QT 28/04/2025 Mon. Isaiah 57. Persevere, though forgotten. 坚持不懈，尽管被遗忘。
QT 28/04/2025 Mon. Isaiah 57. Persevere, though forgotten.
READ http://www.esvbible.org/isaiah57
The disappearance of the righteous from the society of Isaiah’s time went unnoticed.
Isaiah 57:1–2 Israel’s Futile Idolatry
[1] The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity; [2] he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness. (ESV)
This perishing of the righteous had been interpreted as the result of persecution by evil members of the society (45:3–13)—the righteous decreases in number as a result. In addition, this reduction in number might also be the result of The LORD rescuing the righteous out of a hopeless situation, a situation ripe for the judgment of God to take place.
REFLECTION: Is the present society similar? Do influential members of society go on their own ways using their positions to secure for themselves increasing comfort and pleasure, yet do not find real satisfaction? One by one, the righteous disappear. How would God’s people continue to function as His servants through whom the light of the Servant would come to the world?
Isaiah 57:14–15 Comfort for the Contrite
[14] And it shall be said, “Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people’s way.” [15] For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. (ESV)
Here God showed what He would do for those who take refuge under His protection and power. The false gods would not be able to save themselves, let alone the people (57:13).
APPLICATION: Return to God. Isaiah 40–55 highlights the physical return from exile in the East. However, the language of “return” also points to the need to return to God.
The end result of this return to God is being at peace with God.
Isaiah 57:19–21 [19] creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the LORD, “and I will heal him. [20] But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. [21] There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” (ESV)
When the sinful world is reconciled to God, there is peace. God and His people are no longer divided—all obstacles would be removed. With peace achieved, God can start the process of healing and restoration.
Ephesians 2:17–18 [17] And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. [18] For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. (ESV)
Today, we possibly see clearer as we live in the era after Jesus Christ’s works on the cross. This peace was realised through the work of Christ, the true Servant. What’s left for worshippers today is to return, be reconciled and find peace in The LORD through Jesus Christ.
QT 28/04/2025 星期一. 以赛亚书 57. 坚持不懈，尽管被遗忘。
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/isa/57
义人从以赛亚所处时代的社会中消失，却没有引起人们的注意。
以赛亚书 57:1-2 以色列徒劳的偶像崇拜
[1] 义人死亡，没有人放在心上；虔诚人去世，也没有人明白；义人去世，是脱离了祸患。[2] 行事为人正直的，死后必得进入平安，在他们的坟墓里享安息。
义人的灭亡被解释为社会邪恶成员迫害的结果（45:3-13）--义人的数量因此而减少。此外，人数的减少也可能是耶和华将义人从无望的境况中拯救出来的结果，这种境况已经成熟，可以进行神的审判了。
反思：现在的社会是否也是如此？社会上有影响力的人是否会各行其是，利用自己的地位为自己谋取越来越多的舒适和快乐，但这些并没有得到真正的满足？义人一个接一个地消失。上帝的子民将如何继续充当他的仆人，让仆人的光照耀世界？
以赛亚书 57：14-15 对悔改者的安慰
14 必有人说：“你们要填高，要填高，要修平道路；把障碍物从我子民的路上除掉。” 15 因为那至高无上、永远存在、他名为圣的这样说：“虽然我住在至高至圣的地方，却与心灵痛悔和谦卑的人同在，要使谦卑人的灵苏醒，也使痛悔人的心苏醒。
在这里，神展示了祂会为那些在祂的保护和能力下避难的人做些什么。假神连自己都救不了，更不用说百姓了（57:13）。
应用：回归上帝。以赛亚书 40-55 章强调了从东方流放地的实际回归。然而，“回归”的语言也指出了回归上帝的必要性。
回归上帝的最终结果是与上帝和平相处。
以赛亚书 57:19-21 [19] 我创造嘴唇的果子：平安，平安，归给远处的人，也归给近处的人。”耶和华说：“我要医治他。”20 恶人却像翻腾的海，不能平静，海中的水不住翻起污秽和淤泥来。21 我的 神说：“恶人必没有平安。”
当罪恶的世人与上帝和好时，就会有平安。上帝和祂的子民不再分裂--所有障碍都将消除。有了和平，神就可以开始医治和恢复的过程。
以弗所书 2:17-18 [17] 并且他来把和平的福音传给你们在远处的人，也给在近处的人。18 我们双方都借着他，在同一位圣灵里，可以进到父面前。
今天，我们可能看得更清楚，因为我们生活在耶稣基督十字架之后的时代。这平安是通过基督--真正的仆人--的工作实现的。对于今天的敬拜者来说，剩下的就是通过耶稣基督回到耶和华里面，与耶和华和好，在耶和华里面找到平安。
