Scripture Reading : Isaiah 30
Theme : Do not Go Down to Egypt
Warning not to Trust Egypt (1-17). God had commanded the Jews in Deuteronomy 17:16 not to return to Egypt. Egypt stands for things of this world that attracts people but will enslave and destroy them. God does not want the Jews to trust in Egypt for protection, but to trust God alone. If the Jews trust Egypt, their loyalty will be with Egypt and their idols, not with God. If Israel does not trust in God, but in Egypt, they will surely be defeated and captured. By disobeying God, they will receive the very punishment they sought to avoid.
Compassion of God (18-33). God promises that even if this generation of Israel, and subsequent generations, disobey God, God will punish them, but God will continue to keep His promise to have compassion on Israel and deliver her from spiritual death one day. Israel will see their Messiah, the Teacher, face to face in the Messianic Kingdom. God again mentions He will defeat the Assyrians and their king, which are foreshadows of end times antichrist and his army.
Praying the Scripture
- God loves us and wants us to love Him by obeying His commandments, just as He loves the Jews and wants them to love Him by obeying His commandments. God’s law is a path to spiritual well-being. God’s law cannot save us because we cannot be perfect or earn righteousness from the law. We can only be saved by Jesus’ sacrifice. But God’s law is still relevant to us as a guide to lead us to spiritual well-being and safety. The law also shows us how to please our God for the purpose of thanking Him, not trying to save ourselves. Even though the Mosaic Law is no longer binding to Christians, for it was given to the nation of Israel not to the church, however, the principles in the Mosaic Law is still applicable to us. Sabbath is not binding, but the principle of resting for one day and to worship God on your rest day is good and should be followed. Pray that God will give you wisdom and desire to obey Him more and more.
经文：以赛亚书30
主题：不要与埃及一同糟害
告诫以色列不要靠埃及（1-17）。神曾经在申命记17:16命令犹太人不要回到埃及地。埃及代表的是能吸引世人，却要捆绑并消灭他们的事。神不愿犹太人投靠埃及的荫下，乃要他们唯独信靠神。倘若犹太人投靠埃及，他们必忠于埃及与埃及地的偶像，悖逆神。倘若以色列不投靠神，却相信埃及，他们必然会战败，且作俘虏。由于他们悖逆神，他们会承受自己试着逃避的惩罚。
神的怜悯（18-33）。神承诺即便以色列的那一代及后代悖逆神并受到神的惩罚，神会依然履行祂的承诺，怜悯以色列，最后救她脱离属灵灭亡。以色列会在弥赛亚国度里再次见到他们的弥赛亚，与他们的师傅面对面。祂会击败亚述人及他们的王，也就是末日敌基督者与他军队的预示。
用经文祷告
- 神爱我们，并愿意我们能爱祂，遵行祂的诫命，如祂爱犹太人一样，要他们藉着遵行祂的诫命爱神。神的律例是灵性安康的道路。神的律例不能搭救我们，因为我们不能因此作完全人或取得公义；我们只能凭耶稣的牺牲得救。然而，神的律法仍与我们相关，能引导我们走向灵性安康的道路。律法也告诉我们如何能凭感谢的心讨神的喜悦；其目的不在拯救自己。由于摩西律法是给予以色列而不是教会的，所以基督徒不在摩西律法之下。虽然如此，摩西律法的原则仍是我们要遵行的。我们无须守安息日，但休息一日以敬拜神的原则是好的，也是我们当遵行的。祷告神会赐你智慧和渴望，愈发听从神的话。
