QT 11/03/2025 Tue. Isaiah 22. Vision & Visionless. 异象与无异象.
QT 11/03/2025 Tue. Isaiah 22. Vision & Visionless
READ http://www.esvbible.org/isaiah22
Do we see the future ahead? "The valley of vision" (22:1) is sarcastic. They were actually visionless.
(1) The people shouted on housetops jubilantly (22:1-2) yet they could not see they actually faced capture, bitter tears and destruction (22:3-4).
(2) The leaders "looked to the weapons" (22:8), "counted the houses of Jerusalem" (22:10) and broke down houses so that the debris could be used to fortify the external walls. They did not look to the LORD God. Leaders fled and "without the bow they were captured" (22:3)—they were captured not while fighting, but while fleeing to save themselves.
Isaiah 22:11–13
[11] You made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you did not look to him who did it, or see him who planned it long ago.
[12] In that day the Lord GOD of hosts
called for weeping and mourning,
for baldness and wearing sackcloth;
[13] and behold, joy and gladness,
killing oxen and slaughtering sheep,
eating flesh and drinking wine.
“Let us eat and drink,
for tomorrow we die.” (ESV)
(3) Confusion comes in the form of attempting to use counterfeit party and celebration (22:13) to cure the pain of weeping, mourning and baldness (22:12).
(4) Shebna was secretary in 2Kgs 18:37 during the siege of Jerusalem, but he "have cut out here a tomb for yourself" and carved a "dwelling for yourself in the rock" (22:16). Instead of leadership exhibiting courage and responsibility, he focused on building his own legacy, monument and name for himself. Instead of "your glorious chariots" (22:18), the LORD foretold shame, death and demotion (22:15-19).
(5) The replacement, Eliakim the son of Hilkiah (22:20) was "over the household" (2Kings 18:37), sounded promising.
Isaiah 22:20–23 [20] In that day I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, [21] and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your sash on him, and will commit your authority to his hand. And he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. [22] And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. [23] And I will fasten him like a peg in a secure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father’s house. (ESV)
Eliakim was compared to a "peg in a secure place" (22:23), seemingly a strongman. But alas, he would also give way and lose the load on the peg (22:25).
APPLICATION: When human beings gather in big numbers, we hear a continuous roar even when they are just talking or feasting in celebration. We tend to find comfort in big crowds, which at times, do sort of boost our confidence for the moment. But Isaiah sees the real illnesses and their symptoms. Instead of selfish and pleasure-seeking pursuits, inhabitants must strive for self-sacrificial service to others and be committed when the going gets tough. Isaiah's readers looked to the day when God's messenger "shall open, and none shall shut, and he shall shut, and none shall open" (22:22). We rely on the one who is the better "peg" that would not give way.
QT 11/03/2025 星期二. 以赛亚书 22 异象与无异象
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/isa/22
我们能看见未来吗？“异象谷"（22:1）是一种讽刺。在以赛亚的时代，上帝的子民实际上是看不见异象的。
(1）人们在房顶上“充满喧哗，繁嚣、欢乐”（22:1-2），却看不到他们实际上面临着被俘、苦泪和毁灭（22:3-4）。
(2）领袖们 “仰望...武器”（22：8），“数点耶路撒冷的房屋”（22：10），拆毁房屋，以便用瓦砾加固外墙。他们没有仰望耶和华神。领袖们逃跑了，“没有弓箭而被俘掳”（22：3）--他们不是在战斗中被俘虏的，而是在逃亡自救时被俘虏的。
以赛亚书 22:11-13 你们又在两道城墙之间造一个水池，用来盛载旧池的水，你们却不仰望作这事的主，也不顾念远古以来计划这事的 神。 12 到那日，主万军之耶和华叫人哭泣哀号，剃光头发，穿上麻布。13 看哪！人还是欢喜快乐，宰牛杀羊，吃肉喝酒，说：“我们吃喝吧！因为明天我们就要死了。”
(3）混乱的形式来自试图用假冒的聚会和庆祝（22:13）来治疗哭泣、哀悼和愠怒（22:12）的痛苦。
(4) 《列王纪下》18:37 记述，舍伯那在耶路撒冷被围困期间担任秘书，但他为自己“凿坟墓，就是在高处为自己凿坟墓，在磐石中为自己凿出安身之所”（22:16）。他没有表现出领导的勇气和责任感，而是专注于为自己建立遗产、纪念碑和名声。耶和华预言的不是 “华美的战车”（22:18），而是耻辱、死亡和降级（22:15-19）。
(5）接替者是希勒家的儿子以利亚敬（22:20），他 “掌管家务”（王下18:37），听起来很有希望。
以赛亚书 22:20-23 到那日，我必召希勒家的儿子，就是我的仆人以利亚敬来，21 我会把你的外袍给他穿，把你的腰带给他系紧，把你的权柄交在他的手中；他要作耶路撒冷的居民和犹大家的父。22 我必把大卫家的钥匙放在他肩头上；他开了，就没有人能关；他关了，就没有人能开。23 我必坚立他，像钉子钉在稳固的地方；他必作父家荣耀的宝座。
以利亚敬被比作 “像钉子钉在稳固的地方”（22:23），似乎是个强人。但可惜的是，他也会垂下来，失去木桩上的重担（22:25）。
应用：当人类聚集在一起的时候，即使他们只是在聊天、庆祝，我们也能听到持续的喧哗声。我们往往会在大群人中找到安慰，有时，大群人确实会暂时增强我们的“安全感”。但以赛亚却看到了真正的疾病及其症状。居民必须努力为他人提供自我牺牲式的服务，而不是自私自利地追求享乐，并在艰难困苦时坚守承诺。以赛亚的读者期待着有一天上帝的使者 “他开了，就没有人能关；他关了，就没有人能开” 的能力（22:22）。我们所依靠的，是那个不会垂下的、更好的“钉子”。
