QT 18/03/2025 Tue. Isaiah 27. The God who reorders chaos. 重整混乱秩序的神
QT 18/03/2025 Tue. Isaiah 27
READ http://www.esvbible.org/isaiah27
Isaiah 27:1 In that day the LORD with his hard and great and strong sword will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent, Leviathan the twisting serpent, and he will slay the dragon that is in the sea. (ESV)
Leviathan is a sea monster mentioned several times (see Psalms 74:14; 104:26, Job 3:9, 41:4 and here). References to sea as darkness (at a time when the earth was also without form and void, see Genesis 1:2) point to chaos, disorder and the dark side of things. In Job 41:4, the argument there was that no one could gain mastery over the Leviathan except God (Job 41:4).
APPLICATION: God is the sole ruler of the universe. Even though we still see much of evil and destruction before our very eyes in such ways that might prompt us to question God's control in the universe, today's text assures us that evil will not prevail—God will win. Those who are faithful to Him will share in this victory. For this we wait patiently.
From Isaiah 27:2–12, we see the reason that would help us press on—God is passionate for his vineyard.
Isaiah 27:2–3
[2] In that day,
“A pleasant vineyard, sing of it!
[3] I, the LORD, am its keeper;
every moment I water it.
Lest anyone punish it,
I keep it night and day; (ESV)
The picture of "vineyard" was equated to His people (Isaiah 5). Even though the LORD would cleanse His vineyard, the discomfort of the process cannot be compared with the severe punishment of others.
APPLICATION: Be thankful that God's punishment was accompanied by compassion and mercy. Acknowledging the mistake and changing direction towards God's ways would be the way to go.
Isaiah 27:12–13 [12] In that day from the river Euphrates to the Brook of Egypt the LORD will thresh out the grain, and you will be gleaned one by one, O people of Israel. [13] And in that day a great trumpet will be blown, and those who were lost in the land of Assyria and those who were driven out to the land of Egypt will come and worship the LORD on the holy mountain at Jerusalem. (ESV)
The text looked forward to the day when God will do another exodus. This time from both Egypt and Assyria, reminded readers of the necessity of punishment with exile AND restoration of the remnant to continue with God's plan and mission for the world.
APPLICATION: ACKNOWLEDGE personal chaos (of whatever kind that applies to you), ACCEPT responsibility of one's own actions, ACT out God's will and AWAIT the day when God's people will be fully restored and worship Him on the holy mountain (2:2–4; 24:23; 25:6, 10). Even though the fulfilment of this idea must await the end of times, it is also something that we can hope for and shape our lives with every day, today till that day.
QT 18/03/2025 星期二. 以赛亚书 27
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/isa/27
以赛亚书 27:1 到那日，耶和华要施用他锐利、巨大和有力的刀，惩罚鳄鱼，就是那快行的蛇；惩罚鳄鱼，就是那曲行的蛇；并且要杀海中的大龙。
利维坦（新译本翻译为 “鳄鱼”) 是一种海怪，被多次提及（见诗篇 74:14; 104:26, 约伯记 3:9, 41:4 和此处）。海是黑暗的（当时地也没有形状，是虚空的，见创世记 1：2），指向混乱、无序和事物黑暗的一面。《约伯记》中的论点是，除了上帝，没有人能驾驭利维坦（约伯记 41：4）。
应用：上帝是宇宙的唯一主宰。尽管我们眼前仍有许多邪恶和毁灭，可能会让我们质疑上帝对宇宙的掌控，但今天的经文向我们保证，邪恶不会得逞--上帝会得胜。忠于祂的人将分享这一胜利。为此，我们要耐心等待。
从以赛亚书 27：2-12 中，我们看到了帮助我们坚持下去的理由--上帝对他的葡萄园充满热情。
以赛亚书 27：2-3 到那日，有个出酒的葡萄园，你们必指着这园歌唱说：3 “我耶和华是看守葡萄园的；我时刻浇灌着它，并且为免有人毁坏它，我日夜都看守着。
“葡萄园” 的形象等同于祂的子民（以赛亚书第 5 章）。尽管耶和华会洁净祂的葡萄园，但洁净过程中的不适与他人的严厉惩罚不可同日而语。
应用：感谢上帝的惩罚伴随着怜悯和慈悲。承认错误，改变方向，走神的道路，才是正途。
以赛亚书 27:12-13 到那日，耶和华要从幼发拉底的溪流，直到埃及小河，收集他的谷物；以色列人哪！你们必一个一个被捡拾回来。13 到那日，必有大号角吹响，那些在亚述地快要灭亡的，以及那些被赶散在埃及地的，都要前来，在耶路撒冷的圣山上敬拜耶和华。
这段经文期待着有一天上帝会再来一次大迁徙。这一次是从埃及和亚述两地，提醒读者流亡的惩罚和上帝余数子民的恢复是必要的，以便继续上帝对世界的计划和使命。
应用：承认个人的混乱（无论哪种混乱），为自己的行为负责，执行神的旨意，等待神的子民完全恢复并在圣山上敬拜神的那一天（2：2-4；24：23；25：6，10）。虽然这个想法的实现必须等到世界末日，但这也是我们今天、每天所能期待的事情，并且用它来塑造我们的生活，直到那一天。
