2008年11月27日 星期四

2008-11-27 Devotionals Today

知信行網上團契為各主內肢體提供的每日靈糧,歡迎訂閱推介奉獻支持
《網絡天糧》查詢,請電郵:ccf@ccfellow.org

訂閱天糧 | 轉介天糧 | 修訂訂閱 | 奉獻支持

青草地上


神應允希西家的祈求

粵語 國語

第27天


讀經:   以賽亞書三十七章21至23節,30至38節
昨天,我們看到希西家王接到亞述王的信,威脅要摧毀耶路撒冷城。希西家看完信後,便立即跑到聖殿,將問題向神陳明,並祈求神的幫助。

今天,我們看到神差派先知以賽亞去見希西家,告訴他神已應允他的禱告。我們可以把這段經文稱為「信心得蒙拯救」。

神怎?回應希西家的禱告呢?首先,神要審判亞述王的驕橫自大,以及竟敢詆毀耶路撒冷城──它是神所揀選的城!神在第24、25節指出,亞述王以為自己所向無敵,所以目空一切,卻不認識到其實是神用他來成就祂的計劃(26-27節)。如今,因著他的驕橫跋扈,神必要審判他。

神作了兩個應許──一個是給祂的百姓,一個是給亞述王;我們將會看見,這兩個應許後來都奇妙地應驗了。

首先,神應許祂的百姓,祂必看顧他們,賜予他們一切所需(30、31節)。第31節給我們描繪了一幅美麗的圖畫。以色列人要「往下扎根,往上生長」。我們今天豈不也需要這樣嗎?我們豈不需要更深地在基督裡扎根,然後在生活中結出聖靈的果子?這節經文將成為我們的勉勵。

接著,神也應許亞述王「他必不得來到這(耶路撒冷)城」(33節)。他從那條路來,也必從那條路回去,卻不能攻擊這城,因神親自守衛著它。這關係到神的尊榮和尊名,神必保衛自己的名。我們今天可以同樣靠著神的名得勝。

雖然神幾乎要在20年後,才對亞述王作出最終的審判;但神的應許卻如實地應驗:希西家王得到神的幫助,亞述王卻連番敗北。

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GOD'S ANSWER TO HEZEKIAH'S PRAYER
Day 27


Bible Reading:   Isaiah 37:21-23, 30-38
Yesterday we read that Hezekiah had received a letter from the King of Assyria threatening to destroy the city of Jerusalem. Do you remember how Hezekiah dealt with it? He took the letter and spread it out before the Lord asking God to answer it himself.

Now God sent Isaiah to Hezekiah with the answer to the letter and to Hezekiah's prayer. We could call this the 'Deliverance of Faith'.

How was God going to answer? How was his power to be sent? Firstly God judged the King of Assyria's pride and the fact that he dared to speak against the city of Jerusalem, God's own chosen place. God mentions in verses 24,25 how the king thought he had done everything himself, not realising that God had been using him to accomplish God's purposes (v. 26, 27). Now because the king had become arrogant and full of pride, God was going to deal with him.

God made two promises-one to his people and one to the king of Assyria. Both were remarkably fulfilled.

God promised his people that he would watch over them and care for them and provide every need (v. 30, 31). There is a beautiful picture in verse 31. Israel would 'take root downward and bear fruit upward'. Isn't that still our need today? Don't we need to take root more and more deeply in Christ and the things of God and then see the results in the fruit of the Spirit showing itself in our lives? What a great example that is for us.

Then God promised that the King of Assyria would never enter Jerusalem (v. 33). He would go back along the road that he came and would never be allowed to attack the city because God was defending it. God's honour and his name were at stake. God will always defend his name. It is still the same today. We can claim victory from God on the basis of his name and the fact we bear that name as his children.

The final fulfilment of God's judgment on the heathen king did not come for a few years-possibly even 20-but God's Word is always fulfilled. Hezekiah found help in God, while the King of Assyria found only defeat.

沒有留言: