Day 12 March 10
Day 12 March 10
Passage: Isaiah 42:18-25
The Israelites exiled in Babylon were truly deaf and blind.
Deafness refers to their unwillingness to listen, and blindness refers to their
foolishness. Verse 22: “But these people are looted and plundered; all of them
are trapped in pits and held captive in prisons. They were carried away as loot
with no one to rescue them.” You would think that such experiences would compel
them into reflection – shouldn’t dark times motivate them to long for the
light? But they were truly deaf and blind. Babylon was facing an imminent
disaster, and yet they did not think about turning towards God, nor seek his
intentions or his future plans.
In the past, when God proclaimed His judgment upon them, and
then followed up with His plans of salvation, these were deliberate ways which
demonstrated that “The Lord wanted to exhibit his justice by magnifying his law
and displaying it.”(verse 21) If they were to consider all these revelations
and works carefully, they could understand God’s insight, including how the
world works, God’s ways, and His execution style for His will. God is willing
to reveal himself, so that Man may marvel at His insights and His ways.
But God’s people chose to ignore them. From the establishment
of the kingdom to its downfall, prophets were sent to instruct them, but “They
refused to follow his commands; they disobeyed his law.” (verse 24) They
persisted in their blindness and were unrepentant. Despite all the troubles,
they failed to know God. Alas, if they wallowed in their obduracy, they would
not see the light. This was not to say that God was giving up on them, but
rather that all these engineered dramatic turn of events could not guide them
in returning back to God. But God still sent his prophets to awaken them, because
they remain “My servant … my messenger … my covenant partner”(verse 19) to God.
They were supposed to be the light to the nations. But because they were deaf
and blind themselves, they went against their calling. But it still was not too
late. If they would only listen attentively and pay attention (verse 23), their
fortunes could still transform.
Prayer: God, your people are deaf and
blind, how worried you must be! God, may the blind see and know that you are
God!
第十二天
Mar 10
被放逐在巴比伦的以色列子民真是又聋又盲。“聋”指的是他们不肯听劝，“盲”指的是他们愚昧。22节说“但这百姓被抢被夺的；都陷在坑中，囚在狱里。他们作掠物被掳去，无人拯救。”本来，经历这一切应该叫他们反省--难道昏天地暗的日子还不能催逼他们向往重见天日吗 ？ 但他们真是又聋又盲。巴比伦即将面临大难，他们还是不知回转向神，他们还是不知寻求神的旨意和将来的计划。
从前当上帝向他们显示审判的作为，继而又将救赎的计划按部就班地实现，这本就是“耶和华要以尊大显示律法，展示公正”（21节）。若按这些启示和作为来思考，人就能明白神的智慧，包括了解世界的局势、神如何运作、以及神如何施行心意。神本来就是如此愿意自我启示，也让人惊叹祂的智慧与作为。
但神的子民反而不闻不问。从设立王国到亡国，神都差派先知教训他们，但“他们不肯遵行祂的命令，不听从祂的律法”（24节）。他们任性的盲目，死性不改。他们经历重重患难，还是不认识耶和华。可叹，若他们是如此执迷不悔，他们是不会有破云见日的一天。这并非说神放弃他们，而是说他们无法从事情的演变来指引他们回转向神。
但神就是要通过先知告诉他们 “你们醒悟吧!”
以色列本来是神的仆人、神的使者、神立约的盟友，本应在万国万民当中成为照亮的明灯。如今他们本身又聋又盲，实在违背了原先的呼召。但此时还不晚，若愿意倾听，仔细留意（23节），他们的遭遇仍可以转变。
祷告：耶和华上帝啊，祢百姓又聋又盲，让祢何等焦心!主啊，愿眼瞎的能看见，认识祢是主是上帝!
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