Scripture Reading : Isaiah 66
Theme : Birth of the New Creation
Birth of New Creation (1-18).
Sinful people limit God to a finite temple and they also limit God’s ability to do glorious, miraculous things to fulfill His promises. Because they think God is small and they are big, they pay no attention to God and only worship Him out of motion, not from a heart of awe. Some even sarcastically mock God and His people (v. 5). But God will truly show Himself to be big, to be much bigger than they think. Though God is big, He loves small people, those who are contrite and humble (v. 2). Such is our big and high God. As surely as mothers give birth at the time of labour, so God will surely give birth to a new Israel in the time of labour pain, aka end times trouble for Israel. He will ultimately comfort Israel as a mother comforts her child. God will show Himself to be very, very big.
Serious Judgement and Blessing (15-24).
This prophetic book ends with a reminder of the seriousness of God’s judgement and the seriousness of God’s blessing. It is similar to what Moses told the Jews in Deuteronomy 28. Through both warnings and blessings, God urges the people to repent and be under His Lordship right now. After one dies, there are no second chances to be saved. There is no purgatory or a temporary place of punishment (Heb. 9:27).
Praying the Scripture
Rewards and punishments are just one way that God teaches people to be under His Lordship joyfully. They are not the only way that God trains us. In fact, in order to move us to a higher level in our relationship with Him, God trains our sense of greatness and love for Him. (1 John 4:18; Luke 22:24-27). Rewards and punishments serve to prompt us or to encourage us to draw to God. They are not the climax of this relationship. The climax is our awe and love for God (Ps. 42; 73:25). When God rewards us, pray that you do not idolize the rewards in this life. Worship the Giver, not the gifts. The gifts show us His love for us and His desire to see us genuinely happy. Highest honour, glory and praise to our great God.
经文：以赛亚书66
主题：新天地的诞生
新天地的诞生（1-14）。
罪恶之人将神局限于一个有限的殿中，也将神的大能仅限于行荣耀奇事，只为履行自己所应许的。由于他们认为神很小，自己很大，所以他们并不理会神，仅行礼仪之事，也不以敬畏的心崇拜神。有些人还甚至嘲讽神与祂的子民（5节）。然而，神会显明自己才是真正的大，且要比他们想象中的更大。虽然神很大，但祂爱卑微的人，就是虚心、痛悔之人（2节）。这就是我们伟大、至高的神了。如母亲分娩时必然生下孩子，神也要在产痛之时，即以色列在末日遇难之时，生出新以色列。神最终会安慰以色列，像一名母亲安慰自己的孩子似的。神会显明自己是非常、非常的大。
慎重的审判和祝福（15-24）。
这本先知书总结时提醒读者要慎重对待神的审判和祝福的应许。这与摩西在申命记28章中所告知犹太人的信息是相同的。藉着警告和祝福，神促使人要悔改，即刻就认神做主。人一旦离世就无法再有求救的第二次机会。炼狱或暂时受惩罚的地方是不存在的（来9:27）。
用经文祷告
惩罚和奖赏仅是神教导人要在主的带领中喜乐的一个方式。这不是神磨练我们的唯一方式。实际上，为要使我们与祂的关系提到更高的层次，神不断地加深我们对祂的爱意，不断地使我们视祂为大（约一4:18；路22:24-27）。惩罚与奖赏的目的只是要鼓励我们亲近神。这并非是我们与神之关系的高峰；其高峰是我们对神的敬畏和爱（诗42；73:25）。当神赏赐我们时，祷告我们不会在今生爱恋这种奖赏。我们要敬拜赏赐者，不是奖赏。愿至高的尊贵、荣耀和赞美归于我们伟大的神。
