讀經： 以賽亞書五十九章16至21節 16他見無人拯救，無人代求，甚為詫異，就用自己的膀臂施行拯救，以公義扶持自己。 17他以公義為鎧甲（或譯：護心鏡），以拯救為頭盔，以報仇為衣服，以熱心為外袍。 18他必按人的行為施報，惱怒他的敵人，報復他的仇敵向眾海島施行報應。 19如此，人從日落之處必敬畏耶和華的名，從日出之地也必敬畏他的榮耀；因為仇敵好像急流的河水沖來，是耶和華之氣所驅逐的。 20必有一位救贖主來到錫安─雅各族中轉離過犯的人那裡。這是耶和華說的。 21耶和華說：至於我與他們所立的約乃是這樣：我加給你的靈，傳給你的話，必不離你的口，也不離你後裔與你後裔之後裔的口，從今直到永遠；這是耶和華說的。 |
| 英文的英皇欽定本將第19節的下半句翻譯為：「當仇敵好像急流的河水沖來，主的靈必揚起旌旗去將他驅逐。」這句話實在是何等的鼓舞人心！歷世歷代的基督徒，都經常引用這節經文來戰勝不同的困境。它雖然是在基督降生於伯利恆之前的600年，以賽亞先知對住在耶路撒冷的猶太人所講的一句話，可是，它所涉及的原則卻至終不變。 以賽亞在書中一直強調神的審判即將降臨，到時，敵人將攻陷耶路撒冷，城中的居民將被擄到巴比倫。從表面看來，這慘痛的事件將會使人覺得神已離棄祂的百姓，撒但取得了一次重大勝利。可是，以賽亞卻否定這一看法，他說：「不，事實並非如此。你們留心看下去吧！」 撒但只能夠做到這一步──事實上，祂只能做到神所容許的地步。他雖然令人覺得他是無所不能，但其實只是能力有限。他並非所向無敵，反之，他處處被神的能力和旨意所牽制。 許多基督徒都曾經見證這事實。他們見識過撒但的虛張聲勢，他彷彿要像洪水淹至，要將他們的一切盡毀；正當他們對神的信心動搖，神卻忽然出手干預，並將撒但擊退。 第19節下的翻譯，亦可理解為神將呼出祂的能力，將敵人趕走。 神有時會顯出祂的大能作為，讓人親眼目睹祂的工作；但另一些時間，祂卻默然地處理問題，我們只能透過信心的眼睛才能看見祂的工作。但無論如何，祂總是站在信靠祂的人的身邊，幫助他們爭戰。 讓我們緊記神的話語，當遇到撒但攻擊的時候，便用神的應許來全力抵擋，並全然得勝。 |
Bible Reading: Isaiah 59:16-21 16 He saw that there was no man,
And wondered that there was no intercessor;
Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him;
And His own righteousness, it sustained Him. 17 For He put on righteousness as a breastplate,
And a helmet of salvation on His head;
He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing,
And was clad with zeal as a cloak. 18 According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay,
Fury to His adversaries,
Recompense to His enemies;
The coastlands He will fully repay. 19 So shall they fear
The name of the Lord from the west,
And His glory from the rising of the sun;
When the enemy comes in like a flood,
The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him. 20 "The Redeemer will come to Zion,
And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,"
Says the Lord. 21 "As for Me," says the Lord, "this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants' descendants," says the Lord, "from this time and forevermore." |
| The second part of verse 19 in the Authorised (King James) version reads 'When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him'. That sentence is one of the most encouraging verses in the Bible. It has been used thousands of times by Christians in all ages and circumstances. It was spoken by Isaiah to the Jews in Jerusalem about 600 years before Christ came to Bethlehem, but the principle involved is still the same today. Isaiah was speaking of the coming judgment which would overtake Jerusalem and the captivity in Babylon that would follow. This experience would look as if God had deserted his people and had allowed Satan to have a great victory. Isaiah said 'No, when that happens watch and see what God will do'. Satan can only go so far. He can only go as far as God will allow him. He has only limited power, although he would like us to think he is all powerful. There is a barrier across his pathway. That barrier is God's power and will. Many a Christian has proved this truth. They have known the buffeting of Satan and it seemed as though he was going over them like a great flood. It seemed to them as if all was lost, that their faith in God was about to weaken, then suddenly the Lord intervened and victory came. The words 'lift up a standard' mean to make a strong resistance. They could be translated 'put him to flight', although they can also mean that God will breathe out his own power and strength against the enemy. Sometimes God works openly and we can all see what he is doing. At other times he works silently at the very heart of the problem and only the eye of faith can see his work. Always he is there standing with those whose faith and trust is in him. Take hold of these words today and remember them when Satan attacks with all his strength. Don't let your memory forget this promise. Keep it before you and claim it as your heritage as a child of God. |
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