Day 41 April 12

Day 41 April 12

Passage: Isaiah 55:6-13

Just how trustworthy are the words that God speaks? Are His promises as true as the purity of gold? The Creator-God has answered these questions Himself. “The rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater” (verse 10).

As the LORD had designed this world that is capable of sustaining life, we can also learn much from it by observing its natural wonders. Since God governs the order in nature by means of His spoken words, the rain or snow shall surely accomplish their divinely ordained purpose. These elements in nature strongly testify to the trustworthiness of the words that the LORD has spoken.

When the LORD keeps silent, the world will still continue to revolve but its motion would then be aimless and non-meaningful. However, the moment the LORD utters, “Let there be…” whatever things that are verbally decreed shall materialize. Such is the awesome power of the LORD’s word.

Even when God’s people were judged and exiled to Babylon, it was not a time of total despair for the people because God had not forsaken them at all. Their future was not without hope. As the LORD had spoken about a New Covenant and His intention to renew His relationship with the people, they would have to wait and hope for the fulfillment of the divine promise to return them to their land.

Despite the fact that Israel’s failure had brought much pain and grief to Him, God still remembered His covenantal relationship with the people and was willing to forgive them. Although the broken covenantal relationship seemed irreparable, its revival is not by the work of human planning but by means of God’s plan and working. The realization of this much-anticipated event pins entirely on the will of God, whose power is ever inscrutable.

God promised His people that they “will go out in joy and be led forth in peace” (verse 12). The road that leads to their homeland would be well-paved and their hometowns would be ready to receive them. As a nature-loving Poet, God used imageries from His creation to depict the heart-warming scene of the home-coming in verses 12-13.

The life in the forest can begin afresh even after a devastating fire. Such wonder in nature bears witness to the veracity of God’s words concerning the renewal of the covenantal relationship.

Whatever difficulties we may encounter in life, even if the problems were sin-related, the word of God is our strength and our hope.

We will hope in the LORD to remember us in our weak and frail state, to accompany us all the way in our journey, until we have arrived at the place which He has prepared for us.

Prayer: O God, your thoughts surpasses my understanding and way of thinking. You give me opportunity to turn back towards you. Such gracious love is great and profound, which goes beyond my comprehension. We can only exclaim in praise, “Your will is perfect and you will accomplish what you have spoken. May your will be done on earth and also in your Church. May your Church, in turn, bear witness to the nations and lead the people to come to you.

第四十一天 Apr 12

经文：以赛亚书 55:6-13

神的话可靠吗 ？  果真是一诺千金 ？  这就要回到这位创造主的创造里得到答案。“雨雪从天而降，并不返回，却滋润地土，使地上发芽结实，使撒种的有种，使要吃的有粮。”（10节）耶和华使这世界能够让人存活，我们透过观察来查验确是如此。神用话命定了这自然秩序，所以不论雨或雪，都必须完成该使命。这就是耶和华言出必行的铁证。当耶和华沉默的时候，世界虽是持续转动，但却更像漫无目的地徘徊。但一旦耶和华放话了，那命定的事情就必然实现。这就是创造主的话。

神的子民虽受审判而放逐在巴比伦。但此时却不是自暴自弃的时候。眼前也不是绝望的时候。既然耶和华放话说要立下新约，又有意重修旧好，那就当以神的话为等待回归的应许。虽然过去的败坏是惨痛的经验，但神还是记念那份关系而能够赦免。虽然如今看似无法挽回的局面，但复兴的工作不在于人的谋算，而是神的计划与作为。这事是否实现取决于神的心意，而神的能力根本不容置疑。

神应许他们“必欢欢喜喜而出来，平平安安蒙引导。”（12节）那回家的道路早已铺平，那欢迎他们的家乡早已预备。这些都以自然界的景色来呈现，毕竟自然界就是神的作为之最佳写照。森林大火之后，可以重新产生生机，自然界也是神的话语依然生生不息的凭据。我们生命中不论遭遇任何苦难，甚至以为是罪有应得都好，神的话总是我们的力量，也是我们的盼望。我们仰望祂来记念我们的软弱，陪伴我们同行，直到抵达预备的地方。

祷告：上帝，祢的意念高过我们的意念。祢让我们归向祢，这恩典之深，远远超过我们能明白的。我们唯有赞叹深哉，祢的旨意美好 ，祢的话必要成就，愿祢的旨意行在地上，行在祢的教会中。愿祢的教会向周遭世界指向祢，见证祢。