以賽亞書46:1-13

46:1 彼勒屈身，尼波彎腰；巴比倫的偶像馱在獸和牲畜上。他們所抬的如今成了重馱，使牲畜疲乏，
46:2 都一同彎腰屈身，不能保全重馱，自己倒被擄去。
46:3 雅各家，以色列家一切餘剩的要聽我言：你們自從生下，就蒙我保抱，自從出胎，便蒙我懷搋。
46:4 直到你們年老，我仍這樣；直到你們髮白，我仍懷搋。我已造作，也必保抱；我必懷抱，也必拯救。
46:5 你們將誰與我相比，與我同等，可以與我比較，使我們相同呢？
46:6 那從囊中抓金子，用天平平銀子的人，雇銀匠製造神像，他們又俯伏，又叩拜。
46:7 他們將神像抬起，扛在肩上，安置在定處，它就站立，不離本位；人呼求它，它不能答應，也不能救人脫離患難。
46:8 你們當想念這事，自己作大丈夫。悖逆的人哪，要心裡思想。
46:9 你們要追念上古的事。因為我是上帝，並無別神；我是上帝，再沒有能比我的。
46:10 我從起初指明末後的事，從古時言明未成的事，說：我的籌算必立定；凡我所喜悅的，我必成就。
46:11 我召鷙鳥從東方來，召那成就我籌算的人從遠方來。我已說出，也必成就；我已謀定，也必做成。
46:12 你們這些心中頑梗、遠離公義的，當聽我言。
46:13 我使我的公義臨近，必不遠離。我的救恩必不遲延；我要為以色列─我的榮耀，在錫安施行救恩。

Bel bows down, Nebo stoops,

their idols are on beasts and cattle;

these things you carry are loaded

as burdens on weary animals.

2

They stoop, they bow down together;

they cannot save the burden,

but themselves go into captivity.

3

Listen to me, O house of Jacob,

all the remnant of the house of Israel,

who have been borne by me from your birth,

carried from the womb;

4

even to your old age I am he,

even when you turn gray I will carry you.

I have made, and I will bear;

I will carry and will save.

5

To whom will you liken me and make me equal,

and compare me, as though we were alike?

6

Those who lavish gold from the purse,

and weigh out silver in the scales—

they hire a goldsmith, who makes it into a god;

then they fall down and worship!

7

They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it,

they set it in its place, and it stands there;

it cannot move from its place.

If one cries out to it, it does not answer

or save anyone from trouble.

8

Remember this and consider,

recall it to mind, you transgressors,

9

remember the former things of old;

for I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is no one like me,

10

declaring the end from the beginning

and from ancient times things not yet done,

saying, “My purpose shall stand,

and I will fulfill my intention,”

11

calling a bird of prey from the east,

the man for my purpose from a far country.

I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;

I have planned, and I will do it.

12

Listen to me, you stubborn of heart,

you who are far from deliverance:

13

I bring near my deliverance, it is not far off,

and my salvation will not tarry;

I will put salvation in Zion,

for Israel my glory.

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

    上帝透過先知再次宣告：「我使我的公義臨近，必不遠離。我的救恩必不遲延；我要為以色列─我的榮耀，在錫安施行救恩。」

    所以，救恩和公義是分不開的，而更進一步說上帝的審判更是拯救，因為上帝審判的工作不是懲罰我們，而是讓我們從短暫有罪的生命，轉化成為永恆和聖潔的永生！這個做為十分奇妙，也只有真神才有這樣的能力。一般的假神，當然不是神，只保守短暫的時節，並不是永恆。

    而上帝不僅保守我們一生，更是保守我們到永恆，因此先之宣告：「因為我是上帝，並無別神；我是上帝，再沒有能比我的。我從起初指明末後的事，從古時言明未成的事，說：我的籌算必立定；凡我所喜悅的，我必成就。」

    也因此，我們既然透過主耶穌成為上帝的兒女，我們就要在聖靈裡用聖經的話語來信靠上帝，尊上帝為大、為至高來讚美祂和敬拜祂，單單將榮耀歸給這位拯救我們得上帝！

以賽亞書45:20-25

45:20 你們從列國逃脫的人，要一同聚集前來。那些抬著雕刻木偶、禱告不能救人之神的，毫無知識。

45:21 你們要述說陳明你們的理，讓他們彼此商議。誰從古時指明？誰從上古述說？不是我─耶和華嗎？除了我以外，再沒有上帝；我是公義的上帝，又是救主；除了我以外，再沒有別神。

45:22 地極的人都當仰望我，就必得救；因為我是上帝，再沒有別神。

45:23 我指著自己起誓，我口所出的話是憑公義，並不反回：萬膝必向我跪拜；萬口必憑我起誓。

45:24 人論我說，公義、能力，惟獨在乎耶和華；人都必歸向他。凡向他發怒的必至蒙羞。

45:25 以色列的後裔都必因耶和華得稱為義，並要誇耀。

20

Assemble yourselves and come together,

draw near, you survivors of the nations!

They have no knowledge—

those who carry about their wooden idols,

and keep on praying to a god

that cannot save.

21

Declare and present your case;

let them take counsel together!

Who told this long ago?

Who declared it of old?

Was it not I, the Lord?

There is no other god besides me,

a righteous God and a Savior;

there is no one besides me.

22

Turn to me and be saved,

all the ends of the earth!

For I am God, and there is no other.

23

By myself I have sworn,

from my mouth has gone forth in righteousness

a word that shall not return:

“To me every knee shall bow,

every tongue shall swear.”

24

Only in the Lord, it shall
be said of me,

are righteousness and strength;

all who were incensed against him

shall come to him and be ashamed.

25

In the Lord all the
offspring of Israel

shall triumph and glory.

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

    耶穌基督是上帝拯救的展現，祂雖然像一隻麻雀落在地上，是軟弱與無能，甚至羞辱的死在十字架上，及其的軟弱與失敗，卻展現了上帝的大能力！讓我們靠這耶穌所賜的無形翅膀，可以飛越死亡，進入永生，享受上帝的同在，這就是上帝拯救的大能！

    也因為如此，我們可以如先知一般宣告：「除了耶和華以外，再沒有上帝；耶和華是公義的上帝，又是救主；除了耶和華以外，再沒有別神。地極的人都當仰望耶和華，就必得救；因為耶和華是上帝，再沒有別神」

    惟有耶穌基督能帶給我們復活的大能，也透過耶穌基督我們感受到無能者的大能！我們不要悲嘆自己的失敗與軟弱，因為上帝的大能要透過我們的軟弱與無能展現出來，如同主耶穌賜給我們的無形的翅膀！

以賽亞書45:8-19

45:8 諸天哪，自上而滴，穹蒼降下公義；地面開裂，產出救恩，使公義一同發生；這都是我─耶和華所造的。
45:9 禍哉，那與造他的主爭論的！他不過是地上瓦片中的一塊瓦片。泥土豈可對摶弄它的說：你做甚麼呢？所做的物豈可說：你沒有手呢？
45:10 禍哉，那對父親說：你生的是甚麼呢？或對母親（原文是婦人）說：你產的是甚麼呢？
45:11 耶和華─以色列的聖者，就是造就以色列的如此說：將來的事，你們可以問我；至於我的眾子，並我手的工作，你們可以求我命定（原文是吩咐我）。
45:12 我造地，又造人在地上。我親手鋪張諸天；天上萬象也是我所命定的。
45:13 我憑公義興起塞魯士（原文是他），又要修直他一切道路。他必建造我的城，釋放我被擄的民；不是為工價，也不是為賞賜。這是萬軍之耶和華說的。
45:14 耶和華如此說：埃及勞碌得來的和古實的貨物必歸你；身量高大的西巴人必投降你，也要屬你。他們必帶著鎖鍊過來隨從你，又向你下拜，祈求你說：上帝真在你們中間，此外再沒有別神；再沒有別的上帝。
45:15 救主─以色列的上帝啊，你實在是自隱的上帝。
45:16 凡製造偶像的都必抱愧蒙羞，都要一同歸於慚愧。
45:17 惟有以色列必蒙耶和華的拯救，得永遠的救恩。你們必不蒙羞，也不抱愧，直到永世無盡。
45:18 創造諸天的耶和華，製造成全大地的上帝，他創造堅定大地，並非使地荒涼，是要給人居住。他如此說：我是耶和華，再沒有別神。
45:19 我沒有在隱密黑暗之地說話；我沒有對雅各的後裔說：你們尋求我是徒然的。我─耶和華所講的是公義，所說的是正直。

8

Shower, O heavens, from above,

and let the skies rain down righteousness;

let the earth open, that salvation may spring up,

and let it cause righteousness to sprout up also;

I the Lord have created it.

9

Woe to you who strive with your Maker,

earthen vessels with the potter!

Does the clay say to the one who fashions it, “What are you making”?

or “Your work has no handles”?

10

Woe to anyone who says to a father, “What are you begetting?”

or to a woman, “With what are you in labor?”

11

Thus says the Lord,

the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker:

Will you question me about my children,

or command me concerning the work of my hands?

12

I made the earth,

and created humankind upon it;

it was my hands that stretched out the heavens,

and I commanded all their host.

13

I have aroused Cyrus in righteousness,

and I will make all his paths straight;

he shall build my city

and set my exiles free,

not for price or reward,

says the Lord of hosts.

14

Thus says the Lord:

The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Ethiopia,

and the Sabeans, tall of stature,

shall come over to you and be yours,

they shall follow you;

they shall come over in chains and bow down to you.

They will make supplication to you, saying,

“God is with you alone, and there is no other;

there is no god besides him.”

15

Truly, you are a God who hides himself,

O God of Israel, the Savior.

16

All of them are put to shame and confounded,

the makers of idols go in confusion together.

17

But Israel is saved by the Lord

with everlasting salvation;

you shall not be put to shame or confounded

to all eternity.

18

For thus says the Lord,

who created the heavens

(he is God!),

who formed the earth and made it

(he established it;

he did not create it a chaos,

he formed it to be inhabited!):

I am the Lord, and there is no other.

19

I did not speak in secret,

in a land of darkness;

I did not say to the offspring of Jacob,

“Seek me in chaos.”

I the Lord speak the truth,

I declare what is right.

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

    上帝的公義是要拯救我們，不是要懲罰我們。上帝對我們是要拯救，並不是要我們沉淪！拯救是上帝的作為，不是我們的作為。也唯有上帝能拯救人脫離滅亡進入永生，就是透過耶穌基督。

    有許多基督徒受到賞善罰惡的觀念影響，甚至於認為做錯是必須受到懲罰。其實懲罰的目的是希望人得警戒，不要再犯罪！也就是說懲罰是手段，不是目的。但是人常常把懲罰當目的，這不是上帝的心意，這更不是上帝的公義！

    「有公義才有和平」，真正的意義是：有上帝的拯救公義—上帝願意因耶穌基督的緣故來赦免我們，我們才有真正的和平—與上帝重新和好！這也就是說，我們的平安是來自於上帝，不是人的努力行善！

以賽亞書45:1-7

45:1 我─耶和華所膏的塞魯士；我攙扶他的右手，使列國降伏在他面前。我也要放鬆列王的腰帶，使城門在他面前敞開，不得關閉。我對他如此說：
45:2 我必在你前面行，修平崎嶇之地。我必打破銅門，砍斷鐵閂。
45:3 我要將暗中的寶物和隱密的財寶賜給你，使你知道提名召你的，就是我─耶和華、以色列的上帝。
45:4 因我僕人雅各，我所揀選以色列的緣故，我就提名召你；你雖不認識我，我也加給你名號。
45:5 我是耶和華，在我以外並沒有別神；除了我以外再沒有上帝。你雖不認識我，我必給你束腰。
45:6 從日出之地到日落之處使人都知道除了我以外，沒有別神。我是耶和華；在我以外並沒有別神。
45:7 我造光，又造暗；我施平安，又降災禍；造作這一切的是我─耶和華。

Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus,

whose right hand I have grasped

to subdue nations before him

and strip kings of their robes,

to open doors before him—

and the gates shall not be closed:

2

I will go before you

and level the mountains,

I will break in pieces the doors of bronze

and cut through the bars of iron,

3

I will give you the treasures of darkness

and riches hidden in secret places,

so that you may know that it is I, the Lord,

the God of Israel, who call you by your name.

4

For the sake of my servant Jacob,

and Israel my chosen,

I call you by your name,

I surname you, though you do not know me.

5

I am the Lord, and there is no other;

besides me there is no god.

I arm you, though you do not know me,

6

so that they may know, from the rising of the sun

and from the west, that there is no one besides me;

I am the Lord, and there is no other.

7

I form light and create darkness,

I make weal and create woe;

I the Lord do all these things.

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

    上帝透過先知以賽亞宣告：「從日出之地到日落之處使人都知道除了我以外，沒有別神。我是耶和華；在我以外並沒有別神。我造光，又造暗；我施平安，又降災禍；造作這一切的是我─耶和華。」

    這也告訴我們：在人生所預到的每一件事，不管是好或是壞，成功或失敗，都是上帝的作為，我們都要心存感謝！因為唯有上帝是一切的管理者，一切都是出於祂！我們既然對祂心存敬虔，就要感謝與敬拜上帝！

    更重要的是上帝是撿選我們的上帝，祂創造了我們，並且還不斷的在一生中牽引我們，最後在上帝國完全實現的時候，我們就脫離一切罪惡，完完全全屬乎基督，就不再有好與壞、光或安、平安或災禍，享受基督所有一切直到永遠！

以賽亞書44:24-28

44:24 從你出胎，造就你的救贖主─耶和華如此說：我─耶和華是創造萬物的，是獨自鋪張諸天、鋪開大地的。誰與我同在呢？
44:25 使說假話的兆頭失效，使占卜的癲狂，使智慧人退後，使他的知識變為愚拙；
44:26 使我僕人的話語立定，我使者的謀算成就。論到耶路撒冷說：必有人居住；論到猶大的城邑說：必被建造，其中的荒場我也必興起。
44:27 對深淵說：你乾了吧！我也要使你的江河乾涸。
44:28 論塞魯士說：他是我的牧人，必成就我所喜悅的，必下令建造耶路撒冷，發命立穩聖殿的根基。

24

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer,

who formed you in the womb:

I am the Lord, who made all things,

who alone stretched out the heavens,

who by myself spread out the earth;

25

who frustrates the omens of liars,

and makes fools of diviners;

who turns back the wise,

and makes their knowledge foolish;

26

who confirms the word of his servant,

and fulfills the prediction of his messengers;

who says of Jerusalem, “It shall be inhabited,”

and of the cities of Judah, “They shall be rebuilt,

and I will raise up their ruins”;

27

who says to the deep, “Be dry—

I will dry up your rivers”;

28

who says of Cyrus, “He is my shepherd,

and he shall carry out all my purpose”;

and who says of Jerusalem, “It shall be rebuilt,”

and of the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.”

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

    上帝是自有永有的上帝，一切的權柄都在他的手中，正如以色列的滅亡與復興都掌握在上帝的手中。也因為如此，我們要謙卑的在上帝的面前，承認自己是軟弱與無能的，好讓基督的能力在我們這軟弱的人身上張顯出來！

    成為基督徒最怕的就是，以為信主了就成為義人，成為聖潔的，於是開始批判別人，自以為已經完全了！甚至於對教會的傳道人不敬重，認為他們沒有好的行為，怎麼可以在講台講道呢？

    其實，深究起來，我們每一個人信主之後，仍然還是會犯罪，教會之內仍然有爭吵，弟兄姊妹仍然有許多不盡人意之處，更不用說完全沒有犯罪。在這樣的情形下，大家都要要謙卑承認自己的不完全，彼此認罪，互相原諒，在主耶穌的愛中彼此接納，這才是教會之福！不要再看別人的不完全，反到要檢討自己也是不完全，讓主的愛來成為弟兄姐妹的潤滑劑，使教會真正在主裡合一！