信靠神大能 TRUST IN GOD’S MIGHTY POWER (Isaiah 以賽亞書 31:1 - 9)

 

主啊，求你使我來到你面前時有充足的信心，相信聖靈會引導明白你的旨意

Dear Lord, as I come before you, let me have enough faith to trust that the Holy Spirit will guide me through understanding your will.

信靠神大能

TRUST IN GOD’S MIGHTY POWER

讀經 : 以賽亞書 卅一1~9

SCRIPTURE READING:  Isaiah 31:1 - 9

釋義 : 本章聖經可以說是前一章的濃縮版。段落次序和思路跟卅章一樣: 頭一段責備以色列人投靠埃及(1-3); 接著先知形容耶和華怎樣保護耶路撒冷(4-5); 最後預言亞述的傾覆(6-9); 而結束也和卅章一樣提到耶和華的火。

INSIGHT:   This chapter can be considered a condensed version of the previous one.  Here the organization and the train of thoughts are identical to those of chapter 30: The first segment rebukes the Israelites for going down to Egypt for help (1-3); then the prophet describes how the Lord protects Jerusalem (4-5), followed by foretelling the fall of Assyria (6-9); as in chapter 30, the ending also mentions the Lord’s fire.

 第一節包含了四個「信心」的字：「仗賴」在十二章二十節譯為「倚靠」；「倚靠」也在以賽亞其他詩章中出現(十二2；廿六3-4)，又在卅六至卅七章希西家的信心危機記載中重複提及(例卅六4,5,6; 卅七10)；「仰望以色列的聖者」，這曾出現於十七章七至八節;還有先知所喜愛的慣用語「尋求、求問耶和華」。

The first verse includes four words/phrases about ‘faith’: “rely on” - translated as “trust” in 20:2; “trust” or “trust in” - also appears in other poems in the Book of Isaiah (12:2, 26:3-4) and repeatedly in the record of Hezekiah’s crisis of faith in chapter 36 and 37 (example 36:4-6, 37:10); “look to/on the Holy One of Israel” - has appeared in chapter 17 verse 7-8; also, “consult the Lord” - the prophet’s favorite phrase.

可惜以色列人這些信仰的行動是指向「不過是人, 並不是神……是血肉, 並不是靈」的埃及,而非耶和華。

Unfortunately, the Israelites’ acts of faith were based on Egypt that is of “man, and not God…..flesh, and not spirit”.

我們也許覺得以色列人雖然經過先知多番勸諭仍不悔改歸向神, 匪夷所思。不過在我們譴責以色列人之前, 最好撫心自問, 我們的信心又如何? 我們所倚靠的是「血肉」的人? 經濟環境? 職業技能? 國家政策? 還是看不見的全能神的力量?

Perhaps we think it is inconceivable that the Israelites still did not repent despite having been advised by the prophet multiple times.  But, before we rebuke the Israelites, we’d better ask ourselves - how about our own faith? Do we trust in men of “flesh”?  Economic environment?  Professional skills?  Our country’s policies?  Or the mighty power of the God that we cannot see?

獅子怎樣完全不怕「許多牧人來攻擊牠」(4), 神也照樣不怕強權 勢力。鳥兒搧動翅膀保護小雛, 萬軍之耶和華保護耶路撒冷是「越門」 保守。昔日出埃及的時候，神逾越以色列人 門(即「越門」的意思)， 擊殺埃及人長子(參出12:13,23)，如今祂也照樣保護，拯救猶大.  結 果耶和華的使者就是那樣「越門」拯救猶大脫離亞述人的手(卅七36)。

The way a lion can be not at all afraid “when a band of shepherds is called out against him” (4) is the same that God is not afraid of the powerful.  While birds outstretch their wings to protect their nestlings, the Lord protects Jerusalem by “passing over” its doorframes.  Back then when the Israelites left Egypt, God passed over the Israelites’ homes (meaning passing over the doorframes) while striking down every firstborn of the Egyptians (refer to Exodus 12:13,23).  Now He will protect and deliver Judah in the same manner. Just like that, in the end, the angel of the Lord delivers Judah from the hand of the Assyrians by “passing over” their doorframes (37:36).

德蘭修女有一日告訴修道院的負責人: 「我有三毛錢, 想為神辦 一所孤兒院, 收容有需要的兒童。」負責人回答: 「三毛錢哪能夠辦孤 兒院? 只有三毛錢, 甚麼都不會做成。」 德蘭修女微笑地說:  「你說 得對, 只有三毛錢, 甚麼都做不成;  不過, 有神和我在一起, 加上這 三毛錢, 我甚麼都可以做。」

One day, Mother Teresa said to the person in charge of the Convent, ‘I have 30 cents, and I would like to start an orphanage for God to take in children in need.’  The abbess replied, ’How can we start an orphanage with 30 cents? With only 30 cents, nothing can be accomplished.’  Mother Teresa said with a smile, ‘You are right, with only 30 cents, nothing can be accomplished; but, when God is with me, together with these 30 cents, I can do anything.’

面對困難洪波, 你是否信靠恩主仗舵的船, 在祂大能動力推動下, 可安全地帶領你乘風破浪?

When faced with tremendous hardships, do you trust that the boat steered by the Lord and driven by His mighty power  will get you through the strong winds and waves safely?

每日讀經 by 洪同勉牧師 Rev. Tommy Hung

平靜安穩 IN QUIETNESS AND TRUST (Isaiah 以賽亞書 30:1-17) -- 每日讀經 by 洪同勉牧師 Rev. Tommy Hung

 

平靜安穩 IN QUIETNESS AND TRUST

求主安靜我心, 讓我可以在煩囂和疲憊中可以享受你在話語中的安息.

Dear Lord, please calm my heart, allow me to enjoy rest in Your words amidst chaos and exhaustion.

讀經:  以賽亞書 卅 1~17

SCRIPTURE READING:  Isaiah  30:1 - 17

釋義 :  主前715年沙巴谷成為埃及法老後, 亞蘭與迦南諸小國曾要求結盟以抗衡亞述。猶大似乎也加入這個聯盟(廿5)。以賽亞j針對這個秘密聯盟，發出災禍的預告，說明這個聯盟必定徹底失敗的原因:

INSIGHT:  After Shabaka became Pharaoh in 715 BC,  Aram and the small nations in the Canaan region had sought to form alliances to resist Assyria.  Apparently, Judah had joined (20:5).  In regards to this secretive alliance, Isaiah issues a prophecy of calamities, speaking of the reasons for the sure and complete failure of the alliance:

他們尋求謀略，卻不要耶和華的計謀(1-2)。他們結盟以遮蓋自己，卻不求祂的靈來庇護；他們下到埃及，向法老王求援，卻沒有求問耶和華。

They devised strategy on their own instead of seeking the Lord’s plan (1-2). They formed an alliance to seek refuge instead of asking for His spirit for protection.  They went down to Egypt, asking for help from Pharaoh,  instead of from the Lord.

以賽亞斥責這個聯盟，因為它必使他們蒙羞(3-5)。猶大是向一個不不願意提供援助的國家求援。埃及接見猶大使臣「並非幫助，也非利益，只作羞恥凌辱」。

Isaiah denounces the alliance, for it will surely put them to shame (3-5). Judah is seeking protection from a nation that is unwilling to offer help. The Egyptians’ meeting with the Jewish officials will “bring neither help nor profit, but shame and disgrace”.

「論南方牲畜的默示」的一段話(6)，是插進來作補充說明,用譏諷的語調描述那些使臣所經過的旅程。他們經過艱難困苦之地，一路上盡是豺狼猛獸。他們滿載寶物，前往不利於他們的民那裏去。

The passage of “an oracle on the beasts of the Negev” (6) is inserted as a supplement to describe the journey of the Jewish officials in a sarcastic tone.  Through a land of hardship and distress where wild animals roam free, they carry their treasures to a people that cannot profit them.

這趟旅程必然徒勞無功，因為即使埃及提供援助，也是一無用處，毫無結果的。他形容埃及是「坐而不動的拉哈伯」，顯然他們只會在口頭上援助，卻沒有實際的行動。(7)

This journey will surely be futile; even if Egypt offers help, it will still be useless, yielding no benefit at all.  Isaiah describes Egypt as “Rahab who sits still”; obviously they will give only lip service, nothing in action (7).

這個盟約是在悖逆中籌劃的(8-11)。他們不聽耶和華的訓誨，叫他們的先見閉眼不看，又命令他們的先知只說柔和的話，不要提神的事。這樣作當然不能得到神的祝福。

The treaty was planned in a rebellion (8-11). They refused to follow the Lord’s instruction, told the seers to close their eyes, and even ordered their prophets to tell only smooth things and nothing about God.  The way they acted will certainly  not gain God’s blessing.

他們根本不是為國家利益打算(12-13)趁機欺壓和乖僻，這罪要像一座高牆，在耶和華的攻擊前坍塌。

They simply did not care about the welfare of the nation (12-13); they just took the opportunity to oppress and turn away from God. This iniquity, like a high wall, will collapse upon a strike from the Lord.

其實耶和華向以色列人發出一個解決他們困境的祕方: 用信心安靜等候神為他們作工(15)。就像摩西那樣說: 「不要懼怕，只管站住！看耶和華今天向你們所要施行的救恩……耶和華必為你們爭戰；你們只管靜默，不要作聲。」(出十四13-14)

In fact, the Lord gave a secret formula to deliver the Israelites:   Stay still and trust that God will work for them (15).  Just like Moses said, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today…..The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”  (Exodus 14:13-14)

前美國參議員在參院申明要發言, 卻沒說什麼。

A senator had indicated that he would speak on the Senate floor but didn’t really say much:

他站起身來, 輪到他講話, 便說: 「我沒有話要說。我認為, 我們這個國家現在最用得著的就是沉默一下。」

When it was his turn, he stood up and said:  “I don’t have anything to say.  I think that at this point in time, this country can use some silence.”

「你們得救在乎歸回安息;你們得力在乎平靜安穩」。

“In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.”  

你肯安靜嗎？

Are you willing to be still?

每日讀經 by 洪同勉牧師 Rev. Tommy Hung