讀經 : 《以賽亞書》七章10-25節
SCRIPTURE READING: Isaiah
7:10-25
釋義 : 必有童女懷孕生子，給他起名叫以馬內利(14)這節聖經對信徒絕不陌生,因為這是天使宣告馬利亞必從聖靈感孕時引用的舊約預言。然而對於亞哈斯王來說,
這除了是他本人無法目睹, 數百年後才應驗的預言外, 也是一個神當時給他的寶貴應許──神與人同在。
INSIGHT: ‘The virgin will be with child and will give
birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.’ (14) This verse should not be
unfamiliar to believers, because this is what the angel cited when he
proclaimed that Mary would be with child through the Holy Spirit. Yet to Ahaz,
this was something he would not see with his own eyes, a prophecy that would
not be fulfilled until several hundred years later. It is also a precious promise
from God – God is with us.
●以馬內利是神與人的具體象徵
-- 中文信字的組合說明人言可信, 那麼神言更是一言九鼎, 絕對可信。但神體恤亞哈斯和一般人的信心軟弱, 消除口說無憑的疑慮, 就給他一個實物作為神與人同在的象徵: 一個亞哈斯當時知道仍未與男人同房的處女,不久將生子(注意以賽亞並沒有說生產時仍是處女)。 聖經明說在這孩子還不曉得棄惡擇善之先(16), 即三數年間, 在亞哈斯可見的將來, 神已經為猶大消除所面對的政治危機, 因此這孩子是個兆頭(即象徵)。當日後人呼喚那孩子的名字以馬內利時,
人就重複宣認神與人同在。同樣耶穌名叫以馬內
利, 是神道成肉身, 將人從來不能見的天父榮耀具體地彰顯出來。你今天可在一些什麼事物看到神與你同在嗎？
IMMANUEL IS A SYMBOL OF GOD WITH US IN PHYSICAL
FORM -- The Chinese character for believe is 信. It is composed of two components that mean people and word
respectively. The character depicts that men’s words are trustworthy. Then
God’s words are absolutely trustworthy. But God understood that Ahaz was weak
in faith like regular people. To eliminate doubt, God gave him a physical sign
as a symbol of God with his people – a virgin whom Ahaz knew had not been with
any man would give birth to a son (note that Isaiah did not say she was still a
virgin when giving birth). The Bible says that before the boy knows enough to
reject the wrong and choose the right (16), that is, in 3 years, in Ahaz’s near
future, God will have averted the crisis for Judah. So, this child was a sign (symbol). From then
on, when people call that boy’s name Immanuel, people will repeatedly proclaim
and recognize God with them. In the same way, Jesus is called Immanuel, God
became flesh, concretely reveals the glory of the Heavenly Father that men can
never see otherwise. From what things you can see today that God is with you?
●神與人同在的苦和樂 -- 神同在給予人安全感, 無論環境際遇怎樣,神必不離棄人,
或安慰、或鼓勵、或保護, 人總不會孤立無援, 但是神並沒有應許祂的同在必定消除患難。耶和華不錯預言在孩子以馬內利還幼時, 亞哈斯所憎惡的那二王之地必致見棄(16),
這固然是個好消息, 但是亞哈斯投靠亞述(王下十六), 所以神的同在並不能帶來安穩的政局, 耶和華預言亞述將大大擊打猶大, 成為荊棘蒺藜──審判的象徵(19,23,24,25)。
THE PAIN AND JOY OF GOD WITH US -- When God is with us, we have a sense of
security. No matter how harsh the
circumstances are, God will not abandon us. God will give us comfort,
encouragement, and protection. We will not be alone and helpless. But God does
not promise having him with us guarantees that trouble will end. God promised when
the child Immanuel was young, the land of the two kings Ahaz dreaded would be laid
waste (16). This was definitely good news. But Ahaz sought help from Assyria (2
Kings 16). So, God’s presence did not
bring stability. God said Assyria would strike
Judah hard, leaving the land covered with briers and thorns – symbol of judgement
(19, 23, 24, 25).
謹記: 主耶和華─以色列的聖者曾如此說：你們得救在乎歸回安息；你們得力在乎平靜安穩；你們竟自不肯。耶和華必然等候，要施恩給你們；必然興起，好憐憫你們。因為耶和華是公平的神；凡等候他的都是有福的！(賽卅15,18)
REMEMBER: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One
of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest
is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have
none of it.” Yet the Lord longs to be
gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of
justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!’ (Isaiah 30:15, 18)
每日讀經 by 洪同勉牧師 Rev. Tommy Hung
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