以賽亞書42:1-9

42:1 看哪，我的僕人─我所扶持所揀選、心裡所喜悅的！我已將我的靈賜給他；他必將公理傳給外邦。
42:2 他不喧嚷，不揚聲，也不使街上聽見他的聲音。
42:3 壓傷的蘆葦，他不折斷；將殘的燈火，他不吹滅。他憑真實將公理傳開。
42:4 他不灰心，也不喪膽，直到他在地上設立公理；海島都等候他的訓誨。
42:5 創造諸天，鋪張穹蒼，將地和地所出的一併鋪開，賜氣息給地上的眾人，又賜靈性給行在其上之人的上帝耶和華，他如此說：
42:6 我─耶和華憑公義召你，必攙扶你的手，保守你，使你作眾民的中保（中保：原文是約），作外邦人的光，
42:7 開瞎子的眼，領被囚的出牢獄，領坐黑暗的出監牢。
42:8 我是耶和華，這是我的名；我必不將我的榮耀歸給假神，也不將我的稱讚歸給雕刻的偶像。
42:9 看哪，先前的事已經成就，現在我將新事說明，這事未發以先，我就說給你們聽。

Here is my servant, whom I uphold,

my chosen, in whom my soul delights;

I have put my spirit upon him;

he will bring forth justice to the nations.

2

He will not cry or lift up his voice,

or make it heard in the street;

3

a bruised reed he will not break,

and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;

he will faithfully bring forth justice.

4

He will not grow faint or be crushed

until he has established justice in the earth;

and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

5

Thus says God, the Lord,

who created the heavens and stretched them out,

who spread out the earth and what comes from it,

who gives breath to the people upon it

and spirit to those who walk in it:

6

I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,

I have taken you by the hand and kept you;

I have given you as a covenant to the people,

a light to the nations,

7

to open the eyes that are blind,

to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,

from the prison those who sit in darkness.

8

I am the Lord, that is my name;

my glory I give to no other,

nor my praise to idols.

9

See, the former things have come to pass,

and new things I now declare;

before they spring forth,

I tell you of them.

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

    上帝透過先知所說的話，讓我們認識到耶穌基督的作為，雖然在那個時候耶穌基督尚未降生，但是上帝透過先知已經明明的說：「看哪，先前的事已經成就，現在我將新事說明，這事未發以先，我就說給你們聽。」

    然而這樣的事對我們而言已經發生了，耶穌基督早已降生，也透過福音書的記載讓我們感受到：耶穌基督本是與上帝同等，也就是上帝，為了成為上帝和人之間的中保，竟然取了人身，與人生活在一起，甚至未救贖人上了十字架而死，並且藉由死敗壞死亡和魔鬼，於是就從死裡中復活，顯明了祂真是上帝的兒子，只要信靠祂就可以一同享受祂的的得勝，正如先知在這裡所宣告的！

    我們要為我們能成為基督徒來感謝上帝，因為上帝在聖靈裡，讓我們認識與感受到成肉身的奧秘，使我們的生命充滿盼望。基督的得勝，也就是我們的得勝，我們乃是與基督聯合的！

以賽亞書41:21-29

41:21 耶和華對假神說：你們要呈上你們的案件；雅各的君說：你們要聲明你們確實的理由。
41:22 可以聲明，指示我們將來必遇的事，說明先前的是甚麼事，好叫我們思索，得知事的結局，或者把將來的事指示我們。
41:23 要說明後來的事，好叫我們知道你們是上帝。你們或降福，或降禍，使我們驚奇，一同觀看。
41:24 看哪，你們屬乎虛無；你們的作為也屬乎虛空。那選擇你們的是可憎惡的。
41:25 我從北方興起一人；他是求告我名的，從日出之地而來。他必臨到掌權的，好像臨到灰泥，彷彿窯匠踹泥一樣。
41:26 誰從起初指明這事，使我們知道呢？誰從先前說明，使我們說他不錯呢？誰也沒有指明；誰也沒有說明；誰也沒有聽見你們的話。
41:27 我首先對錫安說：看哪，我要將一位報好信息的賜給耶路撒冷。
41:28 我看的時候並沒有人；我問的時候，他們中間也沒有謀士可以回答一句。
41:29 看哪，他們和他們的工作都是虛空，且是虛無。他們所鑄的偶像都是風，都是虛的。

21

Set forth your case, says the Lord;

bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob.

22

Let them bring them, and tell us

what is to happen.

Tell us the former things, what they are,

so that we may consider them,

and that we may know their outcome;

or declare to us the things to come.

23

Tell us what is to come hereafter,

that we may know that you are gods;

do good, or do harm,

that we may be afraid and terrified.

24

You, indeed, are nothing

and your work is nothing at all;

whoever chooses you is an abomination.

25

I stirred up one from the north, and he has come,

from the rising of the sun he was summoned by name.

He shall trample on rulers as on mortar,

as the potter treads clay.

26

Who declared it from the beginning, so that we might know,

and beforehand, so that we might say, “He is right”?

There was no one who declared it, none who proclaimed,

none who heard your words.

27

I first have declared it to Zion,

and I give to Jerusalem a herald of good tidings.

28

But when I look there is no one;

among these there is no counselor

who, when I ask, gives an answer.

29

No, they are all a delusion;

their works are nothing;

their images are empty wind..

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

    在人的感覺神明是有靈有驗，會達成人心中的願望，尤其是做生意求財的人，更是拜神明拜得很虔誠。甚至有的人除了拜偶像之外，還有人花大錢供養法師、活佛，辦各樣的儀式，以為這樣會有豐厚得收入，累積許多的財富！

    但是先知在這裡宣告，這一切的作為是無意義的，因為偶像是虛無的，是無法幫助人甚麼，更何況這些都是人造的，怎能賜福給造它的人呢？說穿了不過是心理安慰罷了！

    所以，不要執迷於上帝之外的人事物，這些都不能真正提供我們真正的平安與滿足的！

以賽亞書41:1-20

41:1 眾海島啊，當在我面前靜默；眾民當重新得力，都要近前來才可以說話，我們可以彼此辯論。
41:2 誰從東方興起一人，憑公義召他來到腳前呢？耶和華將列國交給他，使他管轄君王，把他們如灰塵交與他的刀，如風吹的碎秸交與他的弓。
41:3 他追趕他們，走他所未走的道，坦然前行。
41:4 誰行做成就這事，從起初宣召歷代呢？就是我─耶和華！我是首先的，也與末後的同在。
41:5 海島看見就都害怕；地極也都戰兢，就近前來。
41:6 他們各人幫助鄰舍，各人對弟兄說：壯膽吧！
41:7 木匠勉勵銀匠，用鎚打光的勉勵打砧的，論銲工說，銲得好；又用釘子釘穩，免得偶像動搖。
41:8 惟你以色列─我的僕人，雅各─我所揀選的，我朋友亞伯拉罕的後裔，
41:9 你是我從地極所領（原文是抓）來的，從地角所召來的，且對你說：你是我的僕人；我揀選你，並不棄絕你。
41:10 你不要害怕，因為我與你同在；不要驚惶，因為我是你的上帝。我必堅固你，我必幫助你；我必用我公義的右手扶持你。
41:11 凡向你發怒的必都抱愧蒙羞；與你相爭的必如無有，並要滅亡。
41:12 與你爭競的，你要找他們也找不著；與你爭戰的必如無有，成為虛無。
41:13 因為我耶和華─你的上帝必攙扶你的右手，對你說：不要害怕！我必幫助你。
41:14 你這蟲雅各和你們以色列人，不要害怕！耶和華說：我必幫助你。你的救贖主就是以色列的聖者。
41:15 看哪，我已使你成為有快齒打糧的新器具；你要把山嶺打得粉碎，使岡陵如同糠秕。
41:16 你要把它簸揚，風要吹去；旋風要把它颳散。你倒要以耶和華為喜樂，以以色列的聖者為誇耀。
41:17 困苦窮乏人尋求水卻沒有；他們因口渴，舌頭乾燥。我─耶和華必應允他們；我─以色列的上帝必不離棄他們。
41:18 我要在淨光的高處開江河，在谷中開泉源；我要使沙漠變為水池，使乾地變為湧泉。
41:19 我要在曠野種上香柏樹、皂莢樹、番石榴樹，和野橄欖樹。我在沙漠要把松樹、杉樹，並黃楊樹一同栽植；
41:20 好叫人看見、知道、思想、明白；這是耶和華的手所做的，是以色列的聖者所造的。

Listen to me in silence, O coastlands;

let the peoples renew their strength;

let them approach, then let them speak;

let us together draw near for judgment.

2

Who has roused a victor from the east,

summoned him to his service?

He delivers up nations to him,

and tramples kings under foot;

he makes them like dust with his sword,

like driven stubble with his bow.

3

He pursues them and passes on safely,

scarcely touching the path with his feet.

4

Who has performed and done this,

calling the generations from the beginning?

I, the Lord, am first,

and will be with the last.

5

The coastlands have seen and are afraid,

the ends of the earth tremble;

they have drawn near and come.

6

Each one helps the other,

saying to one another, “Take courage!”

7

The artisan encourages the goldsmith,

and the one who smooths with the hammer encourages the one who strikes the anvil,

saying of the soldering, “It is good”;

and they fasten it with nails so that it cannot be moved.

8

But you, Israel, my servant,

Jacob, whom I have chosen,

the offspring of Abraham, my friend;

9

you whom I took from the ends of the earth,

and called from its farthest corners,

saying to you, “You are my servant,

I have chosen you and not cast you off”;

10

do not fear, for I am with you,

do not be afraid, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

11

Yes, all who are incensed against you

shall be ashamed and disgraced;

those who strive against you

shall be as nothing and shall perish.

12

You shall seek those who contend with you,

but you shall not find them;

those who war against you

shall be as nothing at all.

13

For I, the Lord your God,

hold your right hand;

it is I who say to you, “Do not fear,

I will help you.”

14

Do not fear, you worm Jacob,

you insect Israel!

I will help you, says the Lord;

your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

15

Now, I will make of you a threshing sledge,

sharp, new, and having teeth;

you shall thresh the mountains and crush them,

and you shall make the hills like chaff.

16

You shall winnow them and the wind shall carry them away,

and the tempest shall scatter them.

Then you shall rejoice in the Lord;

in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory.

17

When the poor and needy seek water,

and there is none,

and their tongue is parched with thirst,

I the Lord will answer them,

I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

18

I will open rivers on the bare heights,

and fountains in the midst of the valleys;

I will make the wilderness a pool of water,

and the dry land springs of water.

19

I will put in the wilderness the cedar,

the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive;

I will set in the desert the cypress,

the plane and the pine together,

20

so that all may see and know,

all may consider and understand,

that the hand of the Lord has done this,

the Holy One of Israel has created it.

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

    上帝與人的關係是：救贖者、幫助者、供應者、支持者、…！

    所以人和上帝是脫離不了關係的！但人卻是悖逆上帝與拒絕上帝，以至於人和上帝的關係斷絕的，也因此人就陷入極其危險的處境，就是沒有救贖者、幫助者、供應者、支持者、…！

    然而人與上帝的關係如何恢復呢？當然是透過耶穌基督，這是上帝在萬世以前預備，今日要成就在我們身上的！讓我們一生叫託給上帝，成為上帝與人和好的使者！

以賽亞書40:27-31

40:27 雅各啊，你為何說，我的道路向耶和華隱藏？以色列啊，你為何言，我的冤屈上帝並不查問？
40:28 你豈不曾知道嗎？你豈不曾聽見嗎？永在的上帝耶和華，創造地極的主，並不疲乏，也不困倦；他的智慧無法測度。
40:29 疲乏的，他賜能力；軟弱的，他加力量。
40:30 就是少年人也要疲乏困倦；強壯的也必全然跌倒。
40:31 但那等候耶和華的必重新得力。他們必如鷹展翅上騰；他們奔跑卻不困倦，行走卻不疲乏。

 27

Why do you say, O Jacob,

and speak, O Israel,

“My way is hidden from the Lord,

and my right is disregarded by my God”?

28

Have you not known? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary;

his understanding is unsearchable.

29

He gives power to the faint,

and strengthens the powerless.

30

Even youths will faint and be weary,

and the young will fall exhausted;

31

but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,

they shall mount up with wings like eagles,

they shall run and not be weary,

they shall walk and not faint.

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

    先知在這裡勸告猶大的百姓，不要懷疑上帝，不要輕看上帝的作為，祂不是飄邈虛無的上帝，而是實實在在的上帝，雖然上帝是看不見，摸不著的！這不代表上帝是不存在的，沒有作為的上帝！

    所以先知說：「雅各啊，你為何說，我的道路向耶和華隱藏？以色列啊，你為何言，我的冤屈上帝並不查問？你豈不曾知道嗎？你豈不曾聽見嗎？永在的上帝耶和華，創造地極的主，並不疲乏，也不困倦；他的智慧無法測度。」

    也因為是這樣，先知更進一步宣告：「疲乏的，他賜能力；軟弱的，他加力量。就是少年人也要疲乏困倦；強壯的也必全然跌倒。但那等候耶和華的必重新得力。他們必如鷹展翅上騰；他們奔跑卻不困倦，行走卻不疲乏。」

    這裡的「等候」就是倚靠的意思，也因此我們必須倚靠上帝來重新得力，為上帝而活，就會如鷹展翅上騰！