QT 30/04/2025 Wed. Isaiah 59. Overcoming self-doubt with God’s Power and Mercy. 借助上帝的大能和仁慈战胜自我怀疑.
QT 30/04/2025 Wed. Isaiah 59. Overcoming self-doubt with God’s Power and Mercy.
READ http://www.esv.org/isaiah59
We saw in Isaiah 56 that it was futile for the worshippers to merely depend on their ancestry traced to Abraham (Genesis 12). True, God had called them out of all nations of the world, but their special call (election) is NOT the only criteria in evaluating their current relationship with God. Reliance on their own ability to earn God’s favour was also futile.
You see, not only were His people unable to extract themselves out of idolatry, they were also unable (somehow) to treat one another fairly or justly. Bullying in schools manifests itself later in adulthood too. In addition, Isaiah 1–8 revealed glaringly that the society of Isaiah’s time had fragmented and degenerated.
Therefore, Isaiah had to confess the people’s sins on their behalf (Isaiah 9–15). See the participation of God with power to enable worshippers to live out the righteousness that He had envisioned for them as His witnesses.
Isaiah 59:16–17
[16] He saw that there was no man,
and wondered that there was no one to intercede;
then his own arm brought him salvation,
and his righteousness upheld him.
[17] He put on righteousness as a breastplate,
and a helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. (ESV)
What can we learn? Firstly, that The LORD had been inclined to mitigate the effects of sin in view of His mercy. The sins of Sodom and all that flowed from it had a God-imposed limit (Genesis 18:21, 19:24–25). The oppression of His people in Egypt also had a limit (Exodus 2:23–25). Here The LORD acts again to bring salvation to His people.
Secondly The LORD would protect His people and come to their defense. From the above verses, “righteousness as a breastplate” and “helmet of salvation”, we see their connections to the imagery of the armour of God in Ephesians 6:13–17. Is our spiritual life armour plated and “bullet proof”?
Lastly, worshippers and the rest of the world can have great hope because The LORD is a God that is neither blind nor insensitive—He sees clearly both our problems and the solution to them. In fact, The LORD had directed His Servant to submit to the punishment and death in the place of worshippers who could not really engage in self-help fruitfully nor effectively.
Isaiah 59:19 So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun; for he will come like a rushing stream, which the wind of the LORD drives. (ESV)
QT 30/04/2025 星期三. 以赛亚书 59 借助上帝的大能和仁慈战胜自我怀疑
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/isa/59
我们在以赛亚书第 56 章中看到，敬拜者仅仅依靠他们追溯到亚伯拉罕的祖先（创世记 12 章）是徒劳的。诚然，上帝从世界万国中呼召了他们，但他们的特殊呼召（拣选）并不是评估他们目前与上帝关系的唯一标准。依靠他们自己的能力来赢得神的眷顾也是徒劳的。
要知道，神的子民不仅无法摆脱偶像崇拜，他们也无法（很遗憾的）公平或公正地对待彼此。学校里的欺凌行为在成年后也会在另外的场合表现出来。此外，以赛亚书1-8 清晰地揭示了以赛亚所处时代的社会已经支离破碎、堕落不堪。
因此，以赛亚不得不代表人民认罪（以赛亚书 9-15）。我们可以读到神以大能的参与，使敬拜者能够活出神为他们设想的公义，成为神的见证人。
以赛亚书 59：16-17 他见无人行善，无人代求，就非常诧异，所以他用自己的膀臂为他施行拯救，以自己的公义扶持他。 17 他穿上公义的铠甲，戴上救恩的头盔，穿上复仇的衣服，披上热心作外袍。
我们能学到什么呢？首先，鉴于耶和华的仁慈，他倾向于减轻罪的影响。 所多玛的罪和由此产生的一切都有神规定的限度（创世记 18：21，19：24-25）。祂的子民在埃及所受的压迫也是有限度的（出埃及记 2：23-25）。在这里，耶和华再次采取行动，为祂的子民带来拯救。
其次，耶和华会保护祂的子民。从上面的经文中，我们可以看到 “公义的铠甲”和“救恩的头盔”与以弗所书6：13-17 中神的盔甲的意象之间的联系。我们的属灵生命是否穿上了 “防弹衣”？
最后，敬拜耶和华的人和世界上其他的人可以有很大的希望，因为耶和华是一位既不盲目也不麻木不仁的神--祂清楚地看到我们的问题和解决问题的办法。事实上，耶和华曾指示祂的仆人代替那些无法真正有效自助的敬拜者接受惩罚和死亡。
以赛亚书 59:19 这样，人从日落之处必敬畏耶和华的名，从日出之地也必敬畏他的荣耀，仇敌像河水冲来的时候，耶和华的气必向他催逼。
