Day 33 April 03


Day 33 April  03

Passage：Isaiah 51:9-16
Isaiah invoked the image of the warring God. To understand why, we must know that small nations look at superpowers as insurmountable forces. Small sects are sometimes caught up in the struggles between larger countries. It is only the God of creation who can provide material support and comfort and justice to these people in these tumultuous times. In mythology, disasters are the result of mischief of sea monsters. But in creation, God overcame these monsters (See Psalms 89:9-13), brought order into chaos, and brought land and substance into emptiness. Similarly, when Israelites were fleeing the Egyptian army, God parted the Red Sea and brought the Israelites to safety. The "arm" (verse 13) as expressed by Isaiah invoked these images and signified the ability of God to overcome enemies and solve problems. In times of turmoil and chaos, God provides rescue. Under God's rescue, Egypt, who was regarded as an overwhelming enemy by the ever-oppressed Israelites became like one of those sea monsters that was previously defeated by God (See Isaiah 30:7).

To the people who were living in difficult and uncertain times, this passage brought the image of God revealing himself personally consoling the people. In the eyes of the Creator, tyrant men and dictators were no cause for concern. After all, they were just “mere human beings who are as short-lived as grass” (verse 12). Hence, it was never a question of God's ability but rather a matter of his willingness to help the people. To this, God answered: you are my people, which means to say that God was definitely involved in this. It was then promised that "The one who suffers will soon be released; he will not die in prison, he will not go hungry." This is a great source of motivation and respite for the people.

Prayer: God, we are small, and we have much sorrow and distress in this world, but you are the creator God and you marvel us. You regard us as your people, we are truly blessed.

第三十三天 April 03

经文：以赛亚书 51:9-16
先知开始了第一段的呼唤，而首先是唤醒了征战的耶和华（参51:9）。先知为何如此呼唤呢？要知道，不论是古时直至今日，小国总觉得超级强国是一种难以招架的势力。列国之间的你争我夺只能让微弱的小民族在动乱之中苟延残喘。有谁能为他们伸冤？又有谁能克服弱肉强食的局面来主持公义？唯有那创造天地的耶和华。在古代近东的神话里，水患是海怪在兴风作浪。但在创世之时，耶和华战胜海怪（参诗篇89:9－13），混沌中带来次序，空虚中带来水里陆地的丰盛。同样的，以色列人逃离埃及追兵的时候，也是耶和华在红海之中开辟道路。

耶和华的膀臂象征祂拯救的大能。所以，先知呼唤的，是耶和华再次显能力镇压恶势力。在惊涛骇浪之中，耶和华救赎他们脱离险境。在当时世人的眼中，特别是长期被欺凌打压的犹太人眼中，埃及是不容得罪的恶霸。但在耶和华面前，他就像一只无能的海怪（参以赛亚30:7），只不过是当年的手下败将。

此时，对于活在水深火热的子民，耶和华如同刚被唤醒一样，亲自来安慰他们（参51:12）。在大有能力的创造主的眼里，任何的暴君或欺压者根本微不足道。毕竟他们只不过是人，人的寿命终究如同草芥（参51:12）。所以关键不在于耶和华是否办得到，而是祂到底这次肯不肯出手。对此，耶和华放话了：“你是我的百姓。”也就是这次的事，耶和华是管定了。所以，应许必然实现。耶和华斩钉截铁地说：“受苦的快得释放；必不死在狱中，也必不至饥饿。”（51:14，NET翻译）这真是莫大的安慰!

祷告：耶和华，我们是小民，在世间常有愁苦与困扰，但是祢是造天地的耶和华，让我们惊叹!祢尚且认我们为袮子民，我们真是有福啊!

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