QT 30/03/2025 Sun. Isaiah 35. The return of the bright future. 光明未来的回归.

QT 30/03/2025 Sun. Isaiah 35. The return of the bright future.
READ http://www.esvbible.org/isaiah35

Isaiah 35:2 it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God. (ESV)

In contrast with Isaiah 34, we see in Isaiah 35 a desert turning into a garden. With such a beautiful ending, Isaiah 35 ends the teachings regarding the nations and God’s sovereignty over them (see Isaiah 13–35). Despite all the lengthy words in these chapters, the issues are straight-forward and not too difficult for anyone (whatever educational level) to deal with:-

(1) The arrogant humanity cannot sustain itself before the Creator God; and

(2) When humanity (regardless of when they lived in history) seek to live without God and attempts to build our own system, the consequence would be that humanity sins and would suffer the ultimate consequence of death.

On the other hand, it is blessed to see the glory of the LORD (35:2). This theme of glory is present throughout the book. As God has created humans in His image, it is not surprising that God would gladly share His glory of His creation with humanity. Humans must not make the same mistakes of their ancestors (e.g. Adam and Eve, Tower of Babel episodes) who created their own brand of glory apart from God.

As mentioned in Isaiah 29:17, 32:15 and 33:9, Lebanon and its abundant cedars as well as Mount Carmel's rich plain of Sharon at its foot were deployed as the usual symbols of the land's abundance. The exhortation of Isaiah was that if the readers wished to begin to understand the greatness of God's promises, they would just have to look at the wilderness and dry land (35:1) turning to fruitful land.

Readers are told that nothing is impossible with God, who can revive the human heart. The revival of the blind and deaf (35:5), the rewatering of the wilderness (35:6) and the change of ways for humans (35:8) and even animals (35:9) would bring rejoicing and gladness to the remnant of the LORD's people (35:10).

Readers are called to read, digest and believe in the LORD for the future. Would you do that today?

QT 30/03/2025 星期日 以赛亚书 35 光明未来的回归
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/isa/35

以赛亚书 35:2 必茂盛地开花，大大快乐，并且欢呼。黎巴嫩的荣耀、迦密和沙仑的华美也赐给它；人们必看见耶和华的荣耀、我们　神的华美。

与以赛亚书第 34 章形成对比的是，我们在以赛亚书第 35 章中看到沙漠变成了花园。以赛亚书第 35 章以这样一个美丽的结尾结束了关于列国和上帝对它们的主权的教导（见以赛亚书 13-35 章）。尽管这几章文字冗长，但问题直截了当，任何人（无论教育水平如何）都不难处理

(1) 傲慢的人类在造物主上帝面前无法自立；以及

(2) 当任何时代的人类都在寻求没有上帝的生活，并试图建立我们自己的体系时，其后果将是人类犯罪，并将遭受死亡的终极后果。

另一方面，看见耶和华的荣耀是有福的（35：2）。荣耀这一主题贯穿全书。既然上帝按照自己的形象创造了人类，那么上帝乐意与人类分享他创造的荣耀也就不足为奇了。人类决不能重蹈祖先的覆辙（如亚当和夏娃、巴别塔事件），在上帝之外创造自己的荣耀。

以赛亚书 29:17、32:15 和 33:9 中提到，黎巴嫩及其丰富的雪松，以及卡梅尔山脚下富饶的沙仑平原，都是这片土地富饶的象征。以赛亚的劝勉是，如果读者希望理解上帝应许的伟大，他们只需看看旷野和干地（35:1）变成了丰饶之地。

读者被告知，在上帝面前没有什么是不可能的，他能使人的心灵复苏。瞎子和聋子的复兴（35：5），旷野的重新灌溉（35：6），人类（35：8）甚至动物（35：9）的改变，都会给耶和华的余民（35：10）带来欢欣和喜乐。

读者需要阅读、消化并相信耶和华所安排的未来。你今天会这样做吗？