Scripture Reading : Isaiah 1
Theme : God’s Charge against His People
Isaiah was a prophet to Judah, the southern kingdom, from the time of Uzziah to Hezekiah (ca. 739-686 B.C.). During Uzziah’s rule, Judah became strong militarily and economically. But it was in a spiritual stupor. God sends Isaiah to rebuke the unbelievers and to encourage the believers. As a nation, it never recovered from its idolatry but continued to sin. Like most prophets, Isaiah’s message is about the sin of Israel and how God will put an end to sin once and for all through the Messiah. Isaiah’s contemporaries were Micah and Hosea. Based on tradition, Isaiah was killed by the evil king Manasseh,
God’s Charge (1-9). God charges Judah with rebellion and idolatry. It is compared to Sodom and Gomorrah, the proverbial wickedness of the day. Modern equivalent would be Geylang, but 100 times worse. As result, the whole nation is sick spiritually and physically. If it were not for the grace of God, the whole nation would be completely wiped out. By God’s grace, only a remnant will survive.
God’s Offer (10-31). God offers Judah, especially the leaders, to reconcile with Him by turning away from idols (practiced under oaks and in gardens, v. 29) and empty rituals, and start worshipping Him. When they worship Him, they ought also to turn away from evil: murder, apathy toward the defenseless, lust, jealous, stealing, bribery and etc. If they do not repent, then they are God’s enemies, not part of His covenantal community.
Praying the Scripture
- God’s law makes it clear that we are all sinners. We have all lied, stolen, hated people, lusted, been jealous, and desired idols in our heart. All these sins requires punishment from a righteous God. Sin does not just bring about the righteous punishment of God, but it causes us to be estranged from the Creator of the universe who can answer our prayers and guide us in this chaotic world. It is indeed sad to forsake God and worship idols that cannot speak. May we be faithful to bring a message about both the righteous judgment of God and the grace of God to forgive sins and to guide them in this trouble world.
- The leaders of a spiritual community are the gatekeepers of the community. When the leaders of the Israel became corrupt, the whole nation became corrupt. This is why God heavily emphasizes the spiritual qualification of church leaders in 1 Tim. 3:1-13 and Titus 1:5-9. Churches with spiritually corrupt leaders are doomed and will be judged by Christ. Jesus warned the seven churches in Revelation 2-3 of their sins. Let us pray that God will open the eyes of false religious leaders and followers, including prosperity gospel churches, so that they will forsake their false, evil teachings. Pray for God to vindicate His glorious name that is being slandered by these false teachers and Christians. There is a day of reckoning for the unrepentant.
经文：以赛亚书1
主题：神指控祂的子民
以赛亚是在南国犹大从乌西亚至希西家作王时（公元前739-686年）作先知的。犹大在乌西亚的统治下虽然成为军事强大、经济繁荣之国，但灵里却是黑暗的。神差以赛亚责备非信徒，同时也鼓励信主的。犹大从没离开她的偶像，执意犯罪。如其他的先知一样，以赛亚的信息是关乎以色列的罪，并神将如何借着弥赛亚彻底除尽罪孽。与以赛亚一同作先知的有弥迦和何西阿。以赛亚据说是被玛拿西这位恶毒的王所害。
神的指控（1-9）。神控告犹大悖逆祂，转拜偶像。犹大好比历代最邪恶的所多玛和蛾摩拉一样。她犹如现代的芽笼，只是行恶百倍。因此，全国在灵性与物质上是残缺的。若不是神的恩典，全国将完全遭毁灭。借着神的恩典，只有剩余的子民能存活。
神的供予（10-31）。神给予犹大与祂和好的机会，尤其是犹大领袖，并劝他们离弃偶像和虚浮的礼仪，开始敬拜祂。当他们敬拜神的时候，他们也当离开罪恶，即杀人、对无助之人的冷漠，心存私欲、妒忌、贿赂等。他们若不悔改，便是神的敌人，不属与神盟约的群体。
用经文祷告
- 神的律法清楚说明我们都是罪人。我们都曾说谎、偷窃、憎恨他人、妒忌别人并心里有偶像。这些罪都当受到公义之神的审判。罪不但使神降临祂公义的审判，还造成我们与宇宙万物的创造主有隔阂，而这位主乃是聆听祷告，在混乱世界里引导我们的主。离弃神敬拜不能说话的偶像确实很可悲。愿我们能同时忠心地传扬神公义的审判和饶恕罪的恩典，在这多灾多难的世界里作他们的引导。
- 属灵群体的领袖是群体的守望者。当以色列的领袖变得腐败时，全国也跟着腐败。这就是神为何在提摩太前书3:1-3那么强调教会领袖必须有的灵性资格。教会的领袖若灵里腐败，教会必然会受到基督的审判。耶稣曾在启示录2-3警告那七所教会她们所犯的罪。让我们祷告神会开启假宗教领导与跟随者的眼睛，包括致福福音教会的，叫他们能离弃他们虚假、邪恶的教导。祈求神维护祂自己荣耀的名，免受假教师和信徒的诋毁。不愿悔改的人总有一日必受审判。
