝不過上帝的！

    同樣，我們希望我們的人生得到成長與提升，一定要倚靠上帝，才會讓我們有不同的眼光和眼界，勝過自我罪性的限制。因為我們與基督聯合定敬畏上帝，聖靈會賜給我們正確的觀點和行動的力量，好真正榮耀上帝，歸榮耀給上帝！

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！

以賽亞書10章

    以賽亞書10:1-4  ,  以賽亞書10:5-19  , 以賽亞書10:20-34  ,

以賽亞書10:1-4

10:1 禍哉！那些設立不義之律例的和記錄奸詐之判語的，
10:2 為要屈枉窮乏人，奪去我民中困苦人的理，以寡婦當作擄物，以孤兒當作掠物。
10:3 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（或譯：財寶）存留何處呢？
10:4 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。

Ah, you who make iniquitous decrees,

who write oppressive statutes,

2

to turn aside the needy from justice

and to rob the poor of my people of their right,

that widows may be your spoil,

and that you may make the orphans your prey!

3

What will you do on the day of punishment,

in the calamity that will come from far away?

To whom will you flee for help,

and where will you leave your wealth,

4

so as not to crouch among the prisoners

or fall among the slain?

For all this his anger has not turned away;

his hand is stretched out still.

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

    從先知以賽亞的記載中，我們可以感受到從前的先知之話語，乃是要將上帝的公義宣告出去！而上帝的公義是充滿對受欺壓之人的憐憫，並且對施暴者充滿憤怒！祂不容許弱勢的人被人欺壓與剝奪，尤其是那些自以為是的強者，常常將若是僅有依賴為生的搶奪過去，這種弱肉強食之風是上帝所恨惡！

    就像今日的社會，我們不希望有「聯合壟斷」的事件。我們都希望各行各業的經濟體，都能有公平競爭的機會，更是要讓年輕人有參與和自立的機會，就不能有像「聯合壟斷」的不公不義的事件。

    上帝更是恨惡有權勢的人，斷絕人服事上帝的機會，尤其是教會的領袖，自以為有權柄可以扼殺不按自己心意傳道的牧者，要牧者就犯而失去真理的原則，這樣的人上帝會追討的，因為這樣的人與魔鬼的僕役沒有兩樣！

以賽亞書9:8-21

9:8 主使一言入於雅各家，落於以色列家。

9:9 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：

9:10 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。

9:11 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。

9:12 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。

9:13 這百姓還沒有歸向擊打他們的主，也沒有尋求萬軍之耶和華。

9:14 因此，耶和華一日之間必從以色列中剪除頭與尾，棕枝與蘆葦─

9:15 長老和尊貴人就是頭，以謊言教人的先知就是尾。

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。

9:17 所以，主必不喜悅他們的少年人，也不憐恤他們的孤兒寡婦；因為，各人是褻瀆的，是行惡的，並且各人的口都說愚妄的話。雖然如此，耶和華的怒氣還未轉消；他的手仍伸不縮。

9:18 邪惡像火焚燒，燒滅荊棘和蒺藜，在稠密的樹林中著起來，就成為煙柱，旋轉上騰。

9:19 因萬軍之耶和華的烈怒，地都燒遍；百姓成為火柴；無人憐愛弟兄。

9:20 有人右邊搶奪，仍受飢餓，左邊吞吃，仍不飽足；各人吃自己膀臂上的肉。

9:21 瑪拿西吞吃（或譯：攻擊；下同）以法蓮；以法蓮吞吃瑪拿西，又一同攻擊猶大。雖然如此，耶和華的怒氣還未轉消；他的手仍伸不縮。

8

The Lord has sent a message against Jacob;

    it will fall on Israel.

9

All the people will know it—

    Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria—

who say with pride

    and arrogance of heart,

10

“The bricks have fallen down,

    but we will rebuild with dressed stone;

the fig trees have been felled,

    but we will replace them with cedars.”

11

But the Lord has strengthened Rezin’s foes against them

    and has spurred their enemies on.

12

Arameans from the east and Philistines from the west

    have devoured Israel with open mouth.

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,

    his hand is still upraised.

13

But the people have not returned to him who struck them,

    nor have they sought the Lord Almighty.

14

So the Lord will cut off from Israel both head and tail,

    both palm branch and reed in a single day;

15

the elders and dignitaries are the head,

    the prophets who teach lies are the tail.

16

Those who guide this people mislead them,

    and those who are guided are led astray.

17

Therefore the Lord will take no pleasure in the young men,

    nor will he pity the fatherless and widows,

for everyone is ungodly and wicked,

    every mouth speaks folly.

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,

    his hand is still upraised.

18

Surely wickedness burns like a fire;

    it consumes briers and thorns,

it sets the forest thickets ablaze,

    so that it rolls upward in a column of smoke.

19

By the wrath of the Lord Almighty

    the land will be scorched

and the people will be fuel for the fire;

    they will not spare one another.

20

On the right they will devour,

    but still be hungry;

on the left they will eat,

    but not be satisfied.

Each will feed on the flesh of their own offspring[b]:

21

    Manasseh will feed on Ephraim, and Ephraim on Manasseh;

    together they will turn against Judah.

Yet for all this, his anger is not turned away,

    his hand is still upraised.

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

    以色列和猶大都是上帝的選民，但是上帝恨惡以色列。因為他們悖逆上帝去拜偶像，不僅如此還聯合亞蘭人，來攻擊自己的兄弟猶大。上帝對這樣的行徑，實在看不下去了！

    同樣在教會中作威作福的人，上帝也是看不下去！上帝部喜悅祂的家中，充滿不義的事情，祂要他的家中是可以培育信徒，使信徒有真正的信仰並且信心堅固，使基督真正在教會做主。

    所以，親愛的弟兄姊妹，我們在教會中務要真正的彼此相愛，榮耀上帝的名，讓上帝的心得著滿足，如此才不會承受上帝的憤怒，如同以色列所承受的一般。