Scripture Reading : Isaiah 22
Theme : Oracle Concerning Jerusalem
Rebuke for Celebration (1-14). Israel celebrated a miraculous victory over their enemies. This occasion is probably referring to the miraculous victory over the Assyrians in Isaiah 36-37 because Shebna and Eliakim are also mentioned there. God rebukes the Jews because they should have been mourning over their sins. They nearly died because of God’s judgement on their sins. They should not rejoice but should repent and find everlasting salvation in God’s mercy.
Rebuke for Lack of Servant Leadership (15-25). Shebna, second in command of Judah, tried to immortalize himself by building a grand tomb for himself. For this arrogance, God will judge him. He will not be immortalized, but will died in a foreign country in shame. God punishes the sinful leader in order to correct the people also. Pride trickles down from the top.
Praying the Scripture
- Proverb 27:2 states, “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” Matthew 23:12 states, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Pray that you will be truly humble by not praising yourself and by thinking of others as more important than yourself (Phil. 2:3).
- If you have not repented of your sins, do not rejoice, but mourn and cry out to God for mercy and to change your heart. Do not celebrate until God changes your heart. Ecclesiastes 7:3, “Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of face the heart is made glad.”
经文：以赛亚书22
主题：论耶路撒冷的默示
对欢庆的斥责（1-14）。以色列奇迹般地胜过了她的仇敌，因此欢庆快乐。这或许指的是以赛亚书36-37章所记载对亚述的神奇胜利，因为那里也提到舍伯那和以利亚敬二人。神斥责犹太人，因为他们当为自己的罪哭泣哀号。他们因着神对他们罪的审判差点儿丧命。他们不应该欢喜，乃要悔改，并在神的怜悯中寻找永恒的救赎。
对虚心领导之缺的斥责（15-25）。犹大的副指挥舍伯那曾经为自己凿堂皇的坟墓，想要名垂千古。神会因着他的傲慢审判他。他不会留下美名，乃要在异国蒙羞死去。神惩罚罪恶的领袖，使子民以儆效尤。骄傲是从上层流至下方的。
用经文祷告
- 箴言27:2写道：“要别人夸奖你，不可用口自夸；等外人称赞你，不可用嘴自称。”马太福音23:12也写道：“凡自高的，必降为卑；自卑的，必升为高。”祷告我们能真实谦卑自己，不凭自夸，乃看别人比自己强（腓2:3）。
- 你若还未悔改罪孽，不要欢喜，乃要向神哀号哭泣，祈求怜悯，心意能更新。不要欢庆，直到神改变了你的心。传道书7:3说：“忧愁强如喜笑，因为面带愁容终必使心喜乐。”
