以賽亞書29:1-14

29:1 唉！亞利伊勒，亞利伊勒，大衛安營的城，任憑你年上加年，節期照常周流。
29:2 我終必使亞利伊勒困難；她必悲傷哀號，我卻仍以她為亞利伊勒。
29:3 我必四圍安營攻擊你，屯兵圍困你，築壘攻擊你。
29:4 你必敗落，從地中說話；你的言語必微細出於塵埃。你的聲音必像那交鬼者的聲音出於地；你的言語低低微微出於塵埃。
29:5 你仇敵的群眾，卻要像細塵；強暴人的群眾，也要像飛糠。這事必頃刻之間忽然臨到。
29:6 萬軍之耶和華必用雷轟、地震、大聲、旋風、暴風，並吞滅的火焰，向她討罪。
29:7 那時，攻擊亞利伊勒列國的群眾，就是一切攻擊亞利伊勒和她的保障，並使她困難的，必如夢景，如夜間的異象；
29:8 又必像飢餓的人夢中吃飯，醒了仍覺腹空；或像口渴的人夢中喝水，醒了仍覺發昏，心裡想喝。攻擊錫安山列國的群眾也必如此。
29:9 你們等候驚奇吧！你們宴樂昏迷吧！他們醉了，卻非因酒；他們東倒西歪，卻非因濃酒。
29:10 因為耶和華將沉睡的靈澆灌你們，封閉你們的眼，蒙蓋你們的頭。你們的眼就是先知；你們的頭就是先見。
29:11 所有的默示，你們看如封住的書卷，人將這書卷交給識字的，說：「請念吧！」他說：「我不能念，因為是封住了。」
29:12 又將這書卷交給不識字的人，說：「請念吧！」他說：「我不識字。」
29:13 主說：因為這百姓親近我，用嘴唇尊敬我，心卻遠離我；他們敬畏我，不過是領受人的吩咐。
29:14 所以，我在這百姓中要行奇妙的事，就是奇妙又奇妙的事。他們智慧人的智慧必然消滅，聰明人的聰明必然隱藏。

Ah, Ariel, Ariel,

the city where David encamped!

Add year to year;

let the festivals run their round.

2

Yet I will distress Ariel,

and there shall be moaning and lamentation,

and Jerusalem shall be to me like an Ariel.

3

And like David I will encamp against you;

I will besiege you with towers

and raise siegeworks against you.

4

Then deep from the earth you shall speak,

from low in the dust your words shall come;

your voice shall come from the ground like the voice of a ghost,

and your speech shall whisper out of the dust.

5

But the multitude of your foes shall be like small dust,

and the multitude of tyrants like flying chaff.

And in an instant, suddenly,

6

you will be visited by the Lord of hosts

with thunder and earthquake and great noise,

with whirlwind and tempest, and the flame of a devouring fire.

7

And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel,

all that fight against her and her stronghold, and who distress her,

shall be like a dream, a vision of the night.

8

Just as when a hungry person dreams of eating

and wakes up still hungry,

or a thirsty person dreams of drinking

and wakes up faint, still thirsty,

so shall the multitude of all the nations be

that fight against Mount Zion.

9

Stupefy yourselves and be in a stupor,

blind yourselves and be blind!

Be drunk, but not from wine;

stagger, but not from strong drink!

10

For the Lord has poured out upon you

a spirit of deep sleep;

he has closed your eyes, you prophets,

and covered your heads, you seers.

¹¹ The vision of all this has become for you like the words of a sealed document. If it is given to those who can read, with the command, “Read this,” they say, “We cannot, for it is sealed.” ¹²And if it is given to those who cannot read, saying, “Read this,” they say, “We cannot read.”

 

13

The Lord said:

Because these people draw near with their mouths

and honor me with their lips,

while their hearts are far from me,

and their worship of me is a human commandment learned by rote;

14

so I will again do

amazing things with this people,

shocking and amazing.

The wisdom of their wise shall perish,

and the discernment of the discerning shall be hidden.

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

   

    對於真理的認識不可以用人的智慧，必須透過聖靈的啟示與啟發，人才可以明白。因此，重生是很重要的事，正如主耶穌對尼哥底母說：「我實實在在地告訴你，人若不重生，就不能見上帝的國。」（約翰福音3:3）「我實實在在地告訴你，人若不是從水和聖靈生的，就不能進上帝的國。」（約翰福音3:5）

    人不能讓自己重生，必須透過聖靈和聖道，人才可以重生。也就說，重生是上帝的作為，人就像陶土在匠人的手中，讓匠人來塑造，成為祂要我們成為的樣式，我們無權更是無法抗議，而人受造本來就是要在上帝的陶造中。

    也因此，我們是智慧或愚拙，預我們得救無關。更重要的就是，上帝為了讓人能順服在祂的面前，祂更是使用人看為愚拙和軟弱的人，來彰顯她的智慧和大能，使有能力和智慧的人感到羞愧，好使人願意放下自己而得著救恩。

以賽亞書28:15-29

28:15 你們曾說：我們與死亡立約，與陰間結盟；敵軍（原文是鞭子）如水漲漫經過的時候，必不臨到我們；因我們以謊言為避所，在虛假以下藏身。
28:16 所以，主耶和華如此說：看哪，我在錫安放一塊石頭作為根基，是試驗過的石頭，是穩固根基，寶貴的房角石；信靠的人必不著急。
28:17 我必以公平為準繩，以公義為線鉈。冰雹必沖去謊言的避所；大水必漫過藏身之處。
28:18 你們與死亡所立的約必然廢掉，與陰間所結的盟必立不住。敵軍（原文是鞭子）如水漲漫經過的時候，你們必被他踐踏；
28:19 每逢經過必將你們擄去。因為每早晨他必經過，白晝黑夜都必如此。明白傳言的必受驚恐。
28:20 原來，床榻短，使人不能舒身；被窩窄，使人不能遮體。
28:21 耶和華必興起，像在毘拉心山；他必發怒，像在基遍谷，好做成他的工，就是非常的工；成就他的事，就是奇異的事。
28:22 現在你們不可褻慢，恐怕捆你們的綁索更結實了；因為我從主─萬軍之耶和華那裡聽見，已經決定在全地上施行滅絕的事。
28:23 你們當側耳聽我的聲音，留心聽我的言語。
28:24 那耕地為要撒種的，豈是常常耕地呢？豈是常常開墾耙地呢？
28:25 他拉平了地面，豈不就撒種小茴香，播種大茴香，按行列種小麥，在定處種大麥，在田邊種粗麥呢？
28:26 因為他的上帝教導他務農相宜，並且指教他。
28:27 原來打小茴香，不用尖利的器具，軋大茴香，也不用碌碡（原文是車輪；下同）；但用杖打小茴香，用棍打大茴香。
28:28 做餅的糧食是用磨磨碎，因它不必常打；雖用碌碡和馬打散，卻不磨它。
28:29 這也是出於萬軍之耶和華─他的謀略奇妙；他的智慧廣大。

Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death,

and with Sheol we have an agreement;

when the overwhelming scourge passes through

it will not come to us;

for we have made lies our refuge,

and in falsehood we have taken shelter”;

16

therefore thus says the Lord God,

See, I am laying in Zion a foundation stone,

a tested stone,

a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation:

“One who trusts will not panic.”

17

And I will make justice the line,

and righteousness the plummet;

hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,

and waters will overwhelm the shelter.

18

Then your covenant with death will be annulled,

and your agreement with Sheol will not stand;

when the overwhelming scourge passes through

you will be beaten down by it.

19

As often as it passes through, it will take you;

for morning by morning it will pass through,

by day and by night;

and it will be sheer terror to understand the message.

20

For the bed is too short to stretch oneself on it,

and the covering too narrow to wrap oneself in it.

21

For the Lord will rise up as on Mount Perazim,

he will rage as in the valley of Gibeon

to do his deed—strange is his deed!—

and to work his work—alien is his work!

22

Now therefore do not scoff,

or your bonds will be made stronger;

for I have heard a decree of destruction

from the Lord God of hosts upon the whole land.

23

Listen, and hear my voice;

Pay attention, and hear my speech.

24

Do those who plow for sowing plow continually?

Do they continually open and harrow their ground?

25

When they have leveled its surface,

do they not scatter dill, sow cummin,

and plant wheat in rows

and barley in its proper place,

and spelt as the border?

26

For they are well instructed;

their God teaches them.

27

Dill is not threshed with a threshing sledge,

nor is a cart wheel rolled over cummin;

but dill is beaten out with a stick,

and cummin with a rod.

28

Grain is crushed for bread,

but one does not thresh it forever;

one drives the cart wheel and horses over it,

but does not pulverize it.

29

This also comes from the Lord of hosts;

he is wonderful in counsel,

and excellent in wisdom.

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

   

    先知說到：「主耶和華如此說：看哪，我在錫安放一塊石頭作為根基，是試驗過的石頭，是穩固根基，寶貴的房角石；信靠的人必不著急。」

    在今天我們讀了這段經文就明白：上帝在錫安放一塊石頭，就是指主耶穌。因為主耶穌就是那磐石，更是那房角石，祂是一切真理的基礎，因為祂就是真理，教會也是靠祂建立的！

    今天我們不要自以為剛強，或自己能做甚麼，反到要承認自己的不能，讓基督的能力護庇我們，靠基督這磐石堅立在上帝與世人面前，成為耶穌基督救恩的見證人！

以賽亞書28章

    以賽亞書28:1-14   ,  以賽亞書28:15-29 ,

以賽亞書28:1-14

28:1 禍哉！以法蓮的酒徒，住在肥美谷的山上，他們心裡高傲，以所誇的為冠冕，猶如將殘之花。
28:2 看哪，主有一大能大力者，像一陣冰雹，像毀滅的暴風，像漲溢的大水，他必用手將冠冕摔落於地。
28:3 以法蓮高傲的酒徒，他的冠冕必被踏在腳下。
28:4 那榮美將殘之花，就是在肥美谷山上的，必像夏令以前初熟的無花果；看見這果的就注意，一到手中就吞吃了。
28:5 到那日，萬軍之耶和華必作他餘剩之民的榮冠華冕，
28:6 也作了在位上行審判者公平之靈，並城門口打退仇敵者的力量。
28:7 就是這地的人也因酒搖搖晃晃，因濃酒東倒西歪。祭司和先知因濃酒搖搖晃晃，被酒所困，因濃酒東倒西歪。他們錯解默示，謬行審判。
28:8 因為各席上滿了嘔吐的污穢，無一處乾淨。
28:9 譏誚先知的說：他要將知識指教誰呢？要使誰明白傳言呢？是那剛斷奶離懷的嗎？
28:10 他竟命上加命，令上加令，律上加律，例上加例，這裡一點，那裡一點。
28:11 先知說：不然，主要藉異邦人的嘴唇和外邦人的舌頭對這百姓說話。
28:12 他曾對他們說：你們要使疲乏人得安息，這樣才得安息，才得舒暢，他們卻不肯聽。
28:13 所以，耶和華向他們說的話是命上加命，令上加令，律上加律，例上加例，這裡一點，那裡一點，以致他們前行仰面跌倒，而且跌碎，並陷入網羅被纏住。
28:14 所以，你們這些褻慢的人，就是轄管住在耶路撒冷這百姓的，要聽耶和華的話。

Ah, the proud garland of the drunkards of Ephraim,

and the fading flower of its glorious beauty,

which is on the head of those bloated with rich food, of those overcome with wine!

2

See, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong;

like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest,

like a storm of mighty, overflowing waters;

with his hand he will hurl them down to the earth.

3

Trampled under foot will be

the proud garland of the drunkards of Ephraim.

4

And the fading flower of its glorious beauty,

which is on the head of those bloated with rich food,

will be like a first-ripe fig before the summer;

whoever sees it, eats it up

as soon as it comes to hand.

5

In that day the Lord of hosts will be a garland of glory,

and a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of his people;

6

and a spirit of justice to the one who sits in judgment,

and strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

7

These also reel with wine

and stagger with strong drink;

the priest and the prophet reel with strong drink,

they are confused with wine,

they stagger with strong drink;

they err in vision,

they stumble in giving judgment.

8

All tables are covered with filthy vomit;

no place is clean.

9

“Whom will he teach knowledge,

and to whom will he explain the message?

Those who are weaned from milk,

those taken from the breast?

10

For it is precept upon precept, precept upon precept,

line upon line, line upon line,

here a little, there a little.”

 

11

Truly, with stammering lip

and with alien tongue

he will speak to this people,

12

to whom he has said,

“This is rest;

give rest to the weary;

and this is repose”;

yet they would not hear.

13

Therefore the word of the Lord will be to them,

“Precept upon precept, precept upon precept,

line upon line, line upon line,

here a little, there a little;”

in order that they may go, and fall backward,

and be broken, and snared, and taken.

14

Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scoffers

who rule this people in Jerusalem.

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

   

    先知在此用「將殘之花」來形容像以法蓮一般高傲的百姓。這樣的形容非常貼切，因為「將殘之花」只有外形沒有內在，並且是沒有生命力的，不多久就要被丟到垃圾桶去！

    這也說明到人若不與上帝連結，也是這樣的生命！因為人自從始祖犯罪以來，與上帝的關係是越來越遠，最後是斷絕的關係，就像花朵被剪下來插入花瓶一般！而上帝差遣耶穌基督來拯救我們，就是要恢復與上帝有正確且合宜的關係，正如先知所說：「萬軍之耶和華必作他餘剩之民的榮冠華冕」。

    願上帝在基督裡的恩典也臨到您，使耶和華成為您榮耀的冠冕，享受上帝兒女的一切好處，在耶穌基督裡！

以賽亞書27:1-13

27:1 到那日，耶和華必用他剛硬有力的大刀刑罰鱷魚─就是那快行的蛇，刑罰鱷魚─就是那曲行的蛇，並殺海中的大魚。
27:2 當那日，有出酒的葡萄園，你們要指這園唱歌說：
27:3 我─耶和華是看守葡萄園的；我必時刻澆灌，晝夜看守，免得有人損害。
27:4 我心中不存忿怒。惟願荊棘蒺藜與我交戰，我就勇往直前，把它一同焚燒。
27:5 不然，讓它持住我的能力，使它與我和好，願它與我和好。
27:6 將來雅各要扎根，以色列要發芽開花；他們的果實必充滿世界。
27:7 主擊打他們，豈像擊打那些擊打他們的人嗎？他們被殺戮，豈像被他們所殺戮的嗎？
27:8 你打發他們去，是相機宜與他們相爭；颳東風的日子，就用暴風將他們逐去。
27:9 所以，雅各的罪孽得赦免，他的罪過得除掉的果效，全在乎此：就是他叫祭壇的石頭變為打碎的灰石，以致木偶和日像不再立起。
27:10 因為堅固城變為淒涼，成了撇下離棄的居所，像曠野一樣；牛犢必在那裡吃草，在那裡躺臥，並吃盡其中的樹枝。
27:11 枝條枯乾，必被折斷；婦女要來點火燒著。因為這百姓蒙昧無知，所以，創造他們的必不憐恤他們；造成他們的也不施恩與他們。
27:12 以色列人哪，到那日，耶和華必從大河，直到埃及小河，將你們一一地收集，如同人打樹拾果一樣。
27:13 當那日，必大發角聲，在亞述地將要滅亡的，並在埃及地被趕散的，都要來，他們就在耶路撒冷聖山上敬拜耶和華。

On that day the Lord with his cruel and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will kill the dragon that is in the sea.

 

2

On that day:

A pleasant vineyard, sing about it!

3

I, the Lord, am its keeper;

every moment I water it.

I guard it night and day

so that no one can harm it;

4

I have no wrath.

If it gives me thorns and briers,

I will march to battle against it.

I will burn it up.

5

Or else let it cling to me for protection,

let it make peace with me,

let it make peace with me.

6

In days to come Jacob shall take root,

Israel shall blossom and put forth shoots,

and fill the whole world with fruit.

7

Has he struck them down as he struck down those who struck them?

Or have they been killed as their killers were killed?

8

By expulsion, by exile you struggled against them;

with his fierce blast he removed them in the day of the east wind.

9

Therefore by this the guilt of Jacob will be expiated,

and this will be the full fruit of the removal of his sin:

when he makes all the stones of the altars

like chalkstones crushed to pieces,

no sacred poles or incense altars will remain standing.

10

For the fortified city is solitary,

a habitation deserted and forsaken, like the wilderness;

the calves graze there,

there they lie down, and strip its branches.

11

When its boughs are dry, they are broken;

women come and make a fire of them.

For this is a people without understanding;

therefore he that made them will not have compassion on them,

he that formed them will show them no favor.

¹² On that day the Lord will thresh from the channel of the Euphrates to the Wadi of Egypt, and you will be gathered one by one, O people of Israel. ¹³And on that day a great trumpet will be blown, and those who were lost in the land of Assyria and those who were driven out to the land of Egypt will come and worship the Lord on the holy mountain at Jerusalem.

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

    先知用詩歌體來預言上帝在終末的時候，要得永遠的勝利，並且使以色列復興！然而這新的以色列，就是指向耶穌基督所拯救的教會！因為上帝在終末的時 候，上帝國要完全實現，張顯祂真正的王權，一切屬上帝的也要一同得勝掌王權！

    說到這裡，每一位屬上帝的兒女都要歡呼！因為，我們在那日要同基督一同在上帝國中來敬拜上帝，不管是從哪一個國家來的，都要在基督裡，同歸於一，同來尊上帝為大！

    我們不要再高舉自己，也不要看自己好像成救許多事。這一切都不是我們能，是上帝能，是上帝在基督裡的作為。所以，我們要為我們所成就的大事來歸榮耀於上帝，因為要不是上帝肯做，我們原本是不能做甚麼的！正如基督所說，離呵主我們甚麼事都不能做！