Wednesday, 3rd August 2022
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
Section One V1-7 We Are Chosen
We must know our identity, do not focus on the things of the world but to really see God’s Will in our lives. V1 ‘Listen, O coastlands, to Me, and take heed, you peoples from afar! The Lord has called Me from the womb; from the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name.’ Do we know God has chosen us? God wants to lead us into Hos light, when we are in the light then we will no longer see the things in this world.
V2 ‘And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me, and made Me a polished shaft; in His quiver He has hidden Me.’ Do we believe in God’s promises and blessings for us? A lot of times we can’t see God’s promises come to past and we lose faith. God wants to mold us to get rid of our fear, our self righteous, and our pride.
V3-4 ‘And He said to me, you are My servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified. Then I said, ‘I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain; yet surely my just reward is with the Lord, and my work with my God.’ Everything we plan will be in vein, if we don’t see the Will of God then our plans will never prosper. Do we know that our rewards are in God’s hands? Do not hold onto the worldly things and let it become our idols. God wants us to see what’s behind our doing. What are our intentions? Do we really have God in our lives ?
V5-6 ‘And now the Lord says, who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant, to bring Jacob back to Him, so that Israel is gathered to Him (for I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and My God shall be My strength), indeed He says, it is too small a thing that You should be My Servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, that You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ God wants us to declare our identity and the Will of God even when we are in difficulties. Our power and strength are not from people and not from this world. Only God is our strengths. We must know what God has done in our lives. He chose us and He built us up to be His servants. God wants us to have unity, to connect with our God and with our authority. Therefore we must hold onto the presence of God just like how Jacob wrestle with God. Do not give up, our decision determines life and death.
V7 ‘Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One, to Him whom man despises, to Him whom the nation abhors, to the Servant of rulers: Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel; and He has chosen You.’ God is faithful, He chooses us, so do not turn back to the world, focus on the eternal God.
Section Two V8-23 God Will Repay
V8-9 ‘Thus says the Lord: in an acceptable time I have heard You, and in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You as a covenant to the people, to restore the earth, to cause them to inherit the desolate heritages; that You may say to the prisoners, ‘Go forth,’ to those who are in darkness, ‘Show yourselves.’ They shall feed along the roads, and their pastures shall be on all desolate heights.’ We need to wait for God’s timing, do not react straight away. When we feel hurt we will want to hurt others. Do we love God and love people? When we don’t seek God but think about our own benefit, then we are not loving God and others. We are self pity and we are selfish.
On the top of the mountain we see the light we must come out to the light. Put to death our old self. Do not be afraid. We must receive the flow of peace from above. Let the living water flow through us to others. Do not think that God chose us so our lives will be smooth. Let our lives be full of thanksgiving and goodness.
V14 ‘But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me.’ We don’t see God is doing the work but we complain we think God is not doing anything for us. But God said He will not forget about us.
V21 ‘Then you will say in your heart, who has begotten these for me, since I have lost my children and am desolate, a captive, and wandering to and fro? And who has brought these up? There I was, left alone; but these, where were they?’ We don’t believe and we only see our lacking. But God already told us that He will be with us and He will protect us. God knows our fear
Section Three V24-26 Only Jehovah
V26 ‘I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh, and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine. All flesh shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.’ Do we think we can deal with our own problems? We need to understand the work of God we must know our identity we are chosen ones. Gods work in our lives is so real, but can we see it? We are blinded and we are holding onto the world. Therefore let us step out of our cave, stay out of the darkness, and come into light.
以赛亚书 49 – 要明白神的作为
2022年8月3日 星期三
潘锡安牧师
很多时候我们会被周遭的环境甚至我们自己影响到不认识自己，但神要我们恢复，明白自己是谁。过去的事情会让我们想要放弃，回去自己的山洞，因为我们太体贴自己的感觉，不想花力气去经历神。我们不相信神会做新的事，但神的作为、计划不是停留在过去。本章经文让我们更加明白神的作为。
一、v.1- 7 我们是被拣选的
V1 我们很容易打退堂鼓，但我们要知道自己是被拣选的，我们的生命有命定、我们的被造有神的心意和祝福，所以不要因为一些事情就轻言放弃。当我们知道自己被拣选的身份的时候，其它事情都不重要了。以色列人在埃及的时候每天劳力做砖，我们也是如此，想努力让这个世界认同我们。然而，这些“努力”都要付出我们的灵魂，神要带我们出离这个黑暗，进入他奇妙的光明，使我们不再只是看这个世界，而要去听见神。世界看神的百姓为被掳被囚的人，但神要他们听我们的声音。当我们生活困难、被攻击的时候，我们会发出什么声音呢？是抱怨或批评论断吗？当神要以色列说出“自我出胎，耶和华就选召我；自出母腹，他就提我的名”时，他们仍然处在亡国被掳的困境。神要我们在这样的环境下宣告我们的身份！
V2 要相信神对我们和我们儿女的祝福和应许，在遇到问题时就祷告交托给神，从口中说出的话都是鼓励造就人的话，而不是“放毒”。我们口中所出的是否是神的话，还是只顾发泄自己的感觉？唯有神的话语才能“如快刀”一样有攻击性，将我们里面的负面除去，使我们口中带出的是神的平安。神要我们“藏在他手荫之下”，我们不要为自己伸冤；我们也要愿意将自己放在他的手荫之下被“磨”，将我们的惧怕、自以为是、骄傲、和不愿意舍己利他都磨去，成为“磨亮的箭”，并被放回神的箭袋，等候他的时刻。
V3 我们看见的都是问题、是无奈，却没有看见也不明白神要因我们“得荣耀”。我们抓住眼前的失败、恐惧、愤怒、不平而不放手，以为这些会成为别人的笑柄，于是想为自己留一条后路，然而这一切都是“虚空”的。
V4 我们有时会觉得自己已经尽力了，到头来都是“虚无虚空”，但我们要看到，在神有公义的审判。神会让我们看见那些我们一直抓住不放、成为我们偶像的东西、事情，当我们倚靠它们的时候，最后受伤、冷淡退后、甚至放弃的就是我们。其实我们一切努力的成败都在乎神，不必在乎人对我们的批评论断，因为神会为我们平反。我们努力的背后是为了神，还是因为自己害怕？当我们所做的一切都是为了神，我们就无论结果如何都能感恩。我们是否相信“我当得的理必在耶和华那里，我的赏赐必在我神那里”？
V5 我们的力量并非从别人的赞许而来，是单单从耶和华而来。若不靠神给我们的力量，我们早就垮掉了。
V6 神拣选我们成为他的仆人，“使雅各众支派复兴”，而不是让别人跌倒。在马可楼的阶段，我们要先学会与神、与权柄对齐，才会与周围的人对齐，且能生命影响生命。我们的言行能带出合一吗，还是让人与我们的权柄分裂？我们可能以为让那些冷淡退后的“以色列中得保全的”人归回是天大的难事，但在神眼里只是“小事”，他还要使我们“做外邦人的光”，施行救恩“直到地极”。我们沉浸在自己的小剧场里时，我们是蒙蔽的；我们要抓住神的应许同在，如雅各紧抓住神不放一样。
V7 我们冷淡退后是因为自己或环境吗？神说，这一切都会过去，他是“信实的耶和华，就是拣选你以色列的圣者”，他的荣耀要在地上彰显。
二、v.8-23 神必报应
遇到问题的时候我们常常不能等，因为我们不相信神是必报应的神，所以当我们被伤害、惧怕的时候，我们的第一反应的就去伤害别人。我们自怜自艾，沉醉在自己的世界，没有爱人如己。
V8 以色列百姓在为奴为仆、国破家亡的时刻，所以神对他们说“我要保护你”。
V9 我们是否愿意从捆绑中出来，是否愿意让我们里面的黑暗、诡诈显露？神不要我们整天带着假面具、活在自己的虚假里，但我们也不是任性，而是要看见自己是在蒙蔽里，所以“显露”是让我们悔改。当我们愿意出来、悔改的时候，我们就能“在路上必得饮食，在一切净光的高处必有食物”。
V10 我们是否害怕穷乏？神应许我们“不饥不渴”，“炎热和烈日”也不会伤害我们。“因为怜恤他们的必引导他们，领他们到水泉旁边”- 要对准水位，流下来的才是平安。
V11 跟从神的道路是不平坦的，我们是否在被修剪的时候能感恩、喜乐？
V12-13 我们是否相信神必报应、神必出手？
V14 我们很多时候不相信神，反而抱怨神给我们的处境。
V15-18 神应许，他不会忘记我们。我们担心的是失去保护我们的“墙垣”，但神说我们的墙垣常在他眼前，他也能使我们的儿女“急速归回”。神会翻转我们的生命，使我们荣上加荣，使列邦来到我们的这里，因我们是可以生命影响生命的。
V21-22 我们看见的都是自己的缺乏、不能、孤单、害怕，但耶和华说“我必向列国举手，向万民竖立大旗，他们必将你的众子怀中抱来，将你的众女肩上扛来”。
V23 我们是否相信神的作为，还是被环境打败？
三、v.24-26 唯有耶和华
要明白，能够成就这一切唯有耶和华！
我们是否愿意放下自己过去紧紧抓住的山洞，出黑暗、进入神的奇妙光明吗？