Scripture Reading : Isaiah 37
Theme : Wisely Trusting God
Seek God for Help First and Foremost (1-20)
Based on human expectation, Israel should have been conquered by the mighty power of Assyria. But when God is in the picture, everything changes. Hezekiah learned from his father, Ahaz, foolish mistake. Ahaz would not trust God to protect Israel, instead he relied on Assyria to protect Israel (7:4-6). In the end, a much stronger Assyria threatened to destroy Israel. Hezekiah rightly went to seek God’s protection through His prophet Isaiah. God, speaking through Isaiah, assured Hezekiah that Israel will be protected even against seemingly overwhelming odds; for His promise is more trustworthy than anything in the universe (Matt. 5:18).
God’s Merciful Deliverance (9-20).
Because of Hezekiah and Israel’s faith in God, God miraculously destroyed the army of Assyria via His angel, just as God had promised. The king of Assyria was also killed in his own land by his own sons, just as God had promised.
Praying the Scripture
We do not have prophets like Isaiah to go to for direct revelation from God, but God’s promises to His church is very clear in the Bible. He will be with us forever (Matt. 28:20) and His grace is sufficient in our weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). Pray that you will believe daily in the promises of the gospel even in the darkest time of your trials and even when people are cold and apathetic to the gospel. Through our humble, persistent prayers (Luke 18:1-8) to God, He will protect us in our trials; and He is also able to convert sinners. His power is mighty to cast down the power of satan and sin (2 Cor. 10:3-5). God graciously strengthened the early Christians in Acts to endure persecution and He miraculously converted the entire Roman Empire. God has not changed and will never change. He is still able to deliver us and to convert sinners. If we trust Him and live out our faith in action, God will continue to display His glory in us and through us. Pray that you will be patient and unwaveringly believe in God’s promises even against overwhelming odds.
经文：以赛亚书37
主题：对神明智的信靠
首要的是寻求神（1-20）。
在人看来，以色列本该被强大的亚述征服，但有神同在，谁与争锋？希西家吸取他父亲亚哈斯的教训。那时，亚哈斯不愿投靠神保护以色列，反倒转向亚述作依靠（7:4-6）。最后，比以色列强大的亚述威胁要消灭以色列。希西家借着神的先知直接寻求神的保护。神借着以赛亚向希西家保证：不论以色列面临多大的危机，神始终会保护她，因为祂的应许必宇宙万物更可靠（太5:18）。
神怜悯的拯救（9-20）。
因着希西家以及以色列对神的信心，神按着祂的应许，借着祂的天使奇迹般地消灭了亚述部队。亚述王也在自己的土地上被他的亲身儿子杀了，正如神所承诺的。
用经文祷告
我们如今没有像以赛亚这位先知这个人，能得知神直接的启示，但神对祂教会的应许都清清楚楚地列在圣经里了。祂会永远与我们同在（太28:20），且祂的恩典在我们的软弱中是够用的（林后12:9）。祷告你每日都会依靠福音中的应许，即便在试炼中最黑暗的时刻，甚至是人对福音冷漠及麻木的时候。通过我们向神谦卑、恒心的祷告（路18:1-8），祂会在试炼中保守我们，也能使罪人信主。祂的力量是强大的，能夺去撒旦和罪恶的权势（林后10:3-5）。神以恩典坚固了使徒行传中的早期信徒，叫他们能承受逼迫，并奇迹般地使整个罗马帝国归主。神从没改变，也永远不变。祂仍能搭救我们，并使罪人信主。若我们信靠神，行事与信心相称，神会继续借着我们彰显祂的荣耀。祷告你会有耐心，即便在万般患难中也能坚定地相信神的应许。
