第二十章
1亞述王撒珥根打發他珥探到亞實突的那年,他珥探就攻打亞實
突,將城攻取。2那時,耶和華曉諭亞摩斯的兒子以賽亞說:“你
去解掉你腰間的麻布,脫下你腳上的鞋。”以賽亞就這樣做,露身
赤腳行走。3耶和華說:“我僕人以賽亞怎樣露身赤腳行走三年,
作為關乎埃及和古實的預兆奇蹟,4照樣,亞述王也必擄去埃及
人,掠去古實人,無論老少,都露身赤腳,現出下體,使埃及蒙
羞。5以色列人必因所仰望的古實,所誇耀的埃及,驚惶羞愧。
6那時,這沿海一帶的居民必說:‘看哪,我們素所仰望的,就
是我們為脫離亞述王逃往求救的,不過是如此!我們怎能逃脫
呢?’”
默想:
1.在主前第八世紀,神要以賽亞“去解掉你腰間的麻布,脫下你
腳上的鞋”,穿著內衣、赤著腳,在街上走。當時以賽亞一定
覺得自己像個瘋癲的傻瓜。這個皇室子弟在神的命令下,不顧
別人的痴笑,為百姓成為“實物教材”。不久之後,大能的神
就要審判埃及與古實(艾薩俄比亞),而他們的百姓就會遭到
以賽亞所呈現的遭遇。
2.今天神不太可能要你我穿著內衣,或是背著一個木製十架,走
到大街上遊行;但是卻有很多時候,當我們想到應當順服神的
旨意去做某件事時,就會覺得有些難為情,或害怕被人嘲笑。
3.在這樣的時候,你會怎樣做?你會看重自己的身份名譽、你
的形像、以及別人對你的接納,過於討神的喜悅,遵行神的旨
意嗎?
禱告與筆錄:
繼續安靜在神面前,與神對話,並聆聽祂對我說的話。將心中
的思想(心得),或是與神的禱告,記錄在「靈程筆記簿」上面。
Chapter 20
1 In the year that the supreme commander, sent by Sargon king of Assyria,
came to Ashdod and attacked and captured it— 2 at that time the
LORD spoke through Isaiah son of Amoz. He said to him, “Take off the
sackcloth from your body and the sandals from your feet.” And he did so,
going around stripped and barefoot.3 Then the LORD said, “Just as my
servant Isaiah has gone stripped and barefoot for three years, as a sign and
portent against Egypt and Cush, 4 so the king of Assyria will lead away
stripped and barefoot the Egyptian captives and Cushite exiles, young and
old, with buttocks bared —to Egypt’s shame. 5 Those who trusted in Cush
and boasted in Egypt will be dismayed and put to shame. 6 In that day the
people who live on this coast will say, ‘See what has happened to those
we relied on, those we fled to for help and deliverance from the king of
Assyria! How then can we escape? ’”
Meditation
1.Isaiah must have felt something of a fool in the eighth century BC,
when he was told by God to wander the streets of Jerusalem stripped
(to a loincloth) and barefoot for some three years. This relative
of the royal family exposed himself to shame at God’s command,
to serve as an object lesson. Soon the sovereign God would execute
judgment against Egypt and Cush (Ethiopia), and their people
would suffer Isaiah’s fate.
2.God is unlikely to ask you or me to walk about in diapers or drag
a cross. But there will be times when we feel a little embarrassed
or foolish at the thought of doing something we feel convicted is
God’s will.
3.At such times, what will be your response? Will you treasure your
reputation, your image and acceptance of others more than pleasing
God and following God’s will?
Prayer & Journaling: Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse
with God and listen to what he wants to tell me. Then write down
any thought and/or prayer in the 2012 “Spiritual Journal” book.