Scripture Reading : Isaiah 33
Theme : The Gracious King in His Beauty
God Destroys His Enemies (1-16)
God will destroy the destroyer. This destroyer is all of Israel’s destroyers but the ultimate manifestation of this enemy is the oft-prophesied antichrist. He will come to destroy Israel and success for a short time. When Israel faces existential threat, God will arise in the right time to exalt Himself by destroy the antichrist and then reconcile the world and Israel to Himself through Jesus. God’s promise of protection to Israel is conditional upon their righteousness as manifested in their trust in Him. Only those who walk and speak righteously will dwell in Zion with God (v. 14-15). Only those who worship King Jesus will be in Zion. The Israel of Isaiah’s day was rebellious and therefore was not protected by God, but was destroyed.
God Displays His Beauty (17-24).
All who worship God will be resurrected and see the beauty of King Jesus in Zion. Foreigners who had invaded Israel will be destroyed. Israel will dwell safely forever, fulfilling God’s promise to Israel (2 Sam. 7:10). King Jesus will rule over Israel and the world. There will be no more physical sickness in Israel. No one will be sick.
Praying the Scripture
- The OT and NT have promised many great things when Jesus returns. But we must realize that believers cannot make this earth into heaven. This can only happen when Jesus comes back. Our duty to the world is to love them and share the gospel with our neighbors (Rom. 13:8). These are the only things that we owe the world. We are not called to use political power to force people to convert, although we can leverage political influence to create a conducive environment to love our neighbors and share the gospel with them. Pray that your hope is in the Lord and His gospel, not in politics or politicians. Pray that you are motivated by your love for God in order to be salt and light in this corrupt and dark world.
- Many prosperity gospel Christians mistakenly think God promises to give believers heaven right now, where our lives are completely full of health and abundance. If you don’t have health and wealth then that means you are not faithful. This is extremely unbiblical and dangerous. Heaven is only promised when Jesus returns. In this life, we are promised trouble, persecution, death and sickness (Acts 14:22; 2 Tim. 3:12), not health and wealth. In fact, those who are strong in the faith sometimes suffers the most, like the early Christians who were martyrs for their faith. Trouble may come, but God promises to give grace to us, so that we can bear our cross, like Jesus, and at the end receive glory, like Jesus. Pray that you will not be afraid of trouble but believe in God’s promise to be with you forever (Matt. 28:20). His grace is sufficient but grace looks different for each person because each person is different. God’s grace was in Paul’s life and His grace was also in Paul’s death. Pray that you will not doubt God or be afraid, but obey God, do what is right, and trust in His grace. Strive to be like Jesus who is full of beautiful character.
经文：以赛亚书33
主题：在祂荣美中的恩典之主
神毁灭祂的仇敌（1-16）。
神会毁灭那毁灭人的。这个毁灭者指的是所有毁灭以色列的，但其中最大的就是圣经不断预言的敌基督者。他会来毁灭以色列，并暂且成功。当以色列面临生存性的威胁时，神会在正确的时机起来毁灭敌基督的，从而抬举自己，然后借着耶稣将以色列及全世界与自己和好。神保护以色列的应许是凭着他们的公义而定，即以色列对神的信靠。唯有行事公义，说话正直的将与神同住在锡安（14-15节）。唯有敬拜君王耶稣的将在锡安居住。以赛亚年代的以色列是悖逆的，因此不受到神的保护，乃遭毁灭。
神彰显祂的荣美（17-24）。
凡敬拜神的必然复活，得见君王耶稣在锡安的荣美。凡侵略以色列的将遭毁灭。以色列将永远居住在安全之地，从而应验神对以色列的承诺（撒下7:10）。君王耶稣将统治以色列及全世界。以色列将不再有肉体上的疾病。无人会患病。
用经文祷告
- 旧约新约都应许当耶稣再来时，祂将成就许多大事。然而，我们必须晓得信徒没有能力将这个世界转变成天堂。这只能在耶稣归来时发生。我们对世人的责任就是爱他们，并与我们的邻舍传福音（罗13:8）。这是我们欠这个世界的唯一东西。神没召我们要使用政治力量强迫任何人信神，但我们可以藉着政治的影响力凝造有利于爱我们的邻舍及传福音的好环境。祷告你的盼望在于主与祂的福音，不在政治或政治家。祈求你因爱神得激励，在这腐败及黑暗的世界里做盐做光。
- 许多致富福音的基督徒误以为神此刻就应许向信徒赐予天堂，而我们的生命将充满健康和财富。你若实际相反，这表示你不忠心。这是极为不符合福音，也是非常危险的想法。天堂唯有在耶稣归来时才会降临。耶稣应许我们在这一生中只会遇到困难、逼迫、疾病和死亡（使14:22；提后3:12），不是健康和财富。实际上，有坚固信心的信徒时而苦难更多，就如初期的基督徒，甘愿为耶稣牺牲。困难会临到，但神应许要施恩于我们，叫我们能背起自己的十架，犹如耶稣一样，并最终蒙得荣耀，就像耶稣。祈求你不会害怕受苦，乃要相信神的应许——祂永远与你同在（太28:20）。祂的恩典是够你用的，但恩典在各人看来都不一样，因为每一个人都不相同。保罗活着时有神的恩典，临死时也有神的恩典。祈求你不会质疑神，也不要惧怕，乃要顺服神，行正确的事，并信靠神的恩典。我们要力争像耶稣一样，满有荣美的品性。
