Scripture Reading : Isaiah 29
Theme : Siege of Jerusalem and Liberation
Siege of Jerusalem (1-8). Ariel means Lion of God, referring to Jerusalem. In the end times, Jerusalem will be sieged and leveled, but later on, the surrounding nations that will have attacked Jerusalem will be destroy itself. Again, this is a repeated theme in the OT. It agrees with Zechariah 12:2, “Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah.”
No One Listens (9-16). God predicts that the nation of Israel will not listen to God until the end times. They will continue to pay lip service to God, but their hearts will be far from Him. Jesus applied this prediction to the Pharisees of His day (Matt. 15:7-9). Every generation of Jews will worship God with empty rituals until Christ comes back. They sin because they think they can hide their sins from God.
Future Glory (17-24). The spiritual blindness of Israel will be healed in the future. There will be a huge reversal of Israel’s condition because they will truly worship God and be in awe of Him. All the wicked people of Israel will perish but those who trust God will remain.
Praying the Scripture
- God understands everything about us, even more than we understand ourselves. Before a word is formed on our lips, God already knows what we will say (Ps. 139:4). Do not try to hide anything from God, but rather examine your hearts and see if you are hiding any sins from God. Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!” Pray that you will be honest with God and ask Him to forgive your sins and ask God to change your sinful desires.
经文：以赛亚书29
主题：耶路撒冷的围困和解放
耶路撒冷的围困（1-8）。亚利伊勒意思是神之狮子，指的是耶路撒冷。末日时，耶路撒冷将被围困，夷为平地，但过后，攻击耶路撒冷的邻国也将遭毁灭。这又是旧约一个重复性的主题。撒迦利亚书12:2也说：“我必使耶路撒冷被围困的时候，向四围列国的民成为令人昏醉的杯，这默示也论到犹大。”
无人听劝（9-16）。神直白地说以色列不会听从神的劝告，直到末日。他们只会继续用嘴唇尊敬神，心却远离祂。耶稣将此应用在祂年代的法利赛人身上（太15:7-9）。每一代的犹太人将以空虚的礼仪敬拜神，直到基督回来为止。他们犯罪，因为他们以为自己可以向神隐藏自己的罪孽。
未来的荣耀（17-24）。以色列的灵性盲目未来将得到医治。以色列的境遇将完全翻转过来，因为他们会诚心敬拜神，从心敬畏耶和华。所有作恶的以色列人将被灭绝，但信靠神的必存活。
用经文祷告
- 神晓得我们的一切，甚至比我们更了解自己。我们舌头上的话，神没有一句是不知道的（诗139:4）。不要试着向神隐瞒任何事，乃要察验自己的心，看自己是否向神隐藏任何罪。诗篇139:23-24说：“神啊，求你鉴察我，知道我的心思；试炼我，知道我的意念。看在我里面有什么恶行没有，引导我走永生的道路。”祷告自己会与神坦诚，祈求祂赦免你的罪，改变你罪恶的私欲。
