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以赛亚书生命读经 · 第21篇

耶和华对以色列安慰的话

Jehovah’s Word Of Comfort To Israel
1读经：以赛亚书40，约翰福音，彼得前书1:23-24。
1Scripture Reading: Isa. 40; John 1:19-27; 1 Pet. 1:23-24 1:19-27
2在旧约的三十九卷书里，主要的是说到旧造；在新约的二十七卷书里，主要的是启示神的新造。因此，神的两个创造划定新旧两约之间的界限。现在我们需要看见，以赛亚书的头三十九章，是说到旧造，包括神对以色列人的惩治和对外邦的审判；在末了的二十七章，以赛亚豫言的中心乃是新造。
2In the Old Testament of thirty-nine books, the main thing covered is the old creation, and in the New Testament of twenty-seven books, the main thing revealed is God’s new creation. Thus, God’st wo creations mark the boundary between the Old Testament and the New Testament. Now we need to see that in the first thirty-nine chapters of Isaiah, the old creation is covered, including God’s chastisement of Israel and His judgment of the Gentiles, whereas in the last twenty-seven chapters, the center of Isaiah’s prophecy is the new creation
3新造的来临并不含示旧造立刻就结束。相反的，新造来到之后，旧造仍存留一段时间。在新约里，新造开始于施浸者约翰的来临；之后旧造仍然存留，直到千年国末了才结束。在千年国末了，旧造要结束，并且由新天新地的新耶路撒冷所表征的新造，要得著完成。（启二一1～2。）
3The coming of the new creation does not involve the immediate end of the old creation. On the contrary, after the new creation comes, the old creation remains for a period of time. In the New Testament, the new creation begins with the coming of John the Baptist. After that, the old creation remains until it is terminated at the end of the millennium. The end of the thousand-year kingdom will be the termination of the old creation as well as the completion, the consummation, of the new creation, as signified by the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and new earth (Rev. 21:1-2
4历史告诉我们，以赛亚是分两、三段时期写成本书的。我相信他豫言的第二部分，写作的时间必与第一部分的不同。
4History tells us that Isaiah wrote his book during two or three periods of time. I believe that the second part of his prophecy was written at a time different from the first part
5第二部分开始于对耶路撒冷的心所说安慰的话。（赛四十1～2。）这话是对心说的，意思就是这话与外面的人无关，乃与里面的人有关。在本章里，对耶路撒冷的心说安慰的话，实际上就是宣告福音。因此，我们可以把安慰一辞领会为传福音。
5The second part begins with a word of comfort spoken to the heart of Jerusalem (Isa. 40:1-2). The fact that this word is spoken to the heart means that it is concerned not with the outer man but with the inner man. In this chapter, the speaking of the word of comfort to the heart of Jerusalem is actually the announcing of the gospel. Thus, we may understand the word comfort as meaning the preaching of the gospel
6以赛亚四十章首先宣告施浸者约翰的来临，（赛四十3～4，）紧接著说到那是耶和华荣耀之基督的显现。（赛四十5。）耶和华的荣耀乃是为著新造之福音的中心。（林后四4～6。）基督是神荣耀的光辉，（来一3，）这光辉就像阳光的照耀。新约告诉我们，基督第一次来是清晨的日光。（路一78。）因此，当基督显现的时候，耶和华的荣耀就显现给寻求神和信基督的人看见。
6The first thing announced in Isaiah 4 0 is the coming of John the Baptist (v v. 3-4). Immediately after this is the appearing of Christ as the glory of Jehovah (v. 5). The glory of Jehovah is the center of the gospel for the new creation (2 Cor. 4:4-6). Christ is the effulgence of God’s glory (Heb. 1:3), and this effulgence is like the shining of the sun. The New Testament tells us that Christ’s first coming was the rising of the sun (Luke 1:7 8). Thus, when Christ appeared, the glory of Jehovah appeared to be seen by the God-seekers and Christ-believers.
7以赛亚四十章说到施浸者约翰的来到，以及基督这神之荣耀的显现，之后接著告诉我们，所有的人都像野地里的草和花一样，必枯干凋谢，但神的话必永远立定。（赛四十6～8。）神的话实际上就是基督作神的福音。这话是常存的，并且因著是生命的话，就也是活的。一切属肉体的人，一切必枯干凋谢的人，都该接受基督，祂是神的荣耀，作神活而常存的话临到人。那些接受基督这神的话的人，要得著重生，使他们凭永远的生命活著，直到永远。（彼前一23。）
7After Isaiah 40 speaks of the coming of John the Baptist and the appearing of Christ as the glory of God, this chapter tells us that, like the grass and the flower of the field, all men will wither and fade, but the word of God remains forever (vv. 6-8). The word of God is actually Christ as the gospel of God. This word is abiding, and as the word of life, it is also living. All men of flesh, all withering and fading human beings, should receive Christ, the glory of God, who comes to people as the living and abiding word of God. Those who receive Christ as this word of God will be regenerated that they may have eternal life to live forever (1 Pet. 1:23
8按以赛亚四十章二十九至三十一节，那些接受了话并得重生的人，现今都在等候耶和华。我们等候神，意思就是我们都将自己『解雇』了；这就是说，我们停下自己并自己的生活、行动，接受基督作我们的顶替。三十一节说，这样等候的人必如鹰展翅上腾，表征基督复活的大能。他不仅行走奔跑，更在诸天之上翱翔，远超每一属地的阻挠。这是变化过的人。所以在本章有福音的宣告（相当于四福音）、藉重生而得救（相当于行传）、以及变化（相当于书信）。
8According to Isaiah 40:29-31, those who have received the word and have been regenerated are now waiting for Jehovah. For us to wait on God means that we “fire” ourselves, that is, that we stop ourselves with our living, doing, and activity and receive Christ as our replacement. Verse 31 says that such a waiting one will mount up with wings like eagles, signifying the resurrection power of Christ. He will not only walk and run—he will also soar in the heavens, far above every earthly frustration. This is a transformed person. Therefore, in this chapter we have the announcing of the gospel (corresponding to the four Gospels), salvation through regeneration (corresponding to the Acts), and transformation (corresponding to the Epistles
9我相信以赛亚写本章，是要将希西家，一个敬虔却仍在旧造里的人，与新造里重生且变化的人相比较。就如三十六至三十九章所指明的，无论希西家多好，他仍在旧造里，因此他被神解雇了。但在四十章，我们看见一种完全不同的人－重生、变化的人，就是被解雇，以在基督里的神作他顶替，现今不住等候主的人。这样的人要『如鹰展翅上腾。』使徒保罗就是以赛亚四十章所描述之人最好的代表。我们要思想希西家和保罗之间的差别，问问自己是像希西家，还是像保罗。愿我们都像保罗，绝对的在新造里。在保罗身上，旧造已经被了结、解雇、并顶替，现今新造就在此与基督同在。
9I believe that Isaiah wrote this chapter to give us a comparison between Hezekiah, a godly man who was still in the old creation, and a regenerated and transformed person in the new creation. As chapters thirty-six through thirty-nine indicate, no matter how good Hezekiah was, he was still in the old creation, and thus he was fired by God. But in chapter forty we see a different kind of person—one who is regenerated and transformed, one who has been fired, who has taken God in Christ as his replacement, and who is now continually waiting upon the Lord. Such a person “will mount up with wings like eagles.” The apostle Paul is the best representative of the kind of person described in Isaiah 40. Let us consider the difference between Hezekiah and Paul and ask ourselves whether we will be like Hezekiah or like Paul. May we all be like Paul, who was absolutely in the new creation. With him, the old creation had been terminated, fired, and replaced, and now the new creation is here with Christ.
10我们对以赛亚四十章有了这观点，现今就可以继续来看这一章的细节。
10With this view of Isaiah 40 before us, let us now go on to consider the details in this chapter
壹 以赛亚书头三段中申言者的异象
I. The Prophet’s Vision In The First Three Sections Of Isaiah
11在以赛亚书头三段里（一至三十五章），申言者论到耶和华对以色列行政的对付，和祂对列国惩罚的审判，引进包罗万有的基督，连同所期待之万物的复兴，这些异象都已经完全揭示出来。
11In the first three sections of Isaiah (chs. 1—35), the prophet’s vision concerning Jehovah’s governmental dealing with Israel and His punishing judgment on the nations, ushering in the all-inclusive Christ with the expected restoration of all things, has been adequately unveiled
贰 以赛亚书末了一段中申言者的异象
II. The Prophet’s Vision In The Last Section Of Isaiah
12以赛亚书的末了一段（四十至六十六章），是耶和华对以色列，祂所爱之民的心所说慈仁的话，揭示出申言者的异象，论到救赎并拯救的基督作耶和华的仆人，并祂给以色列和列国所带进之包罗万有的救恩，连同万物完全的复兴，终极完成于新天新地。
12The last section of Isaiah (chs. 40—66) is the kind word of Jehovah spoken to the heart of Israel, His beloved people, which unveils the prophet’s vision concerning the redeeming and saving Christ as the Servant of Jehovah and the all-inclusive salvation brought in by Him to Israel and the nations, with the full restoration of all things, consummating in the new heaven and new earth
参 耶和华对以色列所说安慰的话
III. Jehovah’sWord Of Comfort To Israel
一 神对祂所爱之民的心所说慈仁的话
A. A Kind Word of Comfort Spoken to the Heart of His People
13以赛亚四十章是耶和华对以色列所说安慰的话。这话实际上就是福音的话。一至二节说，『你们的神说，你们要安慰，安慰我的百姓。要对耶路撒冷的心说话，又向她呼喊说，她争战的日子已满了，她的罪孽赦免了，因她已经从耶和华手中加倍受罚。』许多世纪以来，以色列在神的惩治之下受苦，但日子将到，那时要向以色列说这安慰的话，就是福音的话。
13Isaiah 40 is Jehovah’sword of comfort to Israel. This word is actually the word of the gospel. Verses 1 and 2 say, “Comfort, O comfort My people,/Says your God./Speak unto the heart of Jerusalem,/And cry out to her,/That her warfare has finished,/That the penalty for her iniquity has been accepted;/For she has received from the hand of Jehovah double/For all her sins.” For centuries Israel has been suffering under God’s chastisement, but the day will come when this word of comfort, this word of the gospel, will be spoken to Israel
14二说到施浸者约翰，就是为新约引进所期待之基督的人以赛亚四十章也说到施浸者约翰，就是为新约引进所期待之基督的人。（约一19～27。）以赛亚四十章三至四节论到施浸者约翰说，『在旷野里有人声喊著：豫备耶和华的道路，在沙漠地修直我们神的途径。一切山洼都要填满，大小山冈都要削平，弯曲的地方要修为正直，崎岖的地方要改为宽谷。』五节接著说到耶和华的荣耀，就是由约翰所引荐之基督的荣耀。『耶和华的荣耀必然显现，凡属肉体的人，都要看见，因为这是耶和华亲口说的。』在犹太人眼中，耶稣只是个拿撒勒人，但以赛亚却说祂是『耶和华的荣耀。』耶稣来的时候，只有那些有鉴别力的人知道祂是耶和华的荣耀。年迈的西面因著有这样的鉴别力，所以能说出接到他手臂中的小婴孩耶稣，乃是外邦人的光，和以色列耶和华子民的荣耀。（路二22～32。）对今天属世的人来说，基督算不得甚么，但对我们这些得著祂的光照到心里（林后四6）的人来说，祂乃是神的荣耀，也是我们里面荣耀的盼望。（西一27。）
14B. Referring to John the Baptist, Who Ushered In the Expected Christ for the New Testament Isaiah 40 also refers to John the Baptist, who ushered in the expected Christ for the New Testament (John 1:19-27). Concerning John the Baptist, Isaiah 40:3 and 4 say, “The voice of one who cries/In the wilderness: Make clear/ The way of Jehovah; / Make straight in the desert / A highway for our God. / Every valley will beliftedup,/And every mountain and hill will be made low,/And the crooked places will become straight,/And the rough places abroad plane.” Verse 5 goes on to speak of the glory of Jehovah, that is, the glory of Christ, who was recommended by John. “Then the glory of Jehovah will be revealed, / And all flesh will see it together, /Because the mouth of Jehovah has spoken.” In the eyes of the Jews, Jesus was merely a Nazarene, yet Isaiah speaks of “the glory of Jehovah.” When Jesus came, only those with discernment knew that He was the glory of Jehovah. Because the aged Simeon had such discernment, he could say of the little child Jesus, whom he received into his arms, that He was a light for revelation of the Gentiles and the glory of Jehovah’sp eople Israel (Luke 2:22-32). To the worldly people today, Christ is nothing, but to us into whom He has shined (2 Cor. 4:6), He is the glory of God and the hope of glory within us (Col. 1:27).
三 揭示人真正的所是，和真正的需要
C. Unveiling What Man Really Is and What Man Really Needs
15以赛亚四十章揭示人真正的所是和真正的需要。申言者在本章的话，确实是传福音绝佳的榜样。
15Chapter forty of Isaiah unveils what man really is and what man really needs. The prophet’s speaking in this chapter surely is an excellent example of preaching the gospel
１ 人真正的所是
1. What Man Really Is
ａ凡属肉体的人，尽都如草，他一切的荣美都像野地的花
a. All Men of Flesh Being Grass and All Their Beauty Being Like the Flower of the Field
16六至八节说，『凡属肉体的人，尽都如草，他一切的荣美都像野地的花；草必枯干，花必凋谢，因为耶和华的气吹在其上。百姓诚然是草。草必枯干，花必凋谢，惟有我们神的话，必永远立定。』以赛亚在这里将必凋谢的属肉体之人，与神的话相比。人类中间会存留甚么？除了神的话，一切都会凋谢并枯干。这话实际上就是基督，耶和华的荣耀。人人都要凋谢，但基督这活的话必存留。
16Verses 6 through 8 say, “All flesh is grass / And all its beauty is like the flower of the field; / The grass withers, the flower fades, / Because the breath of Jehovah blows upon it. / Surely the people are grass. / The grass withers and the flower fades, / But the word of our God will stand forever.” Here Isaiah compares fading men of flesh to the word of God. What will remain among the human race? Everything will fade and wither except the word of God. This word is actually Christ, the glory of Jehovah. All men are fading, but Christ as the living word will remain.
ｂ属肉体的人接受神活而常存的话而蒙重生
b. Men of Flesh Receiving the Living and Abiding Word of God to Be Regenerated
17以赛亚四十章六至八节指明，凡属肉体的人，都当接受神活而常存的话，而蒙重生，使他们得著永远的生命，永远活著。（彼前一23～24。）
17Isaiah 40:6-8 indicates that all men of flesh should receive the living and abiding word of God to be regenerated that they may have the eternal life to live forever (1 Pet. 1:23-24
ｃ万民都像水桶里的一滴
c. All Men Being Like a Drop from a Bucket
18以赛亚四十章也启示，所有的人都像水桶里的一滴，又算如天平上的微尘。（赛四十15上。）万民在神面前好像虚无，被祂看为不及虚无，乃为虚空。（赛四十17。）地上的居民好像蚱蜢。（赛四十22上。）
18Isaiah 40 also reveals that all men are like a drop from a bucket and are accounted as specks of dust on the scales (v. 15a). All men are as nothing before God; they are accounted as less than nothing and vanity (v. 17). All the inhabitants of the earth are like grasshoppers (v. 22a
ｄ人不能与神相比
d. Man Not Being Compared to God
19这一章指明人不能与神相比，神是伟大的，祂举起众海岛，好像极细的粉；祂坐在地球大圈之上；祂铺张穹苍如幔子，展开诸天如帐棚；祂使君王归于虚无，使地上的审判官成为虚空。（赛四十15下～18，22～23。）
19This chapter indicates that man cannot be compared to God, who is great, who takes up the islands as very fine powder, who sits above the circle of the earth, who stretches out the heavens like a curtain and spreads them out like a tent, and who brings the princes to nought and makes the judges of the earth as nothing (vv. 15b-18, 22-26
２ 人真正的需要
2. What Man Really Needs
20这一章不仅告诉我们人的所是，也告诉我们人的所需。
20This chapter tells us not only what man is but also what man needs
ａ不能与之相比的神
a. The Incomparable God
21首先，人需要那位不能与之相比的神。（赛四十18～26。）那必凋谢的人需要永远的神，祂是惟一不
21First, man needs the incomparable God (vv. 18-26). Fading man needs the eternal God, the only one who does not wither and fade but abides forever
22枯干不凋谢，却存到永远的一位。
22
ｂ要来的基督
b. The Coming Christ
23其次，人需要那要来的基督，祂要被宣扬为喜信。要来的基督要被宣扬为耶和华我们的神，（赛四十，）与耶和华的荣耀，这荣耀必然显现，凡属肉体的人都要看见。（赛四十5。）不仅如此，要来的基督要被宣扬为主耶和华带著大能临到，用祂的膀臂掌权，祂的赏赐在祂那里，祂的报应在祂面前。（赛四十10。）至终，要来的基督要被宣扬为牧人，牧养自己的羊群，用膀臂聚集羊羔抱在怀中，引导那乳养小羊的。（赛四十11。）
23Second, man needs the coming Christ, who is to be announced as the glad tidings. The coming Christ is to be announced as Jehovah our God (v. 3) and as Jehovah of glory, to be revealed and 3 seen by all flesh together (v. 5). Furthermore, the coming Christ is to be announced as the Lord Jehovah coming with might to rule with His arm, having His reward with Him and His recompense before Him (vv. 9-10). Finally, the coming Christ is to be announced as a Shepherd feeding His flock, gathering the lambs in His arms, carrying them in His bosom, and leading those who are nourishing the young (v. 11).
ｃ藉著神活而常存的话，得蒙重生
c. Regeneration with the Living and Abiding Word of God
24六至八节指明，人也需要藉著神活而常存的话，得蒙重生。（彼前一23。）神是看不见的、抽象的、奥秘的，但祂已具体化在祂的话里。现今我们藉著接触作神具体化身的话，就得著了活而常存的话，使自己得蒙重生。
24Verses 6 through 8 indicate that man also needs regeneration with the living and abiding word of God (1 Pet. 1:23). God is invisible, abstract, and mysterious, but He is embodied in His word. Now by touching the word as the embodiment of God, we receive for our regeneration a word that is living and abides forever
ｄ等候永远的神耶和华
d. Waiting on the Eternal God, Jehovah
25至终，按照以赛亚四十章，人需要等候永远的神耶和华。等候神就是被了结，而由三一神来顶替。二十八节论到神说，『你岂不知道么？你岂不曾听见么？永远的神耶和华，创造地极的主，并不疲乏，也不困倦。祂的智慧无法测度。』祂的智慧是无法测度的。
25Finally, according to Isaiah 40, man needs to wait on the eternal God, Jehovah. To wait on God is to be terminated and replaced by the Triune God. Concerning Him, verse 28 says, “Do you not know, Or have you not heard, / That the eternal God, Jehovah, / The Creator of the ends of the earth, Does not faint and does not become weary. / There is no searching of His understanding.” His understanding is not searchable
26耶和华永远的神赐能力给那些困倦的。『疲乏的，祂赐能力；软弱的，祂加力量。就是少年人也会疲乏困倦，强壮的也会力竭跌倒；但那等候耶和华的，必从新得力；他们必如鹰展翅上腾，他们奔跑却不困倦，行走却不疲乏。』（赛四十29～31。）这里的『翅』表征基督复活的大能。那些停下自己并等候耶和华的人，必经历这复活的大能，得著变化，并翱翔在诸天之上。
26As the eternal God, Jehovah empowers those who are weary. “He gives power to the faint, / And to those who have no vigor He multiplies strength. / Although youths will faint and become weary, / And young men shall collapse exhausted; / Yet those who wait on Jehovah will renew their strength; / They will mount up with wings like eagles; / They will run and will not faint / They will walk and will not become weary” vv. 29-31). The wings here signify the resurrection power of Christ. Those who stop themselves and wait on Jehovah will experience this resurrection power, be transformed, and soar in the heavens
27我们等候永远的神时，我们就被了结，而被祂顶替，这样我们就得著祂作我们的生命和能力，就是复活的大能。这大能加力量给我们，使我们能如鹰展翅上腾，在地面之上翱翔。这是以赛亚四十章所启示神救恩的完满经历。
27When we wait on the eternal God, we are terminated and replaced by Him, and then we have Him as our life and power, which is the power of resurrection. This power strengthens us and enables us to mount up with wings as eagles and to soar above the earth. This is the full experience of God’ss alvation revealed in chapter forty of Isaiah