QT 16/04/2025 Wed. Isaiah 48. Former things, new things, purposeful things and teachings. 先前的事、新事、有目的的事、教导的事。
QT 16/04/2025 Wed. Isaiah 48. Former things, new things, purposeful things and teachings.
READ http://www.esvbible.org/isaiah48
Isaiah 48:3 “The former things I declared of old; they went out from my mouth, and I announced them; then suddenly I did them, and they came to pass. (ESV)
The “former things” (48:1–5) point to what God had declared from ancient times (48:3,5). When these declarations come to pass, the world would know who is powerful and God over all of creation, including all of history.
Isaiah 48:6 “You have heard; now see all this; and will you not declare it? From this time forth I announce to you new things, hidden things that you have not known. (ESV)
The text then proceeded to “new things” (48:6–12), things that the audience have not heard before. Surprisingly, the LORD had deferred His anger (48:9) and refrained from cutting them off forever. However, the reason was not because of the exemplary conduct of the people—they were in fact treacherous in inclination (48:8). The LORD had done it for His own sake and glory (48:11).
Next came the “purposeful things” (48:13–16).
Isaiah 48:14 “Assemble, all of you, and listen! Who among them has declared these things? The LORD loves him; he shall perform his purpose on Babylon, and his arm shall be against the Chaldeans. (ESV)
The LORD’s purpose was to declare publicly (not in secret) His purpose all along, that through His prophet and His Spirit, The LORD would accomplish His eternal purpose.
Isaiah 48:17 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. (ESV)
Lastly, Isaiah 48 concluded with the “teaching things” (48:17–22). The LORD declared that He is a God that is Holy, and teaches His worshipers for real profit, not fake ones. There would be the right way, peace and posterity (48:17–19). The redemption of Jacob (His people) would result in such joy and proclamations “to the end of the earth” (48:20).
REFLECTION: How would the above enable you to worship God better this week, especially after receiving so much of what He had done for you?
QT 16/04/2025 星期三 以赛亚书 48. 先前的事、新事、有目的的事、教导的事。
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/isa/48
以赛亚书 48：3 主说：“先前的事，我从古时就预言过了，已经从我的口里说出来了，又说给人听了；我忽然行事，事情就都成就了。
“先前的事”（48:1-5）指的是上帝自古以来所宣告的（48:3, 5）。当这些宣告成真时，世人就会知道谁是大能者，谁是掌管一切造物（包括历史）的神。
以赛亚书 48：6 你已经听见了，现在要注意这一切事。难道你不述说吗？从今以后，我要把新的事，就是你不知道的隐秘的事，告诉你。
接着，这段经文讲到了 “新事”（48:6-12），即听众以前没有听说过的事。令人惊讶的是，耶和华推迟了祂的愤怒（48：9），没有永远地将他们斩尽杀绝。然而，这并不是因为这些人的行为堪称楷模--事实上，他们都有背信弃义的倾向（48：8）。耶和华这样做是为了祂自己的缘故和荣耀（48：11）。
接下来是 “有目的的事”（48：13-16）。
以赛亚书 48:14 列国啊！你们都要集合起来听。他们中间有谁预言过这些事呢？耶和华爱他，他必向巴比伦行他所喜悦的；他的膀臂也必击打迦勒底人。
耶和华的目的是公开（而非秘密）宣告祂一直以来的目的，即通过祂的先知和祂的灵，耶和华要成就祂永恒的目的。
以赛亚书 48：17 耶和华你的救赎主，以色列的圣者，这样说：‘我是耶和华你的 神，是教导你，使你得益处的，是在你当行的道路上引导你的。
最后，以赛亚书第 48 章以 “教导”的事（48:17-22）作结。耶和华宣称，祂是圣洁的神，祂教导敬拜祂的人是为了真正的利益，而不是虚假的利益。会有正确的道路、和平和子孙后代（48：17-19）。雅各（祂的子民）的救赎将带来 “直到地极 ”的喜乐和赞美（48：20）。
反思：本周，特别是在接受了神为你所做的这么多之后，上述内容将如何使你更好地敬拜神？
