Scripture Reading : Isaiah 9:1-10:4
Theme : The God-man Jesus
Future Deliverance through Messiah (1-7). Even though Judah will be in anguish because of God’s judgment on account of their sins, in the end times, she will blossom because the Messiah will be born and minister in Galilee (Matt. 4:15-16). This Messiah will deliver them from the end times King of Assyria when He returns, like in the day of Midian (Is. 10:26, Judges 8:25, Micah 5:2-6). This Messiah will be, astonishingly, both human and God. Jesus is the promised Davidic King who will forever rule the world (2 Sam. 7:13).
Humbling of Arrogant Israel (8-21). In the meantime, God promises to punish the gross pride and sins of Israel, the northern kingdom. The whole society is full of injustice, bloodshed, greed, oppression, and lies. Even the lowly are wicked. Then all that they have lived for—money, will be useless to them when they are dead or enslaved. This warning against Israel serves also as a warning to Judah, the southern kingdom, not to follow Israel’s idolatry and destruction.
Praying the Scripture
- When we see God’s harsh judgment against Israel, we must understand that God has no pleasure in seeing sinners judged (Eze. 18:23), but it does vindicate His justice. Also, God puts an end to these sinners because He is grieved by their gross sins and mistreatment of each other; therefore God removes them from earth so that they cannot cause more grief to others and to God (Gen. 6:6). God is intrinsically love, He is not intrinsically angry. He is only wrathful in response to our sins, which He has kindly offered to remove through Jesus. Praise be His name!
- Even though the Jews reject Jesus, they have faithfully passed down God’s word about the deity of the Messiah. God has made sure that they do this. The OT is truly not created by the Jews or man, it is from God. We can trust it with 100% certainty. Praise God for His word and for Jesus who humbled himself and died on the cross and resurrected for us. May we look forward to His imminent return.
经文：以赛亚书9:1-10:4
主题：神人耶稣
日后借着弥赛亚的拯救（1-7）。虽然犹大会因着神对他们罪孽的审判历经痛苦，但末日时，她将借着弥赛亚在加利利的诞生和侍奉重现光芒。这位弥赛亚将在归来之日救以色列脱离末日亚述王之手，而亚述王将成为当代的米甸人一样（赛10:26；士8:25；弥5:2-6）。令人惊叹的是，这位弥赛亚同时是人又是神。耶稣就是那位被应许坐在大卫宝座上的王；祂将世世代代统治万国（撒下7:13）。
使狂傲的以色列降卑（8-21）。与此同时，神承诺要因北国的丑陋罪孽和骄傲惩罚北国以色列。整个社会充满了不公、戮杀、贪婪、欺压和谎言；即便低下之人也是邪恶的。然后，他们为之而活的一切，即钱财，将在他们死亡或遭奴役时作废。这个警告不但是给以色列的，同时也是给南国犹大的，以免他们效仿以色列拜偶像，自寻灭亡。
用经文祷告
- 当我们看到神对以色列下如此严峻的审判时，我们必须明白神不喜悦看到罪人受惩罚，但这是祂维护公义的方式。再者，神之所以要消灭罪人是因为他们罪孽深重，苛待彼此，因此神从世上除尽罪人，叫他们不再对神及他人造成更大的忧患（创6:6）。神的本质是爱；祂不喜欢发怒。神是因着我们犯罪才会发怒，而祂在恩典中也借着耶稣给予我们除去罪孽的机会。我们要赞美祂的名！
- 虽然犹太人拒绝了耶稣，但他们仍忠心地传了神的话，让众人晓得弥赛亚是神。神也确保他们如此行。旧约绝对不是犹太人或他人所造的；旧约源于神。我们能百分之百地相信它。我们要为神的话语赞美祂，也要为谦卑自己代罪人死在十架并复活了的耶稣赞美祂。愿我们盼望着祂临近的归来。
