讀經 : 賽廿八 1~22
SCRIPTURE READING: Isaiah 28:1-22
釋義 : 本章至卅三章的六章聖經, 其中五章都是以「禍哉」開始。它們分別指責虛假的盼望，虛假的虔誠，虛假的計謀， 虛假的聯盟，以及虛假的信賴。
INSIGHT: Of the six chapters from here to chapter 33, five start with “Woe”. They condemn false hope, false piety, false schemes, false alliances, and false trust respectively.
本章的文學結構相當明顯: 六段經文講論三對人物, 每對人物都有相同的句子或字辭。
The literary structure of this chapter is quite obvious: Three pairs of characters in 6 segments, with identical wording describing each pair.
以法蓮的酒徒和剩餘之民(1-6): 先知在主前七二二年之以前向北國發出預言，表明因為她像酒徒般奢靡縱慾, 所以不久將被大能大力者 (指亞述王)所傾覆。先知以此警告猶大，指出南國的命運也是如此。不過剩餘之民和以法蓮酒徒的不同, 在於「冠冕」。北國的冠冕被摔
落於地, 而南國剩餘之民卻得耶和華作他們的冠冕。
The Drunkards of Ephraim and the Remnants (1 – 6) : Prior to 722 BC, the prophet issued a prophecy regarding the northern kingdom, pointing out that because of her extravagance and indulgence like a drunkard, she would soon be overturned by one who is mighty and strong (referring to the Assyrian King). Here, the prophet warns Judah with it, prophesying the same fate for the southern kingdom. However, what separates the remnants from the drunkards of Ephraim is the “crown”. The crown of the northern kingdom will be cast down to the earth; whereas the remnants of the southern kingdom will have the Lord as their crown.
祭司和先知與耶和華的先知(7-13) : 祭司和先知都被濃酒所困，恣意狂歡褻瀆。先知用說不出的輕蔑，描述他所見到的情景：他們錯解默示, 所講論的就像各席上滿了嘔吐的污穢，無一處乾淨。他們覺得神的話語煩瑣, 先知的講解是「命上加命，令上加令，律上加律，例上加例，這裡一點，那裡一點」;結果神卻認為他們是在默示上隨意加添他們自己的意思, 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」。
The Priests and the Prophets and the Lord’s Prophet (7 – 13) : The priests and the prophets are all held captive by strong drink, acting recklessly, indulging in revelry, and letting out blasphemies. The prophet describes what he sees with unspeakable contempt: They misinterpret visions, like tables full of filthy vomit and there is not a spot without filth. They consider God’s words trivial and nagging and the prophets’ interpretation “precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little”; which has God charge them with casually introducing their own will to the vision, essentially adding “precept upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little”.
褻慢的首領和神在錫安放的石頭(14-22): 猶大領袖「與死亡立約，與陰間結盟」, 以為透過迷信的通靈巫術，或藉與埃及結盟，便能逃過亞述的攻擊，建立安全的避難所: 「敵軍如水漲漫經過的時候，必不臨到我們」。誰知神卻否決他們的如意算盤:「你們與死亡所立的約必然廢掉，與陰間所結的盟必立不住。敵軍如水漲漫經過的時候，你們必被他踐踏」。
The Scoffing Ruler and the Stone that God laid on Zion (14 – 22): The leaders of Judah. “have made a covenant with death”, believing that through superstitious witchcraft or alliance with Egypt, they can escape Assyria’s attack and build a safe refuge: “When the overwhelming whip passes through it will not come to us”. Who would know that God would extinguish their wishful thinking: “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.”
「穩固的石頭」是指甚麼？
What is a “stone as sure foundation” referring to?
在以賽亞書的處境中，這是指對神的信心；「你們得力在乎平靜安穩」(三十15；七9)。那些信賴謊言(15)，或倚靠人力(卅一1)的，會被除滅與淹沒(17)；那些信靠上帝與其公義的會站穩。在聖經神學方面來看,這「石頭」預表彌賽亞:「主乃活石，固然是被人所棄的(詩一一八22),卻是被上帝所揀選所寶貴的」(彼前二4)。
With regards to the situation in the Book of Isaiah, it is referring trusting in God: “In quietness and in trust shall be your strength” (30:15, 7:9). Those who take refuge in lies. (15) or those who trust in human power (31:1) will be swept away and be overwhelmed. (17); those who trust in the Lord and His righteousness will stand firm. From a theological perspective, this “stone” prophesies the Messiah: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” (Psalm 118:22); “A living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious” (1 Peter 2:4).
「凡到我這裡來，聽見我的話就去行的，我要告訴你們他像甚麼人：他像一個人蓋房子，深深地挖地，把根基安在磐石上；到發大水的時候，水沖那房子，房子總不能搖動，因為根基立在磐石上。」(路六47-48)
“Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.” (Luke 6:47-48)
每日讀經 by 洪同勉牧師 Rev. Tommy Hung
