QT 07/04/2025 Mon. Isaiah 41. Compare the power! 比较力量。

QT 07/04/2025 Mon. Isaiah 41. Compare the power!
READ http://www.esvbible.org/isaiah41

How do we know who is the true God? Compare their powers. The prophet listed out The LORD's challenge to other gods to prove their credentials—can they know all of the past and foretell the future?

Isaiah 41:21–23 The Futility of Idols
[21] Set forth your case, says the LORD; bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob.
[22] Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen. Tell us the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, that we may know their outcome; or declare to us the things to come.
[23] Tell us what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods; do good, or do harm, that we may be dismayed and terrified. (ESV)

The vibes of Isaiah 41:21–29 seemed to be that the false gods fail miserably in their ability to verbalise and communicate both the past and the future. There is no one among these false gods who is a counselor, gives a reasonable answer or any answer at all. In fact, they cannot "do good" nor "do harm". Delusion, nothing and empty wind are appropriate adjectives for these gods.

On the other hand, Isaiah 41:1–20 reminded readers that The LORD was the active one who could summon kings from the east to do His bidding, He can judge nations and He can save His people.

Isaiah 41:8–10
[8] But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; [9] you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; [10] fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (ESV)

The LORD can summon anyone from the ends of the earth—believers and non-believers. It was for the above reasons that His people need not fear the future, because The LORD not only knows about the future but is also LORD over the future.

APPLICATION: Do not fear. Just proceed with His calling for each and every one of us and trust Him for the future.

QT 07/04/2025 星期一 以赛亚书 41 比较力量
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/isa/41

我们如何知道谁是真神？比较他们的能力。先知列出了耶和华对其他神的挑战，以证明他们的资格--他们能知道所有的过去并预言未来吗？

以赛亚书 41:21-23 偶像的徒劳无益
21 耶和华对假神说，你们要呈上你们的案件，雅各的君说，你们要声明你们确实的理由。22 可以声明，指示我们将来必遇的事，说明先前的是什么事，好叫我们思索，得知事的结局，或者把将来的事指示我们。23 要说明后来的事，好叫我们知道你们是神，你们或降福，或降祸，使我们惊奇，一同观看。

以赛亚书 41:21-29 的氛围似乎是，假神在言语表达和沟通过去与未来的能力方面都非常失败。在这些假神中，没有一个是顾问，没有一个能给出合理的答案或任何答案。事实上，他们既不能 “降福”，也不能 “降祸”。妄想、虚无和空风是这些假神的恰当形容词。

另一方面，以赛亚书 41：1-20 提醒读者，耶和华是主动者，祂能从东方召来君王听从祂的吩咐，祂能审判万国，祂能拯救祂的子民。

以赛亚书 41:8-10
8 惟你以色列我的仆人，雅各我所拣选的，我朋友亚伯拉罕的后裔，9 你是我从地极所领（原文作抓）来的，从地角所召来的，且对你说，你是我的仆人，我拣选你并不弃绝你。10 你不要害怕，因为我与你同在。不要惊惶，因为我是你的神。我必坚固你，我必帮助你，我必用我公义的右手扶持你。

耶和华可以从天涯海角召唤任何人--信徒和非信徒。正是由于上述原因，耶和华的子民不必惧怕未来，因为耶和华不仅知道未来，而且是未来的主宰。

应用：不要惧怕。只要顺着祂对我们每个人的呼召前进，相信祂所赐给我的未来。