QT 09/04/2025 Wed. Isaiah 43. The expected or unexpected responses to grace? 对恩典的反应是意料之中还是意料之外？
QT 09/04/2025 Wed. Isaiah 43. The expected or unexpected responses to grace?
READ http://www.esvbible.org/isaiah43
"But now" (43:1) puts a break from the previous chapters which showed in detail the surprising and high inability of God's people to recognise and to respond to what The LORD had done throughout their history. Isaiah 43 can also be your reflection today, if we still fall under this same category.
In spite of what God's people had done, Isaiah 43:1–21 portrayed The LORD chosing His people out of pure grace.
Isaiah 43:2–3 [2] When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. [3] For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. (ESV)
God's people had walked through fire and got "burnt" by punishment (Isaiah 42:25) but NOW they would be protected. This was not because they had done anything better, became more obedient or perceived spiritual truth better. God's saving acts do not depend on the perfect quality of their repentance—no one qualifies.
APPLICATION: The followers of God by faith need not fear that God's justice or punishment or righteousness would negate God's loving care or His choice of selecting the chosen ones out of so many in the world for salvation.
God had in fact made a roadway in the wilderness to bring all His people from afar towards Himself for praise and worship:-
Isaiah 43:19–21 [19] Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. [20] The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, [21] the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise. (ESV)
In a bitter comparison, even wild beasts, jackaks and ostriches (animals whom we least expected to respond to God), will honour Him (43:20). Therefore the "Yet you did not call upon me, O Jacob" (Isaiah 43:22a) becomes the unexpected jab call for readers to sit up, and do the expected—honour God because of who He is. To honour Him for what He has done and would continue to do in spite of His people's imperfections.
For the rest of the week, give thanks and be cheered up, because of the great, wonderful and merciful God that we have.
QT 09/04/2025 星期三 以赛亚书 43 对恩典的反应是意料之中还是意料之外？
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/isa/43
"但是" （43：1）打破了前几章的格局，前几章详细地展示了上帝的子民在整个历史中对耶和华所作所为的惊讶和极度无能。以赛亚书第 43 章也可以成为你今天的反思，如果我们仍然属于这一类的话。
尽管上帝的子民做了许多事，以赛亚书 43：1-21 描绘了耶和华出于纯粹的恩典拣选了祂的子民。
以赛亚书 43:2-3 [2] 你从水中经过的时候，我必与你同在；你渡过江河的时候，水必不淹没你；你从火中行走的时候，必不会烧伤；火焰也不会在你身上烧起来。3 因为我是耶和华你的 神，是以色列的圣者，你的拯救者；我使埃及作你的赎价，使古实和示巴作你的替身。
上帝的子民曾走过火海，被惩罚 "焚烧"（以赛亚书 42：25），但现在他们将受到保护。这并不是因为他们做得更好、更顺从或更能感知属灵的真理。上帝的拯救行动并不取决于他们悔改的完美质量--没有人有资格。
应用：因信跟随神的人不必担心神的公正、惩罚或公义会否定神的爱的关怀，或否定神从世上众多人中拣选被拣选的人得救的选择。
事实上，上帝已经在旷野开辟了一条道路，将祂的子民从远方带到祂面前来敬拜祂。
以赛亚书 43:19-21 [19] “看哪！我要作一件新的事；现在它要发生了，难道你们还不知道吗？我要在旷野开一条道路，在荒地开挖江河。20 野地的走兽必尊重我，野狗和鸵鸟也必这样，因为我使旷野有水，使荒地有江河，好使我拣选的子民有水喝，21 就是我为自己所造的子民，好使他们述说赞美我的话。
相比之下，即使是野兽、豺狼和鸵鸟（我们最不能期待它们对上帝做出回应的动物）也会尊崇上帝（43:20）。因此，“然而，雅各啊！你并没有呼求我”（以赛亚书 43：22a）成了意想不到的刺耳呼唤，要求读者坐起来，做意料之中该做的事--因为神是谁而敬重祂。敬重神，因为尽管祂的子民并不完美，但祂已经成就祂的事，并将继续做下去。
在本周余下的时间里，因为我们所拥有的伟大、奇妙和仁慈的上帝，我们要感恩并振作起来。
