以賽亞書47:1-15

47:1 巴比倫的處女啊，下來坐在塵埃；迦勒底的閨女啊，沒有寶座，要坐在地上；因為你不再稱為柔弱嬌嫩的。
47:2 要用磨磨麵，揭去帕子，脫去長衣，露腿蹚河。
47:3 你的下體必被露出；你的醜陋必被看見。我要報仇，誰也不寬容。
47:4 我們救贖主的名是萬軍之耶和華─以色列的聖者。
47:5 迦勒底的閨女啊，你要默然靜坐，進入暗中，因為你不再稱為列國的主母。
47:6 我向我的百姓發怒，使我的產業被褻瀆，將他們交在你手中，你毫不憐憫他們，把極重的軛加在老年人身上。
47:7 你自己說：我必永為主母，所以你不將這事放在心上，也不思想這事的結局。
47:8 你這專好宴樂、安然居住的，現在當聽這話。你心中說：惟有我，除我以外再沒有別的。我必不致寡居，也不遭喪子之事。
47:9 哪知，喪子、寡居這兩件事在一日轉眼之間必臨到你；正在你多行邪術、廣施符咒的時候，這兩件事必全然臨到你身上。
47:10 你素來倚仗自己的惡行，說：無人看見我。你的智慧聰明使你偏邪，並且你心裡說：惟有我，除我以外再沒有別的。
47:11 因此，禍患要臨到你身，你不知何時發現（或譯：如何驅逐）；災害落在你身上，你也不能除掉；所不知道的毀滅也必忽然臨到你身。
47:12 站起來吧！用你從幼年勞神施行的符咒和你許多的邪術；或者可得益處，或者可得強勝。
47:13 你籌劃太多，以致疲倦。讓那些觀天象的，看星宿的，在月朔說預言的，都站起來，救你脫離所要臨到你的事。
47:14 他們要像碎秸被火焚燒，不能救自己脫離火焰之力；這火並非可烤的炭火，也不是可以坐在其前的火。
47:15 你所勞神的事都要這樣與你無益；從幼年與你貿易的也都各奔各鄉，無人救你。

Come down and sit in the dust,

virgin daughter Babylon!

Sit on the ground without a throne,

daughter Chaldea!

For you shall no more be called

tender and delicate.

2

Take the millstones and grind meal,

remove your veil,

strip off your robe, uncover your legs,

pass through the rivers.

3

Your nakedness shall be uncovered,

and your shame shall be seen.

I will take vengeance,

and I will spare no one.

4

Our Redeemer—the Lord of hosts is his name—

is the Holy One of Israel.

5

Sit in silence, and go into darkness,

daughter Chaldea!

For you shall no more be called

the mistress of kingdoms.

6

I was angry with my people,

I profaned my heritage;

I gave them into your hand,

you showed them no mercy;

on the aged you made your yoke

exceedingly heavy.

7

You said, “I shall be mistress forever,”

so that you did not lay these things to heart

or remember their end.

8

Now therefore hear this, you lover of pleasures,

who sit securely,

who say in your heart,

“I am, and there is no one besides me;

I shall not sit as a widow

or know the loss of children”—

9

both these things shall come upon you

in a moment, in one day:

the loss of children and widowhood

shall come upon you in full measure,

in spite of your many sorceries

and the great power of your enchantments.

10

You felt secure in your wickedness;

you said, “No one sees me.”

Your wisdom and your knowledge

led you astray,

and you said in your heart,

“I am, and there is no one besides me.”

11

But evil shall come upon you,

which you cannot charm away;

disaster shall fall upon you,

which you will not be able to ward off;

and ruin shall come on you suddenly,

of which you know nothing.

12

Stand fast in your enchantments

and your many sorceries,

with which you have labored from your youth;

perhaps you may be able to succeed,

perhaps you may inspire terror.

13

You are wearied with your many consultations;

let those who study the heavens

stand up and save you,

those who gaze at the stars,

and at each new moon predict

what shall befall you.

14

See, they are like stubble,

the fire consumes them;

they cannot deliver themselves

from the power of the flame.

No coal for warming oneself is this,

no fire to sit before!

15

Such to you are those with whom you have labored,

who have trafficked with you from your youth;

they all wander about in their own paths;

there is no one to save you.

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

    先知以賽亞發預言說到巴比倫將要滅亡，失去她原有的光彩，導致她的子民要受到羞辱。尤其是婦女不可以再心高氣傲，自以為還有主母風光的日子好過。這一切即將過去了，因為上帝要讓巴比倫敗亡！

    巴比倫代表反對上帝勢力的世界強權，這樣的國家的首領常常以為國家強盛了，自己就可以像上帝一般在世界上呼風喚雨，甚至可以敵對上帝的權柄，反對耶穌基督的救恩，不知謙卑倚靠上帝，反倒高舉自己。

    歷史上讓我們看見，凡是自以為大的勢力，終究抵擋不過時間的限制，有一天就會過去，無法存到永永遠遠！因為，人的受造是在乎上帝，人是無法與上帝相爭的，只能倚靠上帝。

    也因此，人要倚靠上帝，不是倚靠勢力和才能，這些有一日都會過去的，唯有遵行上帝旨意的人永遠常存！

以賽亞書46章

              以賽亞書46:1-13   ,  以賽亞書46:4  ,  

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！