QT 19/03/2025 Wed. Isaiah 28. The God who speaks into your situation. 对你的处境说话的上帝。

QT 19/03/2025 Wed. Isaiah 28. The God who speaks into your situation.
READ http://www.esvbible.org/isaiah28

Isaiah 28:1–2
[1] Ah, the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim,
and the fading flower of its glorious beauty,
which is on the head of the rich valley of those overcome with wine!
[2] Behold, the Lord has one who is mighty and strong;
like a storm of hail, a destroying tempest,
like a storm of mighty, overflowing waters,
he casts down to the earth with his hand. (ESV)

The "Ah"s or "Behold" of Isaiah 28–33 began these chapters. This reminded readers that the LORD spoke into the situation of Isaiah's time and called for opened eyes and ears to hear God's message. These laments were intended to prod readers to wake up and know the seriousness of the situation. Both judgment or salvation were inevitable, depending on their choices made. They have to sit up, pay attention and take action now.

Drunkenness, not only with wine, but with the intoxication of "self" and "self-pride" (28:1) likely caused the downfall of Ephraim (the northern kingdom of Israel). Even though flower garlands decorated the heads of her people, these were "fading flowers" that would decay soon enough.

Isaiah 28:5
[5] In that day the LORD of hosts will be a crown of glory,
and a diadem of beauty, to the remnant of his people, (ESV)

If we are open minded and allowed the LORD to speak into our situation, we would escape the fading flowers and wreaths associated with disobedience, but have the garland replaced with someone better—the LORD of hosts Himself as the crown (28:5).

Drunkenness, vomiting and staggering depicted those who refused the Word of God but chose self-trust and consequently death instead (28:7-8). The priests and prophets of Isaiah's time scoffed at his message, comparing them with simple concepts fit only for infants (28:9–10). But God would reciprocate by utilising the "foreign tongue" of the invaders to speak louder into their situation (28:11–12).

APPLICATION: Actually, God's word is simple to understand. Even children can grasps the simple teachings of God (28:13). Relying on "lies" and "falsehoods" (28:15) instead of the LORD God the precious cornerstone and a sure foundation (28:16) would be equivalent to making a covenant with death (28:15). Open our ears and hear God's wise words.

Isaiah 28:29
[29] This also comes from the LORD of hosts;
he is wonderful in counsel
and excellent in wisdom. (ESV)

QT 19/03/2025 星期三. 以赛亚书 28 对你的处境说话的上帝
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/isa/28

以赛亚书 28:1-2 以法莲那些醉汉所戴的高傲冠冕，有祸了！它在肥美谷山顶上的荣美，有祸了！它必如将残的花朵，满了喝醉酒的人。

以赛亚书第 28-33 章希伯来文的 “啊” 或 “看哪” 开始了这几章。这提醒读者，耶和华对以赛亚所处时代的情况说话，呼吁人们睁开眼睛和耳朵聆听上帝的信息。这些哀叹旨在促使读者醒悟，认识到局势的严重性。审判或救赎都是不可避免的，这取决于他们的选择。他们必须振作起来，关注并采取行动。

醉酒，不仅是酒，而且是 “自我” 和 “自傲”（28:1）的陶醉，很可能导致以法莲（以色列北方王国）的灭亡。尽管花环装饰着这国的子民，但这些都是 “凋谢的花朵”，很快就会腐烂。

以赛亚书28：5 到那日，万军之耶和华必作他余民的荣耀冠冕，

如果我们心胸开阔，允许耶和华对我们的处境说话，我们就能摆脱与不顺服有关的凋谢的花朵和花环，而将花环换成更好的--万军之耶和华自己作为冠冕（28:5）。

醉酒、呕吐和踉跄描绘的是那些拒绝上帝的话语，却选择自我信任，最终走向死亡的人（28:7-8）。以赛亚所处时代的祭司和先知对他的信息嗤之以鼻，将其比作只适合婴儿的简单概念（28:9-10）。但上帝会做出回应，反而利用入侵者的 “外语” 对他们的处境发出更响亮的声音（28：11-12）。

应用：其实，上帝的话语简单易懂。即使是孩童也能领会上帝简单的教导（28:13）。依靠 “谎言” 和 “假话”（28:15），而不是耶和华上帝这块宝贵的房角石和稳固的根基（28:16），就等于与死亡立约（28:15）。请打开我们的耳朵，聆听上帝智慧的话语。

以赛亚书 28:29 做饼的谷粒怎么要碾碎的呢？从来没有人碾碎它们，虽然他让车轮和马匹辊过谷粒，却不会把他们碾碎。29 这也是出于万军之耶和华，他的谋略奇妙，他的智慧广大。