彩虹查經:以賽亞書 第17章
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17:1 論大馬色的默示。看哪、大馬色已被廢棄、不再為城、必變作亂堆。
17:2 亞羅珥的城邑、已被撇棄．必成為牧羊之處、羊在那裡躺臥、無人驚嚇。
17:3 以法蓮不再有保障、大馬色不再有國權、亞蘭所剩下的、必像以色列人的榮耀消滅一樣．這是萬軍之耶和華說的。
17:4 到那日雅各的榮耀、必至枵薄、他肥胖的身體、必漸瘦弱。
17:5 就必像收割的人、收斂禾稼、用手割取穗子．又像人在利乏音谷拾取遺落的穗子。
17:6 其間所剩下的不多、好像人打橄欖樹、在盡上的枝梢上、只剩兩三個果子、在多果樹的旁枝上、只剩四五個果子．這是耶和華以色列的　神說的。
17:7 當那日人必仰望造他們的主、眼目重看以色列的聖者。
17:8 他們必不仰望祭壇、就是自己手所築的、也不重看自己指頭所作的、無論是木偶、是日像。
17:9 在那日他們的堅固城、必像樹林中和山頂上所撇棄的地方、就是從前在以色列人面前被人撇棄的．這樣、地就荒涼了。
17:10 因你忘記救你的　神、不記念你能力的磐石．所以你栽上佳美的樹秧子、插上異樣的栽子。
17:11 栽種的日子、你周圍圈上籬笆、又到早晨使你所種的開花．但在愁苦極其傷痛的日子、所收割的、都飛去了。
17:12 唉、多民哄嚷、好像海浪匉訇．列邦奔騰、好像猛水滔滔．
17:13 列邦奔騰、好像多水滔滔．但　神斥責他們、他們就遠遠逃避、又被追趕、如同山上的風前糠、又如暴風前的旋風土．
17:14 到晚上有驚嚇、未到早晨、他們就沒有了．這是擄掠我們之人所得的分、是搶奪我們之人的報應。

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羅七:此章論及亞蘭和以色列（北國）聯盟的命運。

各位有什麼要分享的嗎？
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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 因你忘記救你的　神、不記念你能力的磐石．所以你栽上佳美的樹秧子、插上異樣的栽子。
17:11 栽種的日子、你周圍圈上籬笆、又到早晨使你所種的開花．但在愁苦極其傷痛的日子、所收割的、都飛去了。

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.