8 Jan 2016, Isaiah 47 以赛亚书 47, Destruction of God’s Enemies 神仇敌的毁灭

Posted on Jan 4, 2016 in Devotions, Isaiah |

Scripture Reading  : Isaiah 47

Theme                  : Destruction of God’s Enemies

In chapter 39, God prophesied that He will use Babylon as an instrument to punish Israel’s sins. In this chapter, God promises to punish Babylon for their sins and pride (cf. Habakkuk 1-2). What led to the downfall of Babylon was their pride (Prov. 16:18). They were proud of their wisdom, sorceries, security, wealth and dominance. They became worshipper of pleasure. All of this led to a debauchery life as exemplified by their king Belshazzar (Dan. 5). On top of this, they mistreated God’s people: the Jews. For all these sins, God will desolate them. God uses the analogy of widowhood and childlessness to convey their great anguish when God punishes them. Back then a woman was totally dependent on her husband or sons for protection and upkeep. The loss of both means desolation and extreme agony. They agonized others, so they themselves will also agonize. God will take away all the things that they are proud of and pour everlasting shame on them.

 

Praying the Scripture

Pray that you will seriously take God’s warning against pride seriously. Pride leads to destruction and foolishness while the person thinks he is being wise. Do not have any pride in you, be it self-righteous pride or personal pride based on possession, rank, influence, physical beauty or money (1 John 2:16). Do not take pride in anything in yourself, instead take pride in God, who alone is worthy of your boast (1 Cor. 1:31). Boast not in worldly things, but things of God, especially His Lordship and character. Proverb 27:2, “Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.”

经文：以赛亚书47

主题：神仇敌的毁灭

 

在39章中，神预言祂将用巴比伦惩罚以色列的罪。在这个篇章中，神应许要因巴比伦的罪和骄傲惩罚她（参：哈1-2）。巴比伦的沉沦，是由于他们骄傲（箴16:18）；他们为自己的智慧、邪术、安稳、财富和权势深感骄傲。他们成为了享乐的崇拜者。这一切导致他们放荡生活，尤以他们的王伯沙撒为例（但5）。此外，他们还虐待了神的子民：犹太人。因着这些罪，神将使巴比伦便为荒凉。神使用寡居和丧子之例传达他们受惩罚时的极度痛苦。那时候，妇女是完全依赖她的丈夫或儿子保护并供养她的。二者的损失表示她孤单寂寞，极其痛苦。他们曾经折磨别人，所以自己也要受煎熬。神会收回令他们为之骄傲的一切，并在他们身上倾倒永恒羞愧。

 

用经文祷告

祷告你会严谨对待神对骄傲的警告。骄傲使人愚昧，叫他灭绝；那人却以为自己很聪明。我们不能有任何骄傲，不论是自义的骄傲，或因自己的财物、地位、影响力或外貌的骄傲（约一2:16）。不要因自己的任何一切感到骄傲，唯独要因神自豪，因为只有祂配得我们夸耀（林前1:31）。不要因世界的事夸口，只要因神夸口，尤其祂的主权与性情。箴言27:2：“要别人夸奖你，不可用口自夸；等外人称赞你，不可用嘴自称。”