旧约以赛亚书 6:1–9:7
前情提要
上回说到
昨天(1–5 章):神控告犹大像悖逆的儿女,献祭不断却不行公义,仍邀请他们“你们来,我们彼此辩论”;预言末后万民要流归耶和华的山;第 5 章用葡萄园比喻以色列:神“指望结好葡萄,反倒结了野葡萄”()。
今天你会读到
以赛亚在圣殿看见主的荣耀而蒙召;亚兰和北国以色列联手攻打犹大,以赛亚劝亚哈斯王信靠神,并给了“以马内利”的兆头;亚述要像大河涨溢冲来;最后应许一位婴孩要坐在大卫的宝座上,作“和平的君”。
阅读小提示
留意以赛亚的转变:先是“祸哉!我灭亡了”(),罪孽被除掉之后,却说“我在这里,请差遣我”()。
点时代可看说明
第 7 章的事约发生在主前 735–732 年,亚兰王利汛和北国以色列王比加联手攻打犹大(),不久亚述就征服了这两国。
点经节可选取,长按即复制点经节可选取,按 Ctrl+C⌘C 复制
以赛亚书 第 6 章
以赛亚看见主的荣耀
1当乌西雅王崩的那年,我见主坐在高高的宝座上。他的衣裳垂下,遮满圣殿。In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted; and the train of His robe filled the temple.
2其上有侍立,各有六个翅膀:用两个翅膀遮脸,两个翅膀遮脚,两个翅膀飞翔;Above Him stood seraphim, each having six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.
3彼此呼喊说:圣哉!圣哉!圣哉!万军之耶和华;他的荣光充满全地!And they were calling out to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts; all the earth is full of His glory.”
4因呼喊者的声音,门槛的根基震动,殿充满了烟云。At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook, and the temple was filled with smoke.
5那时我说:“祸哉!我灭亡了!因为我是嘴唇不洁的人,又住在嘴唇不洁的民中,又因我眼见大君王—万军之耶和华。”Then I said: “Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips dwelling among a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.”
红炭沾口,罪孽除掉
6有一撒拉弗飞到我跟前,手里拿着红炭,是用从坛上取下来的,Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar.
7将炭沾我的口,说:“看哪,这炭沾了你的嘴,你的罪孽便除掉,你的罪恶就赦免了。”And with it he touched my mouth and said: “Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for.”
我在这里,请差遣我
8我又听见主的声音说:“我可以差遣谁呢?谁肯为我们去呢?”我说:“我在这里,请差遣我!”Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for Us?” And I said: “Here am I. Send me!”
百姓听却不明白
9他说:“你去告诉这百姓说:你们听是要听见,却不明白;看是要看见,却不晓得。And He replied: “Go and tell this people, ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’
10要使这百姓,耳朵发沉,眼睛昏迷;恐怕眼睛看见,耳朵听见,心里明白,回转过来,便得医治。”Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”
11我就说:“主啊,这到几时为止呢?”他说:直到城邑荒凉,无人居住,房屋空闲无人,地土极其荒凉。Then I asked: “How long, O Lord?” And He replied: “Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left unoccupied and the land is desolate and ravaged,
12并且耶和华将人迁到远方,在这境内撇下的地土很多。until the LORD has driven men far away and the land is utterly forsaken.
13境内剩下的人若还有十分之一,也必被吞灭,像栗树、橡树虽被砍伐,树墩子却仍存留。这圣洁的种类在国中也是如此。And though a tenth remains in the land, it will be burned again. As the terebinth and oak leave stumps when felled, so the holy seed will be a stump in the land.”
以赛亚书 第 7 章
亚兰与以法莲同盟
1乌西雅的孙子、约坦的儿子、犹大王在位的时候,亚兰王利汛和利玛利的儿子、以色列王比加上来攻打耶路撒冷,却不能攻取。Now in the days that Ahaz son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, was king of Judah, Rezin king of Aram marched up to wage war against Jerusalem. He was accompanied by Pekah son of Remaliah the king of Israel, but he could not overpower the city.
2有人告诉大卫家说:“亚兰与已经同盟。”王的心和百姓的心就都跳动,好像林中的树被风吹动一样。When it was reported to the house of David that Aram was in league with Ephraim, the hearts of Ahaz and his people trembled like trees in the forest shaken by the wind.
3耶和华对以赛亚说:“你和你的儿子出去,到上池的水沟头,在的大路上,去迎接亚哈斯,Then the LORD said to Isaiah, “Go out with your son Shear-jashub to meet Ahaz at the end of the aqueduct that feeds the upper pool, on the road to the Launderer’s Field,
4对他说:‘你要谨慎安静,不要因亚兰王利汛和利玛利的儿子这两个所发的烈怒害怕,也不要心里胆怯。and say to him: Calm down and be quiet. Do not be afraid or disheartened over these two smoldering stubs of firewood—over the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram and of the son of Remaliah.
5因为亚兰和以法莲,并利玛利的儿子,设恶谋害你,For Aram, along with Ephraim and the son of Remaliah, has plotted your ruin, saying:
6说:我们可以上去攻击犹大,扰乱它,攻破它,在其中立他比勒的儿子为王。‘Let us invade Judah, terrorize it, and divide it among ourselves. Then we can install the son of Tabeal over it as king.’
7所以主耶和华如此说:这所谋的必立不住,也不得成就。But this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘It will not arise; it will not happen.
8原来亚兰的首城是大马士革;大马士革的首领是利汛。(六十五年之内,以法莲必然破坏,不再成为国民。)For the head of Aram is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin. Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be shattered as a people.
9以法莲的首城是撒马利亚;撒马利亚的首领是利玛利的儿子。你们若是不信,定然不得立稳。’”The head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is the son of Remaliah. If you do not stand firm in your faith, then you will not stand at all.’”
以马内利的兆头
10耶和华又晓谕亚哈斯说:Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying,
11“你向耶和华—你的 神求一个兆头:或求显在深处,或求显在高处。”“Ask for a sign from the LORD your God, whether from the depths of Sheol or the heights of heaven.”
12亚哈斯说:“我不求;我不试探耶和华。”But Ahaz replied, “I will not ask; I will not test the LORD.”
13以赛亚说:“大卫家啊,你们当听!你们使人厌烦岂算小事,还要使我的 神厌烦吗?Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God as well?
14因此,主自己要给你们一个兆头,必有怀孕生子,给他起名叫(就是 神与我们同在的意思)。Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.
15到他晓得弃恶择善的时候,他必吃奶油与蜂蜜。By the time He knows enough to reject evil and choose good, He will be eating curds and honey.
16因为在这孩子还不晓得弃恶择善之先,你所憎恶的那二王之地必致见弃。For before the boy knows enough to reject evil and choose good, the land of the two kings you dread will be laid waste.
亚述要临到犹大
17耶和华必使亚述王攻击你的日子临到你和你的百姓,并你的父家,自从以法莲离开犹大以来,未曾有这样的日子。The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since the day Ephraim separated from Judah—He will bring the king of Assyria.”
18“那时,耶和华要发嘶声,使埃及江河源头的苍蝇和亚述地的蜂子飞来;On that day the LORD will whistle to the flies at the farthest streams of the Nile and to the bees in the land of Assyria.
19都必飞来,落在荒凉的谷内、磐石的穴里,和一切荆棘篱笆中,并一切的草场上。And they will all come and settle in the steep ravines and clefts of the rocks, in all the thornbushes and watering holes.
20“那时,主必用大河外的剃头刀,就是亚述王,剃去头发和脚上的毛,并要剃净胡须。On that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates—the king of Assyria—to shave your head and the hair of your legs, and to remove your beard as well.
21“那时,一个人要养活一只母牛犊,两只母绵羊;On that day a man will raise a young cow and two sheep,
22因为出的奶多,他就得吃奶油,在境内所剩的人都要吃奶油与蜂蜜。and from the abundance of milk they give, he will eat curds; for all who remain in the land will eat curds and honey.
23“从前,凡种一千棵葡萄树、值银一千舍客勒的地方,到那时必长荆棘和蒺藜。And on that day, in every place that had a thousand vines worth a thousand shekels of silver, only briers and thorns will be found.
24人上那里去,必带弓箭,因为遍地满了荆棘和蒺藜。Men will go there with bow and arrow, for the land will be covered with briers and thorns.
25所有用锄刨挖的山地,你因怕荆棘和蒺藜,不敢上那里去;只可成了放牛之处,为羊践踏之地。”For fear of the briers and thorns, you will no longer traverse the hills once tilled by the hoe; they will become places for oxen to graze and sheep to trample.
以赛亚书 第 8 章
掳掠速临、抢夺快到
1耶和华对我说:“你取一个大牌,拿人所用的笔(或译:人常用的字),写上‘玛黑珥·沙拉勒·哈施·罢斯’(就是掳掠速临、抢夺快到的意思)。Then the LORD said to me, “Take a large scroll and write on it with an ordinary stylus: Maher-shalal-hash-baz.
2我要用诚实的见证人,祭司乌利亚和耶比利家的儿子撒迦利亚记录这事。”And I will appoint for Myself trustworthy witnesses—Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah.”
3我—以赛亚与妻子(原文是女先知)同室;她怀孕生子,耶和华就对我说:“给他起名叫玛黑珥·沙拉勒·哈施·罢斯;And I had relations with the prophetess, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. The LORD said to me, “Name him Maher-shalal-hash-baz.
4因为在这小孩子不晓得叫父叫母之先,大马士革的财宝和撒马利亚的掳物必在亚述王面前搬了去。”For before the boy knows how to cry ‘Father’ or ‘Mother,’ the wealth of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried off by the king of Assyria.”
大河的水猛然冲来
5耶和华又晓谕我说:And the LORD spoke to me further:
6“这百姓既厌弃缓流的水,喜悦利汛和利玛利的儿子;“Because this people has rejected the gently flowing waters of Shiloah and rejoiced in Rezin and the son of Remaliah,
7因此,主必使大河翻腾的水猛然冲来,就是亚述王和他所有的威势,必漫过一切的水道,涨过两岸;the Lord will surely bring against them the mighty floodwaters of the Euphrates—the king of Assyria and all his pomp. It will overflow its channels and overrun its banks.
8必冲入犹大,涨溢泛滥,直到颈项。以马内利啊,他展开翅膀,遍满你的地。”It will pour into Judah, swirling and sweeping over it, reaching up to the neck; its spreading streams will cover your entire land, O Immanuel!
9列国的人民哪,任凭你们喧嚷,终必破坏;远方的众人哪,当侧耳而听!任凭你们束起腰来,终必破坏;你们束起腰来,终必破坏。Huddle together, O peoples, and be shattered; pay attention, all you distant lands; prepare for battle, and be shattered; prepare for battle, and be shattered!
10任凭你们同谋,终归无有;任凭你们言定,终不成立;因为 神与我们同在。Devise a plan, but it will be thwarted; state a proposal, but it will not happen. For God is with us.”
要尊万军之耶和华为圣
11耶和华以大能的手,指教我不可行这百姓所行的道,对我这样说:For this is what the LORD has spoken to me with a strong hand, instructing me not to walk in the way of this people:
12“这百姓说同谋背叛,你们不要说同谋背叛。他们所怕的,你们不要怕,也不要畏惧。“Do not call conspiracy everything these people regard as conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear; do not live in dread.
13但要尊万军之耶和华为圣,以他为你们所当怕的,所当畏惧的。The LORD of Hosts is the One you shall regard as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be dreaded.
14他必作为圣所,却向以色列两家作,跌人的磐石;向耶路撒冷的居民作为圈套和网罗。And He will be a sanctuary—but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare.
15许多人必在其上绊脚跌倒,而且跌碎,并陷入网罗,被缠住。”Many will stumble over these; they will fall and be broken; they will be ensnared and captured.”
封住训诲,等候耶和华
16你要卷起律法书,在我门徒中间封住训诲。Bind up the testimony and seal the law among my disciples.
17我要等候那掩面不顾雅各家的耶和华;我也要仰望他。I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding His face from the house of Jacob. I will put my trust in Him.
18看哪,我与耶和华所给我的儿女,就是从住在锡安山万军之耶和华来的,在以色列中作为预兆和奇迹。Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me as signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD of Hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.
不可求问交鬼的
19有人对你们说:“当求问那些交鬼的和行巫术的,就是声音,言语微细的。”你们便回答说:“百姓不当求问自己的 神吗?岂可为活人求问死人呢?”When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?
20人当以训诲和法度为标准;他们所说的,若不与此相符,必不得见晨光。To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.
21他们必经过这地,受艰难,受饥饿;饥饿的时候,心中焦躁,咒骂自己的君王和自己的 神。They will roam the land, dejected and hungry. When they are famished, they will become enraged; and looking upward, they will curse their king and their God.
22仰观上天,俯察下地,不料,尽是艰难、黑暗,和幽暗的痛苦。他们必被赶入乌黑的黑暗中去。Then they will look to the earth and see only distress and darkness and the gloom of anguish. And they will be driven into utter darkness.
以赛亚书 第 9 章
黑暗中的百姓看见大光
1但那受过痛苦的必不再见幽暗。从前 神使西布伦地和拿弗他利地被藐视,末后却使这沿海的路,约旦河外,外邦人的地得着荣耀。Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those in distress. In the past He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will honor the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations:
2在黑暗中行走的百姓看见了大光;住在死荫之地的人有光照耀他们。The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.
3你使这国民繁多,加增他们的喜乐;他们在你面前欢喜,好像收割的欢喜,像人分掳物那样的快乐。You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people rejoice before You as they rejoice at harvest time, as men rejoice in dividing the plunder.
4因为他们所负的重轭和肩头上的杖,并欺压他们人的棍,你都已经折断,好像在米甸的日子一样。For as in the day of Midian You have shattered the yoke of their burden, the bar across their shoulders, and the rod of their oppressor.
5战士在乱杀之间所穿戴的盔甲,并那滚在血中的衣服,都必作为可烧的,当作火柴。For every trampling boot of battle and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.
有一婴孩为我们而生
6因有一婴孩为我们而生;有一子赐给我们。政权必担在他的肩头上;他名称为“、全能的 神、永在的父、和平的君”。For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7他的政权与平安必加增无穷。他必在大卫的宝座上治理他的国,以公平公义使国坚定稳固,从今直到永远。万军之耶和华的热心必成就这事。Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.
摘要
以赛亚在异象中见到神的圣洁荣耀,深感自身不洁,经炭火洁净后领受差遣使命,却被告知百姓将心硬不悔改,直到审判临到。在亚哈斯面对亚兰与以色列联军威胁时,神借以赛亚宣告敌人计谋必不成就,并赐下以马内利的预言兆头,然而因百姓不信靠神,亚述的审判将如洪水般来到。在黑暗审判的尽头,先知预言一位婴孩将带来盼望——他名为奇妙策士、全能的神、永在的父、和平的君,要在大卫宝座上以公平公义建立永恒国度;但当下以色列因骄傲不肯归向神,审判仍持续加深,耶和华的手仍伸不缩。
反思问题
- 以赛亚在面见神的圣洁时深感自己的不配,你在亲近神时是否也曾意识到自己的不足?这样的经历如何影响你对神恩典的回应?
- 亚哈斯在危难中拒绝向神求兆头、宁可倚靠自己的判断,你在面对困境时是否也曾拒绝信靠神的引导?什么拦阻了你全然交托?
- 以赛亚九章描绘的那位带来光明与和平的婴孩,在你目前的生活处境中,基督的同在如何成为你在黑暗与压力中的盼望?
新约以弗所书 3:1–21
前情提要
上回说到
昨天():人原本死在过犯中,神却叫我们与基督一同活过来,“你们得救是本乎恩,也因着信”();基督拆毁了犹太人和外邦人中间隔断的墙,使两下成为一个新人,同被建造成神的家。
今天你会读到
保罗说明神托付他的“奥秘”:外邦人在基督里与犹太人同为后嗣、同为一体;接着他屈膝祷告,求神使信徒心里刚强,明白基督的爱是何等长阔高深。
阅读小提示
留意 的颂赞:神能成就的“超过我们所求所想的”。按传统的看法,保罗是在坐监的时候写下这句话的。
点时代可看说明
传统认为是保罗约主后 60–62 年在罗马坐监时写的,所以他称自己是“被囚的”(、)。
以弗所书 第 3 章
保罗为外邦人被囚
1因此,我—保罗为你们外邦人作了基督耶稣,替你们祈祷(此句是照对十四节所加)。For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles...
福音的奥秘
2你们曾听见 神赐恩给我,将关切你们的职分托付我,Surely you have heard about the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
3用启示使我知道福音的奥秘,正如我以前写过的。that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.
4你们念了,就能晓得我深知基督的奥秘。In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
5这奥秘在以前的世代没有叫人知道,像如今借着圣灵启示他的圣使徒和先知一样。which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
6这奥秘就是外邦人在基督耶稣里,借着福音,得以,同为一体,同蒙应许。This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.
作福音的执事
7我作了这福音的,是照 神的恩赐,这恩赐是照他运行的大能赐给我的。I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace, given me through the working of His power.
8我本来比众圣徒中最小的还小,然而他还赐我这恩典,叫我把基督那的丰富传给外邦人,Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9又使众人都明白,这历代以来隐藏在创造万物之 神里的奥秘是如何安排的,and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
10为要借着教会使天上执政的、掌权的,现在得知 神百般的智慧。His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
11这是照 神从万世以前,在我们主基督耶稣里所定的旨意。according to the eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12我们因信耶稣,就在他里面,笃信不疑地来到 神面前。In Him and through faith in Him we may enter God’s presence with boldness and confidence.
13所以,我求你们不要因我为你们所受的患难,这原是你们的荣耀。So I ask you not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
在父面前屈膝
14因此,我在父面前,... for this reason I bow my knees before the Father,
15(天上地上的各(或译:全),都是从他得名。)from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.
明白基督的爱何等长阔高深
16求他按着他丰盛的荣耀,借着他的灵,叫你们心里的力量刚强起来,I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
17使基督因你们的信,住在你们心里,叫你们的爱心,so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18能以和众圣徒一同明白基督的爱是何等,will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth
19并知道这爱是过于人所能测度的,便叫 神一切所充满的,充满了你们。of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
超过我们所求所想
20神能照着运行在我们心里的大力充充足足地成就一切,超过我们所求所想的。Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,
21但愿他在教会中,并在基督耶稣里,得着荣耀,直到世世代代,永永远远。阿们!to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
摘要
保罗揭示了福音的核心奥秘:外邦人借着基督耶稣与犹太人同为后嗣、同为一体、同蒙应许,这是历代隐藏、如今藉圣灵向使徒和先知启示的计划。保罗虽自认比众圣徒中最小的还小,却领受恩典将基督测不透的丰富传给外邦人,使神百般的智慧藉教会彰显。他为信徒屈膝祷告,求神使他们心里刚强、在爱中扎根,能体会基督之爱的长阔高深,并经历神超过所求所想的大能充满。
反思问题
- 保罗强调外邦人与犹太人在基督里合一同蒙应许,你在教会生活中是否有因背景差异而产生的隔阂?如何实践在基督里的合一?
- 保罗以自己的卑微衬托神恩典的伟大,你是否也曾觉得自己不够格被神使用?神的恩赐如何超越你对自身的评价?
- 保罗祷告信徒能明白基督的爱是何等长阔高深,在你目前的生活中,有哪些经历让你更深体会到这份超越理性的爱?