QT 23/04/2025 Wed. Isaiah 54. Brief versus Everlasting. 短暂与永恒的对比。
QT 23/04/2025 Wed. Isaiah 54. Brief versus Everlasting.
READ http://www.esvbible.org/isaiah54
The prophet uses the contrast to comfort his audience: the inevitable anger of the LORD should be considered brief, in the light of His everlasting love.
Isaiah 54:7–8 [7] For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. [8] In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD, your Redeemer. (ESV)
The justice of God cannot ignore sin. But here, the prophet stressed the wonder of God’s love’s for His people. Isaiah spoke of the kind of God’s love that would erase his righteous anger of a moment. The LORD is generous in His desire to bless His people.
REFLECTION: Do we seek a full restoration of relationship with God? The prophet’s audience was encouraged to do just that, because the benefits of coming back to the LORD is just so bountiful.
Perhaps some of us have lost the zest and desire to come closer to God. But God had promised and guaranteed of a beautiful future for returnees.
Isaiah 54:9–10 [9] “This is like the days of Noah to me: as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, and will not rebuke you. [10] For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you. (ESV)
Noah’s ark, the Flood and the rainbow subsequent to that substantiated the prophet’s persuasion that the LORD’s anger and total destruction was past. The LORD now has a new wonderful way to restore mankind.
Listeners were now encouraged to enlarge their “tents” (54:2–3) because the number of those who would welcome this message and join this community would be large. In the language of prophetic imagery, the childless wife would be restored to her loving husband, descendants of faith would be numerous, emptiness would now be replaced with fullness and shame would be replaced with honour. The brief anger would now be replaced with God’s everlasting love.
Worship Him in a better way this weekend!
QT 23/04/2025 星期三 以赛亚书 54 短暂与永恒的对比
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/isa/54
先知用这种对比来安慰他的听众：从耶和华永恒的爱来看，耶和华不可避免的愤怒应该被视为短暂的。
以赛亚书 54:7-8 [7] 我只是暂时离弃你，却以极大的怜悯把你招聚回来。8 在怒气涨溢的时候，我暂时向你掩面，却要以永远的慈爱怜悯你；这是耶和华你的救赎主说的。
上帝的公义不能无视罪恶。但在这里，先知强调了上帝之爱的奇妙。以赛亚说，上帝的爱会消除祂一时的义愤。但耶和华慷慨地祝福祂的子民。
反思：我们是否寻求完全恢复与神的关系？先知鼓励听众这样做，因为回归耶和华的益处实在是太丰盛了。
也许我们中的一些人已经失去了亲近上帝的热情和渴望。但神已经应许并保证了回归者的美好未来。
以赛亚书 54:9-10 [9] 这事对我就好像挪亚时代的洪水一般；我怎样起誓不再使挪亚时代的洪水漫过大地，我也照样起誓不向你发怒，也不斥责你。10 虽然大山可以挪开，小山可以迁移，但我的慈爱必不从你身上挪开，我和平的约也必不迁移；这是怜悯你的耶和华说的。
诺亚方舟、洪水和随后的彩虹证实了先知的观点，即耶和华的愤怒和彻底毁灭已经过去。耶和华现在有一个新的奇妙方法来恢复人类。
现在要鼓励听众扩大他们的 “帐棚”（54:2-3），因为欢迎这一信息并加入这一群体的人数会很多。用先知意象的语言来说，没有孩子的妻子将重新回到爱她的丈夫身边，有信心的后裔将为数众多，空虚将被充实所取代，羞耻将被荣誉所取代。短暂的愤怒将被上帝永恒的爱所取代。
这个周末，让我们用更好的方式和态度敬拜神吧！
