Scripture Reading : Isaiah 65
Theme : New Creation
Salvation to Gentiles (1-12).
Ironically, Israel will not trust God even though God constantly reaches out to them, but gentiles (referred as a nation in v. 1) who do not know God will know God. This is because Israel will reject the Messiah, so God went to the gentiles (Luke 14:15-24; Rom. 10:19-20). God describes the sins of the Jews that keep Him from answering their prayers. They eat unclean food that is associated with their idol worship, which they sacrifice unlawfully in gardens, on bricks and mountains. Their idols are prosperity idols nicknamed Fortune and Destiny. Their sense of greatness and glory are perverted and they worship such perverted greatness. God will judge them, but He will also redeem a remnant from Israel (v. 8).
New Creation (13-25).
Because the Jews worship money, prosperity and pleasure, in the end they will get neither. This is one of the reasons why they will be tormented and in pain in hell. But those who worship God, His Lordship and His righteous character will enjoy abundance and everlasting joy in the new heavens and new earth. Verses 17-25 describe the two phases of the Messianic Kingdom in one context with no distinction. The distinction is only detailed in Revelation 20-22.
Praying the Scripture
- One reason for the Jews to sin so badly is because they have the law of God. Romans 5:20 and 7:8-12 states the rebellious nature in fallen humans causes all of us to rebel even more when rules are given to us. Humans rebel because it gives pleasure to their rebellious nature. It gives them a sense of power, control and identity. Such is the wicked, insane, foolish nature that we all inherit from our parents. It is truly a delight to know that when we put our faith in Jesus and His Lordship, God cuts off our rebellious nature and gives us a new nature (Col. 2:13). May we treasure this new nature and seek to put to death our old nature. Happy is the man who is not enslaved by sin, but enslaved by righteousness. We must also have a correct view of God’s laws. God’s laws cannot save us, but they do reveal His character and they lead us to spiritual well-being, not salvation. We can only appreciate God’s laws when we have a new nature given to us through Jesus.
- Our sinful society, led by the lies of Satan, constantly assault our sense of righteousness or greatness. For Jews, their sense of greatness was prosperity. Now, it is common to hear that what is heroic, great or glorious is an individual trying to find his or herself. Is it great if you find yourself to be selfish, lustful, or murderous? Or should you lose your ugly self and find a better self? Which one is more heroic? Another popular perversion of righteousness is the right for any two persons to be married as long as they love each other, even homosexual marriage. God hates such perversion and wants Christians to lovingly help these people to see the truth by pointing out the foolishness of their logic. Can fathers marry their daughters because they love each other? How about polygamy or bestiality? Pray that you will have wisdom to share the truth with unbelievers.
经文：以赛亚书65
主题：新天地
予外邦人救恩（1-12）。
讽刺的是，神整天伸手招呼以色列，以色列却不愿信靠神；然而，不认识神的外邦人将认识祂（即指第1节的“没有称为我名下的”）。这是因为以色列会拒绝弥赛亚，所以神转向外邦人那里（路14:15-24；罗10:19-20）。神形容了阻止祂应允犹太人祷告的罪：他们吃了在祭坛献给偶像的不洁之食，就是在园中、砖上和山上献的不法之祭。“时运”和“天命”是以色列所敬拜的财神爷。他们曲解了伟大和荣耀的真正定义，竟以为所崇拜的最大。神会审判他们，但也同时将从以色列拯救祂的余民（8节）。
新天地（13-25）。
由于犹太人敬拜的是财富和宴乐，他们最终将什么都得不到。这也就是他们为何要在地狱遭受折磨与痛楚的其中一个原因。可是，凡敬拜神、神的主权与神公义属性的将在新天新地享有丰盛与永恒的喜乐。17-25节叙述的是弥赛亚国度的两个阶段，但对二者不作明显区分。这个区分只有在启示录20-22有详细的叙述。
用经文祷告
- 犹太人之所以会犯下那么大的罪，其中一个原因是他们拥有神的律法。罗马书5:20与7:8-12说明堕落人性中的悖逆倾向能导致我们在拥有或了解了律法规则后更为叛逆。人会叛逆，因为这能给他们叛逆的本性一种快活感。这给他们带来一种权力、掌控能力和身份感。这是我们每一个人都从父母遗传的邪恶、无理和愚昧的本性。然而，当我们信靠耶稣并认祂做主时，神除尽了悖逆的心理，让我们心意更新（西2:13）——这当是我们的喜悦。愿我们能珍惜这个更新的心，不断致死我们的老我。不被罪捆绑，乃作义之奴的有福了。我们也必须对神的律法有正确的认识。神的律法不能拯救我们，但律法能彰显神的品性，并能让我们有良好的灵命。唯有当我们藉着耶稣心意更新后，我们才能欣赏神的律法。
- 我们这个主要因撒旦谎言被误导的罪恶社会将持续抨击我们对于何为大与何为义的标准。对犹太人而言，富裕的人就是伟大的。现在，人若说自己正尝试寻找自己，这在世人看来也是伟大和荣耀的事。我们若发现自己是自私、淫荡或杀气重重的，这有什么伟大？又或者你要抛开自己丑陋的一面，寻找更好的自己？那一个更伟大？另一个对义的普遍曲解就是二人只要是彼此相爱的就可以结婚，同性恋者也是。神痛恨这样的歪曲，并渴望基督徒能帮助这些人看清真理，用爱心点出他们逻辑上的错误。父女俩若彼此相爱，他们能结婚吗？我们又要如何看待一夫多妻或与兽相交的行为？祷告你能有智慧与非信徒分享真理。
