彩虹查经:以赛亚书 第17章
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17:1 论大马色的默示。看哪、大马色已被废弃、不再为城、必变作乱堆。
17:2 亚罗珥的城邑、已被撇弃．必成为牧羊之处、羊在那里躺卧、无人惊吓。
17:3 以法莲不再有保障、大马色不再有国权、亚兰所剩下的、必像以色列人的荣耀消灭一样．这是万军之耶和华说的。
17:4 到那日雅各的荣耀、必至枵薄、他肥胖的身体、必渐瘦弱。
17:5 就必像收割的人、收敛禾稼、用手割取穗子．又像人在利乏音谷拾取遗落的穗子。
17:6 其间所剩下的不多、好像人打橄榄树、在尽上的枝梢上、只剩两三个果子、在多果树的旁枝上、只剩四五个果子．这是耶和华以色列的　神说的。
17:7 当那日人必仰望造他们的主、眼目重看以色列的圣者。
17:8 他们必不仰望祭坛、就是自己手所筑的、也不重看自己指头所作的、无论是木偶、是日像。
17:9 在那日他们的坚固城、必像树林中和山顶上所撇弃的地方、就是从前在以色列人面前被人撇弃的．这样、地就荒凉了。
17:10 因你忘记救你的　神、不记念你能力的磐石．所以你栽上佳美的树秧子、插上异样的栽子。
17:11 栽种的日子、你周围圈上篱笆、又到早晨使你所种的开花．但在愁苦极其伤痛的日子、所收割的、都飞去了。
17:12 唉、多民哄嚷、好像海浪匉訇．列邦奔腾、好像猛水滔滔．
17:13 列邦奔腾、好像多水滔滔．但　神斥责他们、他们就远远逃避、又被追赶、如同山上的风前糠、又如暴风前的旋风土．
17:14 到晚上有惊吓、未到早晨、他们就没有了．这是掳掠我们之人所得的分、是抢夺我们之人的报应。

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罗七:此章论及亚兰和以色列（北国）联盟的命运。

各位有什么要分享的吗？
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polemic:Enjoy the presence of the Lord

It is interesting to adapt myself into the right mood in appreciating Isaiah. What is the right mood in understanding this book? I like the first half of the book (i.e., from chapter 1 to 39) for a simple reason that the comprehension of those chapters is within my capability. The first half, as we indicated before, is mainly about the history or the prophecy about the specific states, still in the vicinity of our daily life. The second half, to me, is more vehement and full of metaphors, prophecies that I cannot get a hold onto. I have a hard time in understanding and appreciating the second half with many images and symbols flashing through one after another.

Then, it dawns to me that we may not have to comprehend or understand Isaiah. It's like that we may not have to wrestle with God. God, through Isaiah as a media, to prophesy and deliver his message, which is full of his glory, power, and mystery. His glory, power, and mystery are not for us to comprehend, but for us to savor, to rest upon, to tap into for our own benefit. We do not have to wrestle with God, but to enjoy the presence of his and to obey his command and all a wonderful life will follow.

We do not have to understand Isaiah. We merely need to enjoy every sentence that comes from this wonderful book. As long as we gain strength, faith, and others from it, we are on the right track and we are partaking the fulfilling of God will in us.

Let's read the following excerpt:

17:10 因你忘记救你的　神、不记念你能力的磐石．所以你栽上佳美的树秧子、插上异样的栽子。
17:11 栽种的日子、你周围圈上篱笆、又到早晨使你所种的开花．但在愁苦极其伤痛的日子、所收割的、都飞去了。

The message recurring in this book, and more generally in the whole Bible, is centered on God. Here again, we see the likewise idea that God is our savior and he is our rock and fortress. Without him, albeit being the finest plants and imported vines which grow and bud in the morning, they will not flourish in the end.