Scripture Reading : Isaiah 28
Theme : Jesus the Cornerstone
Drunken People (1-13). The people were enslaved by alcohol. It was a crown of shame, but they thought it was a crown of glory. When Jesus appears, He will show them His true crown of glory in righteousness. Even the priests, the teachers of the Torah, were often drunk. They even taught the people while drunk. Because of this, God will speak to the nation in foreign tongues. This is fulfilled in the early days of the church (1 Cor. 14:21-22). The gift of tongues is to show unbelievers of the true of the gospel. When an unbeliever hears a foreigner, who has never learned his language, preaching the gospel in his own language, he will know that this message is from God.
Jesus the Cornerstone (14-29). God will deliver Israel through Jesus, the cornerstone. Those who reject Him will be crushed. Those who trust in Him will be saved. It is Jesus who will annul the covenant of death that Israel will sign with the antichrist (Daniel 9:27). God’s plan may look strange to the Jews, but it is the best way. Just as God teaches farmers the best way to farm, so Jews must trust God that this is the best way to redeem Israel and the world.
Praying the Scripture
- It is important to trust in God’s plan. He is all-wise, which means He knows how to accomplish something, i.e. redemption of Israel and the world, in the best way. Do not be arrogant and think God’s plan for the world is wrong or that He does not know how to run His world. Pray that you will trust God when you do not fully understand His way. For His ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). God is far superior in intellect and morality when compared to lowly and sinful humans.
- All things are lawful, including wine, but not all things are beneficial (1 Cor. 10:23). The Jews abused their freedom and became enslaved by wine. Examine yourself and pray that you do not let anything enslave you, even good things like school, family, job or children. All things must be handled according to God’s word and never let anything replace God in your heart. Your highest joy must be from contentment in God.
经文：以赛亚书28
主题：房角石耶稣
醉徒（1-13）。人们已经成了作酒奴。他们以为那是荣耀的冠冕，却不知戴上的是羞耻。当耶稣显现时，祂会向众人显出自己公义的真是荣耀之冠。即便是教导托拉的祭司也经常喝醉。他们甚至醉酒时教导人。因此，神会用异邦口舌向以色列说话。这在教会成立的初期应验了（林前14:21-22）。说方言恩赐的目的是要向非信徒显明福音是真实的。当一个不信主的听到从来不说自己语言的外邦人用自己的语言向自己传福音，他就能晓得这个信息乃出于神。
方角石耶稣（14-29）。神会借着方角石耶稣搭救以色列。凡拒绝祂的会被压碎，但信靠祂的必要得救。耶稣是废掉死亡的那一位；那是以色列将与敌基督者同立的约（但9:27）。神的计划或许在犹太人看来很奇怪，但这是最好的方式。就如神教导农夫耕田的最佳方式，犹太人也必须要相信神，知道这是搭救以色列和全世界的最佳方式。
用经文祷告
- 相信神的计划是重要的。祂是全智的，也就是说祂晓得成事的最佳方式，即以色列和全世界的拯救。不要自大，以为神对世人的计划有误，或甚至认为祂不晓得如何治理祂的世界，因为神的道路高过我们的道路，祂的意念高过我们的意念（赛55:8-9）。论智慧和道德，神可是远超过卑微和罪恶的人类。
- 凡事都可以，包括饮酒，但不都有益处（林前10:23）。犹太人滥用了他们的自由，结果成了酒奴。要察验自己，祷告自己不会作任何事物的奴隶，包括好的东西如课业、家庭、事业或孩子。凡事都要按神的话而行，不让任何事物取代神在你心中的位置。你最大的喜乐必由在神里面的满足而得。
