耶和華的怒氣 THE LORD’S ANGER《以賽亞書 Isaiah 9:8 – 10:4》

讀經:  《以賽亞書》九章8節至十章4節

SCRIPTURE READING:  Isaiah 9:8 – 10:4

釋義 : 本段的審判與上段復興的信息截然不同, 這並非神反覆無常, 乃因以色列人頑梗成性, 不肯謙卑等候, 以致神無法快速引進復興, 唯有繼續管教, 期望以色列人早日悔改。

INSIGHT :   The judgment in this passage and the previous message of revival are vastly different. God is not being capricious. It is just that the Israelites were stubborn and refused to trust God with patience and humility.  Therefore, God could not bring revival quickly, but continued to discipline them, hoping that the Israelites would repent soon.

本段主題:   耶和華的怒氣還未轉消；他的手仍伸不縮。這句話重複四次(12,17,21十4),作為四個段落的結語,也指出以色列人的情況:

THE THEME OF THIS PASSAGE  -- “His anger is not turned away, his hand is still upraised.”  This verse is repeated 4 times (12, 17, 21, 10:4) as the conclusion of each of the 4 sections, and it also points out the status of the Israelites:

1. 心高氣傲(8-12) -- 驕傲的罪在第二章已經詳細講論, 現在又重複提述, 可見這是頑強難以克制的罪性。驕傲是人對自己的能力過度的評估, 以為有足夠的力量面對抗環境, 甚至神。所以以色列人說: 牆塌了，我們卻要鑿石頭建築；桑樹砍了，我們卻要換香柏樹。(10)驕傲的人相信自己的力量, 當然不會倚靠神, 成為信心的大障礙。

1.  BEING PROUD AND ARROGANT (8 – 12) -- The sin of arrogance had already been discussed in detail in chapter 2, and now it is mentioned again.  From that we know that it is a tenacious sinful nature that is hard to restrain.  Arrogance is overestimating one’s own ability to take on situations, even God. Therefore, the Israelites said, “The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with dressed stone; the fig trees have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.” (10) When an arrogant person believes in his own strength, he surely does not put his trust in God, and that becomes his hurdle to faithfulness.

2. 首領昏庸(13-17) --  耶和華針對人的驕傲所施行的警戒,顯然並不收效,這百姓還沒有歸向擊打他們的主,也沒有尋求萬軍之耶和華(13)。原因是首領頑梗,自己不肯悔改外,引導這百姓的使他們走錯了路(16)。要留意以賽亞提到首領的頭與尾: 長老和尊貴人就是頭，以謊言教人的先知就是尾(15)。按摩西五經的教導, 宗教不應被政治牽引, 反而政治首領應該好好研讀律法, 留心遵照神的啟示治國(民廿七18-21申十七15-20)。所以信徒應該為在上當權者慕道的心禱告(提前二2)。

2.  LEADERS BEING IGNORANT AND FOOLISH (13 – 17) -- The Lord’s specific warnings against men’s arrogance obviously were not effective.  “The people have not returned to him who struck them, nor have they sought the Lord almighty.” (13)  The reason is that the leaders were stubborn.  Apart from refusing to repent themselves, they also led others astray.  “Those who guide this people mislead them.” (16)  Let’s pay attention to the head and tail of leaders that Isaiah mentioned:  “The elders and prominent men are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail.” (15)  According to the teachings in the Pentateuch, religion should not be towed by politics.  On the contrary, political leaders should study the laws and follow God’s revelation carefully in governing the nation (Numbers 27:18-21, Deuteronomy 17:15-20).  Therefore, believers should pray for those in authority for their desire for God’s Word (1 Timothy 2:2).

3. 手足相殘(18-21)  -- 瑪拿西和以法蓮是約瑟的兒子,理應與以色列其他支派更親密, 然而卻手足相殘。以賽亞可能引述以色列人在士師耶弗他那時, 這兩支派內戰導致四萬二千人死亡的史實(士十二), 但是也指當時以色列國聯同亞蘭攻打猶大國的意圖。

3.  BROTHERS HARMING ONE ANOTHER  (18 – 21) -- Manasseh and Ephraim were sons of Joseph. They should be close to the other Israelite tribes, but they harmed one another instead.  Isaiah probably was referring to the historical facts regarding the fight between these two Israelite tribes that resulted in 42,000 deaths during the time of Jephthah (Judges 12).  But it was also referring to Israel’s intent to attack Judah together with Aram at the time.

4. 道德淪亡(十1-4) -- 向那些欺壓貧弱者的人宣告禍哉是本書的一個主題(一17五23等)。3-4節毫無疑問是預言亞述的擄掠。

4.  THE DEATH OF MORALITY (10:1 – 4) – To announce woe to those who oppress the weak and poor is the theme of this book (1:17, 5:23 etc.). Verse 3 – 4 is without any doubt the prophecy of Assyria’s plunder.

思想:  發怒不是神的性情, 因為，他的怒氣不過是轉眼之間；他的恩典乃是一生之久。一宿雖然有哭泣，早晨便必歡呼。(詩卅5)

PONDER:   Anger is not God’s nature.  “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).

勃然大怒是件容易的事, 任何人都能做到。但是, 要在恰當的時間, 為恰當的目的, 以怡當的方式, 對恰當的人發恰當的怒, 卻不是一件容易的事, 並且, 這也不是每個人都能做到的事。

“Anybody can become angry — that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way — that is not within everybody’s power and is not easy.”

亞里士多德: 《尼各馬可倫理學》Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics.

每日讀經  by 洪同勉牧師 Rev. Tommy Hung