以賽亞書57:14-21

57:14 耶和華要說：你們修築修築，預備道路，將絆腳石從我百姓的路中除掉。
57:15 因為那至高至上、永遠長存（原文是住在永遠）名為聖者的如此說：我住在至高至聖的所在，也與心靈痛悔謙卑的人同居；要使謙卑人的靈甦醒，也使痛悔人的心甦醒。
57:16 我必不永遠相爭，也不長久發怒，恐怕我所造的人與靈性都必發昏。
57:17 因他貪婪的罪孽，我就發怒擊打他；我向他掩面發怒，他卻仍然隨心背道。
57:18 我看見他所行的道，也要醫治他；又要引導他，使他和那一同傷心的人再得安慰。
57:19 我造就嘴唇的果子；願平安康泰歸與遠處的人，也歸與近處的人；並且我要醫治他。這是耶和華說的。
57:20 惟獨惡人，好像翻騰的海，不得平靜；其中的水常湧出污穢和淤泥來。
57:21 我的上帝說：惡人必不得平安！

¹⁴ And it will be said:

「Build up, build up, prepare the road!
    Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.」
¹⁵ For this is what the high and exalted One says—
    he who lives forever, whose name is holy:
「I live in a high and holy place,
    but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly
    and to revive the heart of the contrite.
¹⁶ I will not accuse them forever,
    nor will I always be angry,
for then they would faint away because of me—
    the very people I have created.
¹⁷ I was enraged by their sinful greed;
    I punished them, and hid my face in anger,
    yet they kept on in their willful ways.
¹⁸ I have seen their ways, but I will heal them;
    I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel's mourners,
¹⁹     creating praise on their lips.
Peace, peace, to those far and near,」
    says the Lord. 「And I will heal them.」
²⁰ But the wicked are like the tossing sea,
    which cannot rest,
    whose waves cast up mire and mud.
²¹ 「There is no peace,」 says my God, 「for the wicked.」

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

    人受造是要倚靠上帝，若是離開這個法則，想要擺脫上帝，或是自以為夠成熟或堅強道不需要上帝的程度，或是有能力為上帝做甚麼，這都是自以為義，以以為有能力，後果就是失去上帝的同在，沒有真正的平安！正如先知所說：「因他貪婪的罪孽，我就發怒擊打他；我向他掩面發怒，他卻仍然隨心背道。」「惟獨惡人，好像翻騰的海，不得平靜；其中的水常湧出污穢和淤泥來。」

    他們自以為努力有成果與成就，殊不知他們只不過是「湧出污穢和淤泥來」，一點益處都沒有，反而造成更大的問題和反效果。以至於服事的果效是一時的，無法持續進行下去！因為，那不是上帝做工在其上，而是人憑著虛榮所成就的泡沫，一下就滅絕了！

    我們能做得就是悔改，歸向上帝承認自己的有線與無能及有罪！讓上帝親自來安慰和動工在我們的身上。因為，惟有上帝能，祂的能要藉由我們的不能彰顯出來！

以賽亞書57:1-13

57:1 義人死亡，無人放在心上；虔誠人被收去，無人思念。這義人被收去是免了將來的禍患；
57:2 他們得享（原文是進入）平安。素行正直的，各人在墳裡（原文是床上）安歇。
57:3 你們這些巫婆的兒子，姦夫和妓女的種子，都要前來！
57:4 你們向誰戲笑？向誰張口吐舌呢？你們豈不是悖逆的兒女，虛謊的種類呢？
57:5 你們在橡樹中間，在各青翠樹下慾火攻心；在山谷間，在石穴下殺了兒女；
57:6 在谷中光滑石頭裡有你的分。這些就是你所得的分；你也向他澆了奠祭，獻了供物，因這事我豈能容忍嗎？
57:7 你在高而又高的山上安設床榻，也上那裡去獻祭。
57:8 你在門後，在門框後，立起你的紀念；向外人赤露，又上去擴張床榻，與他們立約；你在那裡看見他們的床就甚喜愛。
57:9 你把油帶到王那裡，又多加香料，打發使者往遠方去，自卑自賤直到陰間，
57:10 你因路遠疲倦，卻不說這是枉然；你以為有復興之力，所以不覺疲憊。
57:11 你怕誰？因誰恐懼？竟說謊，不記念我，又不將這事放在心上。我不是許久閉口不言，你仍不怕我嗎？
57:12 我要指明你的公義；至於你所行的都必與你無益。
57:13 你哀求的時候，讓你所聚集的拯救你吧！風要把他們颳散，一口氣要把他們都吹去。但那投靠我的必得地土，必承受我的聖山為業。

The righteous perish,
    and no one takes it to heart;
the devout are taken away,
    and no one understands
that the righteous are taken away
    to be spared from evil.
² Those who walk uprightly
    enter into peace;
    they find rest as they lie in death.

³ 「But you—come here, you children of a sorceress,
    you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!
⁴ Who are you mocking?
    At whom do you sneer
    and stick out your tongue?
Are you not a brood of rebels,
    the offspring of liars?
⁵ You burn with lust among the oaks
    and under every spreading tree;
you sacrifice your children in the ravines
    and under the overhanging crags.
⁶ The idols among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion;
    indeed, they are your lot.
Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings
    and offered grain offerings.
    In view of all this, should I relent?
⁷ You have made your bed on a high and lofty hill;
    there you went up to offer your sacrifices.
⁸ Behind your doors and your doorposts
    you have put your pagan symbols.
Forsaking me, you uncovered your bed,
    you climbed into it and opened it wide;
you made a pact with those whose beds you love,
    and you looked with lust on their naked bodies.
⁹ You went to Molek^[a] with olive oil
    and increased your perfumes.
You sent your ambassadors^[b] far away;
    you descended to the very realm of the dead!
¹⁰ You wearied yourself by such going about,
    but you would not say, 『It is hopeless.』
You found renewal of your strength,
    and so you did not faint.

¹¹ 「Whom have you so dreaded and feared
    that you have not been true to me,
and have neither remembered me
    nor taken this to heart?
Is it not because I have long been silent
    that you do not fear me?
¹² I will expose your righteousness and your works,
    and they will not benefit you.
¹³ When you cry out for help,
    let your collection of idols save you!
The wind will carry all of them off,
    a mere breath will blow them away.
But whoever takes refuge in me
    will inherit the land
    and possess my holy mountain.」

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

    上帝對於投靠祂的人的應許是：必得地土，必承受上帝的聖山為業。的確，上帝要將祂的國賜給凡信靠耶穌基督為救主的人，而耶穌基督的在來就是上帝的國實現的時候，也因此基督徒要歡喜快樂的預備主耶穌的再來。

    先知以賽亞書也說到以色列人失去土地的原因，就是雖從外邦人在邱壇敬拜偶像，就像當地的迦南人敬拜巴利或亞斯他錄一般，他們的儀式中充滿淫行，用男女的交合來當作敬拜神明，還焚燒小孩來獻祭，這一切都是不蒙上帝喜悅的行為，是上帝的子民所不該有的！

    今日的教會中，也是混雜著許多不合乎聖經教導的觀念，以為是敬畏上帝，其實是遠離上帝高抬自己的舉動。就像許多人認為，可以拿社會上的成就來榮耀上帝！這聽起來似乎是對的，但是實際上是大錯特錯！因為上帝不需要人的作為來榮耀祂，反倒是人須要讓上帝的榮耀來遮蓋我們，使人透過我們看見上帝的榮美！

    也因此我們是倚靠耶穌基督的恩典來行事為人，不是我們行事為人的良善來顯明上帝的榮光。因為我們本是罪人，乏善可陳，我們若靠我們的力量所行的，只有張顯我們的惡！所以，我們當求聖靈將基督的救贖大功實現在我們身上，使主的榮美藉我們的信靠而散發出來！

以賽亞書56章

    以賽亞書56:1-12    ,

以賽亞書56:1-12

56:1 耶和華如此說：你們當守公平，行公義；因我的救恩臨近，我的公義將要顯現。
56:2 謹守安息日而不干犯，禁止己手而不作惡；如此行、如此持守的人便為有福。
56:3 與耶和華聯合的外邦人不要說：耶和華必定將我從他民中分別出來。太監也不要說：我是枯樹。
56:4 因為耶和華如此說：那些謹守我的安息日，揀選我所喜悅的事，持守我約的太監，
56:5 我必使他們在我殿中，在我牆內，有記念，有名號，比有兒女的更美。我必賜他們永遠的名，不能剪除。
56:6 還有那些與耶和華聯合的外邦人，要事奉他，要愛耶和華的名，要作他的僕人─就是凡守安息日不干犯，又持守他（原文是我）約的人。
56:7 我必領他們到我的聖山，使他們在禱告我的殿中喜樂。他們的燔祭和平安祭，在我壇上必蒙悅納，因我的殿必稱為萬民禱告的殿。
56:8 主耶和華，就是招聚以色列被趕散的，說：在這被招聚的人以外，我還要招聚別人歸併他們。
56:9 田野的諸獸都來吞吃吧！林中的諸獸也要如此。
56:10 他看守的人是瞎眼的，都沒有知識，都是啞巴狗，不能叫喚；但知做夢，躺臥，貪睡，
56:11 這些狗貪食，不知飽足。這些牧人不能明白─各人偏行己路，各從各方求自己的利益。
56:12 他們說：來吧！我去拿酒，我們飽飲濃酒；明日必和今日一樣，就是宴樂無量極大之日。

This is what the Lord says:

“Maintain justice
    and do what is right,
for my salvation is close at hand
    and my righteousness will soon be revealed.
² Blessed is the one who does this—
    the person who holds it fast,
who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it,
    and keeps their hands from doing any evil.”

³ Let no foreigner who is bound to the Lord say,
    “The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.”
And let no eunuch complain,
    “I am only a dry tree.”

⁴ For this is what the Lord says:

“To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,
    who choose what pleases me
    and hold fast to my covenant—
⁵ to them I will give within my temple and its walls
    a memorial and a name
    better than sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
    that will endure forever.
⁶ And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord
    to minister to him,
to love the name of the Lord,
    and to be his servants,
all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it
    and who hold fast to my covenant—
⁷ these I will bring to my holy mountain
    and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices
    will be accepted on my altar;
for my house will be called
    a house of prayer for all nations.”
⁸ The Sovereign Lord declares—
    he who gathers the exiles of Israel:
“I will gather still others to them
    besides those already gathered.”

 ⁹ Come, all you beasts of the field,
    come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!
¹⁰ Israel’s watchmen are blind,
    they all lack knowledge;
they are all mute dogs,
    they cannot bark;
they lie around and dream,
    they love to sleep.
¹¹ They are dogs with mighty appetites;
    they never have enough.
They are shepherds who lack understanding;
    they all turn to their own way,
    they seek their own gain.
¹² “Come,” each one cries, “let me get wine!
    Let us drink our fill of beer!
And tomorrow will be like today,
    or even far better.”

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

    先知以賽亞在這裡說到的，就是新約的情形，因位在新約時代強調的是「因信稱義」，不再是以行為稱義，更不是以守律法為討主喜悅的方式，而是以接受耶穌督為就主的方式，因為上帝是透過耶穌基督來悅納我們！

    但這不是說，我們就可以放縱自己，任意而為！返倒是要靠主的恩典，來遵行上帝的律法，以上帝的律法成為生活行事的指引，來做一個真正討主喜悅的兒女。因為，成為主的門徒，就是上帝的兒女，兒女要透過聖靈體貼上帝的心，因此要隨從聖靈而非隨從情慾！

    隨從情慾不隨從聖靈的，是上帝所厭惡的！尤其是服事上帝的牧者，更是不能隨從情慾行事，要明白聖靈的心意，因為體貼肉體是死亡的，與上帝隔絕的；體貼聖靈是生命，與上帝連結的！

以賽亞書55:1-13

55:1 你們一切乾渴的都當就近水來；沒有銀錢的也可以來。你們都來，買了吃；不用銀錢，不用價值，也來買酒和奶。
55:2 你們為何花錢（原文是平銀）買那不足為食物的？用勞碌得來的買那不使人飽足的呢？你們要留意聽我的話就能吃那美物，得享肥甘，心中喜樂。
55:3 你們當就近我來；側耳而聽，就必得活。我必與你們立永約，就是應許大衛那可靠的恩典。
55:4 我已立他作萬民的見證，為萬民的君王和司令。
55:5 你素不認識的國民，你也必召來；素不認識你的國民也必向你奔跑，都因耶和華─你的上帝以色列的聖者，因為他已經榮耀你。
55:6 當趁耶和華可尋找的時候尋找他，相近的時候求告他。
55:7 惡人當離棄自己的道路；不義的人當除掉自己的意念。歸向耶和華，耶和華就必憐恤他；當歸向我們的上帝，因為上帝必廣行赦免。
55:8 耶和華說：我的意念非同你們的意念；我的道路非同你們的道路。
55:9 天怎樣高過地，照樣，我的道路高過你們的道路；我的意念高過你們的意念。
55:10 雨雪從天而降，並不返回，卻滋潤地土，使地上發芽結實，使撒種的有種，使要吃的有糧。
55:11 我口所出的話也必如此，決不徒然返回，卻要成就我所喜悅的，在我發他去成就（發他去成就：或譯所命定）的事上必然亨通。
55:12 你們必歡歡喜喜而出來，平平安安蒙引導。大山小山必在你們面前發聲歌唱；田野的樹木也都拍掌。
55:13 松樹長出，代替荊棘；番石榴長出，代替蒺藜。這要為耶和華留名，作為永遠的證據，不能剪除。

“Come, all you who are thirsty,
    come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
    come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
    without money and without cost.
² Why spend money on what is not bread,
    and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
    and you will delight in the richest of fare.
³ Give ear and come to me;
    listen, that you may live.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
    my faithful love promised to David.
⁴ See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
    a ruler and commander of the peoples.
⁵ Surely you will summon nations you know not,
    and nations you do not know will come running to you,
because of the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel,
    for he has endowed you with splendor.”

⁶ Seek the Lord while he may be found;
    call on him while he is near.
⁷ Let the wicked forsake their ways
    and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,
    and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

⁸ “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
⁹ “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.
¹⁰ As the rain and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
    so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
¹¹ so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
¹² You will go out in joy
    and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
    will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
    will clap their hands.
¹³ Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
    and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown,
    for an everlasting sign,
    that will endure forever.”

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

    上帝的恩典是白白賜給我們的，正如先知在此宣告上帝的呼召：「你們一切乾渴的都當就近水來；沒有銀錢的也可以來。你們都來，買了吃；不用銀錢，不用價值，也來買酒和奶。你們為何花錢（原文是平銀）買那不足為食物的？用勞碌得來的買那不使人飽足的呢？你們要留意聽我的話就能吃那美物，得享肥甘，心中喜樂。你們當就近我來；側耳而聽，就必得活。我必與你們立永約，就是應許大衛那可靠的恩典。」

    先知這樣的宣告，讓我們感受到上帝莫大的恩典，祂可以豐賜一切美物讓我們享用，卻不需要付出任何代價。正如祂賜給我們空氣、雨水和陽光，從來沒有要我們付出任何代價！更奇妙得就是，祂在基督裡的救恩是那麼浩大，是付上重價來買贖我們。但是，我們卻只要憑著信心就可以領受了！

   

    雖然我們無法明白，也無法想透！但是，上帝就是這樣眷顧我們，並且不用做甚麼回饋！所以，耶和華說：「我的意念非同你們的意念；我的道路非同你們的道路。天怎樣高過地，照樣，我的道路高過你們的道路；我的意念高過你們的意念。雨雪從天而降，並不返回，卻滋潤地土，使地上發芽結實，使撒種的有種，使要吃的有糧。我口所出的話也必如此，決不徒然返回，卻要成就我所喜悅的，在我發他去成就的事上必然亨通。」