至于我和我家人,我们必定事奉上帝。 As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Monday, January 31, 2011

你要作外邦人的光 You shall be a light to the Gentiles

以赛亚书 49: 6-7 Isaiah 49:6-7
以色列的圣者耶和如此:你作我的仆人,使雅各众支派复,使以色列中得保全的回尚小事,我要使你作外邦人的光,叫你施行我的救恩,直到地极 。君王要看就站起,首也要下拜;都因信的耶和,就是以色列的圣者。The Lord, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, says: “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth. Kings will stand at attention when you pass by. Princes will also bow low because of the Lord, the faithful one, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”


当我们将救恩与福分带给世界各国时,君王要看就站起, 也要下拜,承认主的恩典。 When we bring salvation and blessing to the nations of the earth, kings will stand in attention and princes will bow down to us. 

Sunday, January 30, 2011

我的赏赐必在我神那里 I will trust God for my reward

以赛亚书 49:1-4 Isaiah 49:1-4
众海啊,当听我言! 遠方的众民哪,留心而听! 自我出胎,耶和召我;自出母腹,他就提我的名。他使我成磨亮的箭,将我藏在他箭袋之中;他:你是我的仆人;我必因你得荣耀。我却:我碌是徒然;我尽力是虚无虚空。然而,我当得的理必在耶和那里;我的赏赐必在我神那里。Listen to me, all you in distant lands!  Pay attention, you who are far away! The Lord called me before my birth; from within the womb he called me by name. He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand. I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver. He said to me, “You are my servant and you will bring me glory.” I replied, “But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand; I will trust God for my reward.”

Saturday, January 29, 2011

以赛亚书 48:1213 1719  Isaiah 48:12-13, 17-19
雅各我所召的以色列啊,当听我言:我是耶和,我是首先的,也是末后的。我手立了地的根基;我右手铺张诸天;我一招呼便都立住。耶和华-你的救主,以色列的圣者如此:我是耶和华-你的神,教你,使你得益,引你所当行的路。甚願你素来听从我的命令!你的平安就如河水;你的公就如海浪。你的后裔也必多如海沙;你腹中所生的也必多如沙粒。“Listen to me, O family of Jacob, Israel my chosen one! I alone am God, the First and the Last. It was my hand that laid the foundations of the earth, my right hand that spread out the heavens above. When I call out the stars, they all appear in order.” This is what the Lord says - your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow. Oh, that you had listened to my commands! Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river
 and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea. Your descendants would have been like the sands along the seashore - too many to count!”

Friday, January 28, 2011

你在苦难的炉中,我熬炼你 I refined you in the furnace of suffering


以赛亚书 48:10-11 Isaiah 48:10-11
我熬你,却不像熬炼银子;你在苦的炉中,我你。我自己的故必行事,我焉能使我的名被亵渎 我必不将我的荣耀假神。I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering. I will rescue you for my sake - yes, for my own sake! I will not let my reputation be tarnished, and I will not share my glory with idols!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

以赛亚书 48:5-7 Isaiah 48:5-7
所以,我从古時将明,在未成以先指示你,免得你些事是我的偶像所行的,是我雕刻的偶像和我造的偶像所命定的。你已在要看见这一切;你不 从今以后,我将新事,就是你所不知道的密事指示你。事是今造的,并非从古就有;在今日以先,你也未曾听,免得你事我早已知道了。That is why I told you what would happen; I told you beforehand what I was going to do. Then you could never say, ‘My idols did it. My wooden image and metal god commanded it to happen!’ You have heard my predictions and seen them fulfilled, but you refuse to admit it. Now I will tell you new things, secrets you have not yet heard. They are brand new, not things from the past. So you cannot say, ‘We knew that all the time!’

耶和华会将新事指示我们。他正在创造新事物。事是今造的,并非从古就有;在今日以先,你也未曾听见,我们所不知道的密事。惟有他所拣选的,他会指示于他们知晓。  God is in the process of telling and creating new things. They are brand new, not things from the past, so that they are mysterious to us. Only those whom He chooses to reveal will know them.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

惟有他是神 He alone is God

以赛亚书 46:910 Isaiah 46:9-10
要追念上古的事。因我是神,并无神;我是神,再没有能比我的。我从起初指明末后的事,从古時言明未成的事,:我的籌算必立定;凡我所喜悦的,我必成就。Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.

耶和华是从亘古,现今与未来的真神。昨日,今日与永远,他不该变。以前他作大事,今日也是。他说明未来的事,所筹算的必成就。惟有他是神。 Our God is the God of the past, present and future. Yesterday, today and forever, He is the same. He has done great things in the past and He is still doing them. He can tell us the future even before it happens and everything He plans will come to pass. He alone is God.

Monday, January 24, 2011

偶像的无能,人类的无知 Powerlessness of idols and foolishness of man


以赛亚书 46:1-257 Isaiah 46:1-2, 5-7
彼勒屈身,尼波弯腰;巴比的偶像和牲畜上。他所抬的如今成了重,使牲畜疲乏,都一同弯腰屈身,不能保全重,自己倒被去。你与我相比,与我同等,可以与我比,使我相同呢? 那从囊中抓金子,用天平平子的人,雇匠制造神像,他又俯伏,又叩拜。他将神像抬起,扛在肩上,安置在定,他就站立,不離本位;人呼求他,他不能答,也不能救人脱離患Bel and Nebo, the gods of Babylon, bow as they are lowered to the ground. They are being hauled away on ox carts. The poor beasts stagger under the weight. Both the idols and their owners are bowed down. The gods cannot protect the people, and the people cannot protect the gods. They go off into captivity together. “To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?" Some people pour out their silver and gold and hire a craftsman to make a god from it. Then they bow down and worship it! They carry it around on their shoulders, and when they set it down, it stays there. It can’t even move! And when someone prays to it, there is no answer. It can’t rescue anyone from trouble.

假神不能保护人民,人民也不能保护他们的假神。那为何还要互相依靠它们呢?让我们当当依靠全能与信实的耶和华真神。The gods cannot protect the people, and the people cannot protect their gods. So why do we still trust them? Let us put our trust in our great and faithful Jehovah God.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

万膝必跪拜;万口必凭我起誓 Every knee will bow and every tongue confess

以赛亚书 45:2025 Isaiah 45:20-25
那些抬著雕刻木偶、祷告不能救人之神的,毫无知。 从古時指明? 从上古述 不是我 耶和?除了我以外,再没有神;我是公的神,又是救主;除了我以外,再没有神。地极的人都当仰望我,就必得救;因我是神,再没有神。我指著自己起誓,我口所出的是凭公,并不反回:万膝必向我跪拜;万口必凭我起誓。人,公、能力,惟独在乎耶和;人都必向他。以色列的后裔都必因耶和得称,并要夸耀。What fools they are who carry around their wooden idols 
and pray to gods that cannot save! What idol ever told you they would happen? Who made these things known so long ago? Was it not I, the Lord? For there is no other God but me, a righteous God and Savior. There is none but me. Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other. I have sworn by my own name; I have spoken the truth, and I will never go back on my word: Every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess allegiance to me. The people will declare, “The Lord is the source of all my righteousness and strength.” In the Lord all the generations of Israel will be justified, and in him they will boast.

对照:腓立比 2:9-11 Reference: Phil. 2:9-11
神将他升至高,又赐给他那超乎万名之上的名,叫一切在天上的、地上的,和地底下的,因耶的名无不屈膝,无不口称耶基督主,使荣耀与父神。God elevated him to the place of highest honor 
and gave him the name above all other names,
 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, 
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
 to the glory of God the Father.

Friday, January 21, 2011

以赛亚书 45:1519 Isaiah 45:15-19
救主 以色列的神啊,你在是自的神。凡制造偶像的都必抱愧蒙羞,都要一同愧。惟有以色列必蒙耶和的拯救,得永遠的救恩。你必不蒙羞,也不抱愧,直到永世无尽。天的耶和,制造成全大地的神,他定大地,并非使地荒凉,是要人居住。他如此:我是耶和,再没有神。我没有在密黑暗之地说话;我没有雅各的后裔:你们寻求我是徒然的。我 耶和的是公,所的是正直。Truly, O God of Israel, our Savior,
you work in mysterious ways. All craftsmen who make idols will be humiliated. They will all be disgraced together. But the Lord will save the people of Israel 
with eternal salvation. Throughout everlasting ages, they will never again be humiliated and disgraced. For the Lord is God, and he created the heavens and earth and put everything in place. He made the world to be lived in, not to be a place of empty chaos. “I am the Lord,” he says,
“and there is no other. I publicly proclaim bold promises. I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner. I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me if I could not be found. I, the Lord, speak only what is true and declare only what is right.

天的耶和,制造成全大地的神,他定大地,并非使地荒凉,是要人居住。 他也命令世人要好好珍惜他们的所,不要让他成为荒凉的土地。For the Lord is God, he created the heavens and earth and put everything in place. He made the world to be lived in, not to be a place of empty chaos. He also commanded people of the world to treasure their dwelling place, and not let it become a wasteland, an uninhabitable place.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

为何与造我们的争论呢? Why do we argue with our Maker?


以赛亚书 45:9-13 Isaiah 45:9-13
哉,那与造他的主争的!他不過是地上瓦片中的一瓦片。泥土弄他的:你做甚么呢?所做的物:你没有手呢?哉,那:你生的是甚么呢?或:你的是甚么呢?耶和华 - 以色列的圣者,就是造就以色列的如此:将来的事,你可以問我;至於我的众子,并我手的工作,你可以求我命定。我造地,又造人在地上。我铺张诸天;天上万象也是我所命定的。我凭公起他,又要修直他一切道路。他必建造我的城,放我被的民;不是工价,也不是为赏赐是万之耶和的。“What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’
   Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be?’ How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father, ‘Why was I born?’ or if it said to its mother, ‘Why did you make me this way?’” This is what the Lord says - the Holy One of Israel and your Creator: “Do you question what I do for my children? Do you give me orders about the work of my hands? I am the one who made the earth and created people to live on it. With my hands I stretched out the heavens. All the stars are at my command. I will raise him up to fulfill my righteous purpose, and I will guide his actions.
   He will restore my city and free my captive people - without seeking a reward! I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”

耶和华是我们的创造者。他凭自己的喜悦兴起任何人,承担他的使命,修直道路,建造城邑,并释放被 The Lord is our Creator and He raises up whoever He pleases to fulfill His purpose, to restore His city and set His people free.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

屈服的祷告 A Prayer of submission

以赛亚书 45:6-8 Isaiah 45:6-8
从日出之地到日落之处,人都知道除了我以外没有神。我是耶和;在我以外并没有神。我造光,又造暗;我施平安,又降灾;造作一切的是我 耶和天哪,自上而滴,穹降下公;地面開裂,出救恩,使公一同生;都是我 耶和所造的。
Everywhere in the world from east to west, people
will know there is no other God. I am the Lord, and there is no other. I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the Lord, am the one who does these things. “Open up, O heavens, and pour out your righteousness. Let the earth open wide
so salvation and righteousness can sprout up together. I, the Lord, created them.

主啊!唯一有您是真神,除您以外别并无别神。其他的都是假神。您创造天地万物,光与暗,平安与灾祸。您也造公义与救恩。这一切都是从您而来。我屈服在您旨意里。因为在那里是最安全,最有保障的。
Dear Lord! You are the only true and living God and there is no other gods besides you. Everything else is a false god. You have made the heavens and the earth, light and darkness, peace and calamity. You have also created righteousness and salvation. You, the Lord, made all these things. I bow down and submit to your will. For it is there that I am safest and most secure.

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

被呼召实行神的旨意 Called for a Purpose



以赛亚书 45:3-5 Isaiah 45:3-5


我要将暗中的宝物和密的赐给你,使你知道提名召你的,就是我 耶和、以色列的神。 因我仆人雅各  我所以色列的故,我就提名召你;你认识我,我也加你名号。我是耶和,在我以外并没有神;除了我以外再没有神。 I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness - secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name. Why have I called you for this work? Why did I call you by name when you did not know me? It is for the sake of Jacob my servant, Israel my chosen one. I am the Lord; there is no other God.


耶和华提名呼召我们是要我们在我们的这世代实行他美好的旨意。大卫王在世的時候遵行神的旨意服事了他那一世的人(司徒行传 1336)
 
The Lord has called us for a reason, to fulfill His wonderful purpose and serve our generation. King David served his generation and fulfilled God’s will for his life. (Acts 13:36)

Monday, January 17, 2011

以赛亚书 44:24-28 Isaiah 44:24-28
从你出胎,造就你的救 耶和如此:我 耶和造万物的,是独自铺张诸天、開大地的。与我同在呢?使的兆失效,使占卜的狂,使智慧人退后,使他的知愚拙;使我仆人的话语立定,我使者的算成就。到耶路撒冷:必有人居住;到犹大的城邑:必被建造,其中的荒我也必起。深渊:你干了吧!我也要使你的江河干涸。古列:他是我的牧人,必成就我所喜悦的,必下令建造耶路撒冷,命立圣殿的根基。This is what the Lord says - your Redeemer and Creator: “I am the Lord, who made all things. I alone stretched out the heavens. Who was with me
when I made the earth? I expose the false prophets as liars
and make fools of fortune-tellers. I cause the wise to give bad advice, thus proving them to be fools. But I carry out the predictions of my prophets! By them I say to Jerusalem, ‘People will live here again,’
and to the towns of Judah, ‘You will be rebuilt; I will restore all your ruins!’ When I speak to the rivers and say, ‘Dry up!’ they will be dry. When I say of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd,’
he will certainly do as I say. He will command, ‘Rebuild Jerusalem’; he will say, ‘Restore the Temple.’”


耶和华创造天地, 他也兴起万国。他能差遣任何人,甚至不信的国族,当他的器皿重建,重立,更新赐福与兴旺他的子民。The Lord is the Creator of the heavens and the earth; He also created the nations, He could use anyone, even an unbelieving nation, to be His instrument for rebuilding, restoration, renewal, blessing and prosperity for His people.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

以赛亚书 44:20-23 Isaiah 44:20-23
雅各,以色列啊,你是我的仆人,要些事。以色列啊,你是我的仆人,我造就你必不忘你。我涂抹了你的過犯,像厚云消散;我涂抹了你的罪,如薄云没。你当向我,因我救了你。天哪,当歌唱,因耶和做成事。地的深啊,呼;众山声歌唱;林和其中所有的都当如此!因耶和了雅各,并要因以色列荣耀自己。“Pay attention, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel. I, the Lord, made you, and I will not forget you. I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.” Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done this wondrous thing. Shout for joy, O depths of the earth! Break into song, O mountains and forests and every tree! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob
and is glorified in Israel.

我们要记念与感激能当神的仆人。他造就和救赎我们。他不会将我们忘了。因耶和华做成大事,我们当高声敬拜与欢呼!We should remember and feel honored to be the Lord’s servants. He has created us and redeemed us. He will not forget us. He has done wondrous things and we should worship and shout for joy!


"He lives"

Thursday, January 13, 2011

偶像是虚无的,侍奉它们是愚蠢的 Idols are nothing; idolatry is foolishness

以赛亚书 44:9-20 Isaiah 44:9-20
制造雕刻偶像的尽都虚空;他所喜悦的都无益;他无所看,无所知,他便羞愧。制造神像,造无益的偶像?看哪,他的同伴都必羞愧。工匠也不過是人,任他聚会,任他站立,都必惧怕,一同羞愧。

匠把在火炭中烧热,用器,用他有力的膀臂成;他饥饿而无力,不喝水而倦。木匠拉线,用笔劃出子,用刨子刨成形状,用尺劃了模,仿照人的体,做成人形,好住在房屋中。他砍伐香柏,又取柞(青桐)和橡,在林中定了一棵。他栽种松,得雨养。,人可用以火;他自己取些烤火,又著烤,而且做神像跪拜,做雕刻的偶像向他叩拜。他把一分在火中,把一分烤肉吃。自己烤火:啊哈,我暖和了,我火了。他用剩下的做了一神,就是雕刻的偶像。他向偶像俯伏叩拜,祷告他:求你拯救我,因你是我的神。

不知道,也不思想;因耶和住他的眼,不能看,塞住他的心,不能明白。心里也不醒悟,也没有知,没有明,能:我曾拿一分在火中了,在炭火上烤過;我也烤過肉吃。剩下的,我要作可憎的物?我可向木墩子叩拜呢?他以灰食,心中昏迷,使他偏邪,他不能自救,也不能:我右手中不是有虚谎吗

How foolish are those who manufacture idols. These prized objects are really worthless. The people who worship idols don’t know this, so they are all put to shame. Who but a fool would make his own god - an idol that cannot help him one bit? All who worship idols will be disgraced 
along with all these craftsmen - mere humans - who claim they can make a god. They may all stand together, but they will stand in terror and shame.

The blacksmith stands at his forge to make a sharp tool, pounding and shaping it with all his might. His work makes him hungry and weak. It makes him thirsty and faint. Then the wood-carver measures a block of wood 
and draws a pattern on it. He works with chisel and plane
 and carves it into a human figure. He gives it human beauty
 and puts it in a little shrine. He cuts down cedars; he selects the cypress and the oak;
 he plants the pine in the forest 
to be nourished by the rain. Then he uses part of the wood to make a fire. With it he warms himself and bakes his bread.
 Then - yes, it’s true - he takes the rest of it and makes himself a god to worship! He makes an idol
 and bows down in front of it! He burns part of the tree to roast his meat
 and to keep himself warm. He says, “Ah, that fire feels good.” Then he takes what’s left
 and makes his god: a carved idol! He falls down in front of it, worshiping and praying to it. “Rescue me!” he says. “You are my god!”

Such stupidity and ignorance! Their eyes are closed, and they cannot see. Their minds are shut, and they cannot think. The person who made the idol never stops to reflect, “Why, it’s just a block of wood! I burned half of it for heat 
and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god? Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?” The poor, deluded fool feeds on ashes. He trusts something that can’t help him at all. Yet he cannot bring himself to ask, “Is this idol that I’m holding in my hand a lie?”

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

除我以外 There is no God besides Me


以赛亚书 44:6-8 Isaiah 44:6-8
耶和 以色列的君,以色列的救 之耶和如此:我是首先的,我是末后的;除我以外再没有真神。自从我立古時的民,能像我宣告,并且指明,又自己陈说呢?他将未来来的事和必成的事明。你不要恐惧,也不要害怕。我不是从上古就明指示你们吗? 并且你是我的 除我以外有真神 然没有磐石,我不知道一個! This is what the Lord says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies: “I am the First and the Last; there is no other God. Who is like me? Let him step forward and prove to you his power. Let him do as I have done since ancient times when I established a people and explained its future. Do not tremble; do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago? You are my witnesses - is there any other God? No! There is no other Rock - not one!”

除你以外 "There is no God besides You"