Day 37 April 08

Day 37 April 08

Passage：Isaiah 53:4-12 Servant of God (II)

When the Servant of God met with many troubles, the onlookers thought he deserved them. But when the truth was revealed, they discovered he was innocent. He willingly suffered all of them for their sakes. Note: It is “for them”, not “instead of them”, since we know that the audience of the prophet were also in suffering. But the Servant suffered alongside them though he was innocent. The punishment they deserved for their sins were laden on him as well. In executing his prophetic ministry, he had to endure further pain from misunderstanding and false accusations. It was for the purpose of completing God’s will, but he was beaten for it. Throughout the process of mockery and being despised, the Servant accepted willingly. He did not cry out in grief nor cry foul, nor resist, nor retaliate. He bore all that till his death.

Hence, when this man was proven innocent, the realization of the crowds was alarming. What happened? Who was this man? Their hardened hearts were shaken by the bare testimony from the Servant. That an innocent man would willingly bear the well-deserved sufferings of a guilty crowd, the persevering and sacrificing will of God to win them back was fully expressed. The lost returned because of this love. So they realized: he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed. God was not taking revenge upon them, but rather disciplining them to repent. And when they witnessed this Servant who silently suffered from their misdeeds, they came to their senses about God’s will. They were the unrepentant and rebellious ones. This Servant demonstrated what is true obedience to God. Not only that, the Servant’s pain is the Master’s pain. The Servant’s sacrifice for his fellow men, is God’s sacrifice for his people. When they finally return to God, the Servant’s glory is God’s own glory.

Prayer: God, your Servant had suffered, yet we failed to see. Only upon his vindication do we come to full realization.

第三十七天 Apr 08

经文：以赛亚书 53:4-12

神的仆人（下）

当神的仆人面临种种苦难，旁观者本以为罪有应得。可是，真相大白后才赫然发现，原来这人无罪。他之所以甘愿接受苦难是为了他们的缘故。注意：他是“为了他们”而不是“代替他们”---因为当时先知的听众也承受苦难。这位仆人本是无罪，却与他们共患难。他们罪有应得的刑罚，如今也同时背负在他身上。履行先知性质的工作时，他还得承受被误解和冤枉的苦楚。本是为了完成神的旨意，反倒经历鞭打。在整个被欺压、被诬蔑的过程中，神的仆人坦然接受。他不叫屈，也不喊冤，不反抗，也不以牙还牙。他甘愿承受，以至于死。

所以当此人沉冤得雪的时候，众人的醒悟如当头棒喝。到底发生了什么事 ？  这究竟是什么人 ？  他们顽梗的心被这仆人坦荡荡的生命见证所震撼。当这无罪的人竟然心甘情愿地同受百姓罪有应得的苦难时，耶和华那份想要挽回子民而不惜代价、含辛茹苦的心意就表露无遗。浪子因为这份爱而回头。所以他们了解到：因他受的刑罚，我们得平安；因他受的创伤，我们得医治。一直以来，耶和华不是要处罚他们。耶和华是要教训他们去悔改。而唯有当他们见证了这个仆人沉默地接受他们当受的责罚时，他们才醒悟明白神的心意。原来一直执迷不悔的是他们，这仆人才真正体现了对神的忠心。不单如此，这仆人的痛也是主人的痛。这神仆人为同胞牺牲也是神为自己子民牺牲。最后当众人回归主，而仆人的荣耀，这也是神的荣耀。

祷告：上帝，祢的仆人受苦了，我们却没有看见。只有到他沉冤得雪，我们才赫然发现!