Scripture Reading : Isaiah 6
Theme : Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord
Sin in Light of Holiness (1-7). Isaiah thought he was a good person, especially in light of all the wicked people around him. But when he saw the perfection of God, he realized his sinfulness and knew that he deserved not God’s commendation, but God’s judgment. Just as blemishes on your skin is hard to see in the dark but easy to detect in the light, so sin is also hard to see when comparing to other sinners in this dark world, but easy to detect in light of God’s perfect character as reflected in His law. The Law of God humbled Isaiah and he humbly asked for forgiveness and God graciously washed away his guilt. The burning coal symbolizes Jesus who will take away the guilt of repentant and humble people.
Obedience in Light of Forgiveness (8-13). After Isaiah’s guilt was washed away, he desired to serve God by being His messenger. The message to the Jews is not a pleasant one, it is a message of judgment on their sins. Because they persistently rejected God’s clear messenger to correct them, and even taunted God, God will judge them by giving them over to their sins and by hardening their hearts. This hardening does not mean the Jews had wanted to seek God but God hardened their heart so that they won’t seek Him. They were hard-hearted already, this hardening is God’s judicious punishment on their hard hearts. God hides from them (8:17). Jesus uses this same type of judicious punishment on the Pharisees who persistently rejected Jesus’ clear message and even tried to kill Him (Mark 4:12). Because of their great sins, God’s eternal punishment has been decreed on these people, even before they die (kind of like the unforgiveable sin in Matt. 12:31). God prophesizes that He will hide from the Jews until the end times when their cities will be wasted by invading armies (Zech 14:2). When that time comes, God will pour out His Spirit and graciously save the Jewish nation (Zech. 12:10).
Praying the Scripture
- If a person still believes she is a good person, then she must be humbled by the law of God. Without such humility she cannot embrace Jesus with thankfulness. When we share the gospel we need to humble proud people with the law first before giving them the message of forgiveness of sin in Jesus. Pray that God will humble unbelievers through the law and open their hearts to embrace Jesus on account of His love.
- To have faith in God is to be committed to Him as your Lord, Master, King. One cannot receive Jesus as a savior but not as Lord. Faith in God means commitment to God. This commitment will naturally result in obedience and service to God. Of course, our obedience does not save us because we can never be perfect or pay our fine with good work, just as a murderer cannot pay his death sentence with some good work. Our obedience can never save us, it is our faith in Jesus’ perfect righteousness for us that saves us. Faith leads us to walk on the path of God, and away the path of sin. Even though we are imperfect, often trip, fall or veer to the left or right, but our faith in God will always correct our waywardness by leading us back to the cross for forgiveness and for strength to love Him, hate sin, and serve God on account of Jesus.
经文：以赛亚书 6
主题：圣哉，圣哉，圣哉，主耶和华
在圣洁的光照中看待罪（1-7）。当以赛亚处在恶人之中，他以为自己是个好人。可是，当他看到神的完美之时，他省悟自己有罪，并晓得自己不配得到神的称赞，乃要受到神的审判。犹如皮肤上的瑕疵在黑暗中难以发现，却都在光线中曝光，当我们在这黑暗的世界里与其他罪人相比时，我们也很难发觉罪的存在，却可在神完美属性的光照下清楚看见，如律法所反映的。神的律法使以赛亚谦卑，而他虚心地求神饶恕，祈求神以恩典洗尽祂的罪。红炭象征的是耶稣——凡肯悔改并愿意谦卑的，祂都会除尽他们的罪。
因得饶恕的谦卑顺服（8-13）。以赛亚的罪洗尽后，他渴望作神的使者侍奉祂。以赛亚要向犹太人传达的信息并不受欢迎，因为他要宣告他们必因罪受到刑罚。由于他们执意拒绝神的使者，不愿改正，甚至还嘲讽神，所以神要施行审判，任凭他们犯罪，使他们的心刚硬。这种刚硬并非犹太人想寻求神却遭拒绝，叫他们寻不见。他们的心已经是刚硬的，而这种刚硬乃是神永久的审判。神对他们要掩面不顾（8:17）。对于执意拒绝耶稣明确信息，甚至图谋杀害祂的法利塞人，耶稣也下了相同的审判（可4:12）。因着他们深重的罪孽，神永恒的审判已临到这些还未离世之人（犹如马太福音12:31中不得赦免的罪）。神预言祂将对犹太人掩面不顾，直到末日时，当他们的城将被敌军攻击，成为废墟（撒14:2）。到了那日，神会将祂的灵浇灌大卫家和耶路撒冷的居民，施恩拯救他们（撒12:10）。
用经文祷告
- 倘若有人还自认为自己是好人，他就必须在神的律法下谦卑。若无这样的心，他是无法凭着感恩接受耶稣。当我们分享福音信息时，我们必须先用律法使骄傲之人谦卑，然后告诉他们耶稣饶恕罪的大能。祈求神能借着律法谦卑非信徒，并因着耶稣的爱敞开他们的心接受祂。
- 信靠神就是委身于神作你的主，你的王。人是不能接受耶稣为救君，却不认祂作主。信靠神就是委身于神，而这委身自然会使你顺服、侍奉神。当然，我们的顺服绝不能使我们得救，因为我们是无法凭着公德作完美的人或偿还罪债，就像杀人犯是无法凭一些好行为免去死刑一样。我们的顺服是绝对不能救我们的；拯救我们的是信靠耶稣赐予我们的完全公义。信心使我们走在神的道路上，远离开罪。虽然我们不是完美的，还会时常会跌倒，或偏左右，但我们在神里面的信心总会把我们领回到十字架，求神因着耶稣饶恕我们，使我们有能力爱祂、恨罪，并侍奉神。
