I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction

Isaiah 48:1-22

Listen to this, you descendants of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel and come from the line of Judah, you who take oaths in the name of the Lord and invoke the God of Israel— but not in truth or righteousness— you who call yourselves citizens of the holy city  and claim to rely on the God of Israel— the Lord Almighty is his name:

For I knew how stubborn you were; your neck muscles were iron, your forehead was bronze. Therefore I told you these things long ago; before they happened I announced them to you so that you could not say, ‘My images brought them about; my wooden image and metal god ordained them.

For my own name’s sake I delay my wrath; for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you,  so as not to destroy you completely. See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another.

“Come near me and listen to this: “From the first announcement I have not spoken in secret; at the time it happens, I am there.” And now the Sovereign Lord has sent me, endowed with his Spirit. This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea. Your descendants would have been like the sand, your children like its numberless grains; their name would never be blotted out nor destroyed from before me.”

Why?

It is the love of the Lord that comes upon his people, for my own name's sake God delays his wrath. 

For all of the people fall in sins, no way to be saved, for the love of the Lord who chooses his people, and gives them the opportunity to go on the right way.

Most of us are stubborn and our neck muscles were iron. Humble before the Lord is the only way to get real peace and joy.

Do not complain, even some trouble or some difficulty is the training from the Lord to refine our life, and test us in the furnace of affliction.

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前面40章起到這裏：主要在安慰以色列人

神的恩典、有愛，提醒以色列人要把握機會，抓住這次機會。

問題在向神起誓，但是不行公義、誠實，即心口不一。神這麼早預言，是因為他們依靠自己、不行公義，藉著巴比倫的手審判他們。神預言他們一件新事，為自己名的緣故，拯救以色列人，使他們歸回。神審判以色列人手下留情。希望以色列人不要像以前一樣，不聽話。

這次再一次出埃及，從巴比倫出來，從迦勒底人中逃脫，即離開巴比倫回到耶路撒冷、猶大地。21耶和華引導他們經過沙漠。他們並不乾渴；他為他們使水從磐石而流，分裂磐石，水就湧出。這段是形容出埃及時，同時歸回時也要經過曠野。

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How?

All I have, properties, life, and health are the gift of the Lord, without the love of the Lord I am nothing, like the dust in the world.

Babylonians, Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you when you say to yourself

Isaiah 47:1-15

Go down, sit in the dust, Virgin Daughter Babylon; sit on the ground without a throne, queen city of the Babylonians. No more will you be called tender or delicate. 

Our Redeemer—the Lord Almighty is his name— is the Holy One of Israel.

I was angry with my people and desecrated my inheritance; I gave them into your hand,  and you showed them no mercy. Even on the aged you laid a very heavy yoke. You said, ‘I am forever—  the eternal queen!’ But you did not consider these things or reflect on what might happen.

You have trusted in your wickedness and have said, ‘No one sees me.’ Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you when you say to yourself, ‘I am, and there is none besides me.’ Disaster will come upon you, and you will not know how to conjure it away. A calamity will fall upon you that you cannot ward off with a ransom; a catastrophe you cannot foresee will suddenly come upon you.

All the counsel you have received has only worn you out! Let your astrologers come forward, those stargazers who make predictions month by month, let them save you from what is coming upon you. Surely they are like stubble; the fire will burn them up. They cannot even save themselves from the power of the flame. These are not coals for warmth; this is not a fire to sit by. That is all they are to you— these you have dealt with and labored with since childhood. All of them go on in their error; there is not one that can save you.

Why?

Babylonians were a tool of the Lord, but they were too proud and had no mercy to God's people, so they will be ruined and destroyed by others. Actually, they were stubble, the fire burn them up.

The wisdom and knowledge mislead them. So as the wisdom and knowledge today without the love of the Lord will be nonsense and become a disaster.

To be a real wise man is to fear the Lord and trust in Jesus as my redeemer. This is the only way, there is no other God can save us.

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巴比倫人本來是高貴的，現在卻住在地上，一切榮耀都要挪去。神使用巴比倫審判、刑罰以色列，但是對待以色列太超過了。走在神的前面，變得驕傲，以自己為主。神是牧者，我們是羊走在後面。

巴比倫人認為我必不致寡居，也不遭喪子之事。哪知，喪子、寡居這兩件事在一日轉眼之間必臨到你。沒有想到的，原來可靠的成為我的失敗。

他們有智慧、聰明，千算萬算也沒有算到，禍患要臨到你身；你不知何時發現（或譯：如何驅逐）災害落在你身上。藉符咒和邪術也不能救自己。 太強盛以致忘了我是誰?當我們成就愈多愈大時，要更小心、謙卑。這一切都是神在做的。

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How?

Our Redeemer, the Lord Almighty is his name, is the Holy of Isreal! I worship you forever in my life.

I am God, and there is no other

Isaiah 46:1-13

Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low; their idols are borne by beasts of burden.

Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob, all the remnant of the people of Israel, you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

Some pour out gold from their bags and weigh out silver on the scales; they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god, and they bow down and worship it. They lift it to their shoulders and carry it; they set it up in its place, and there it stands. From that spot it cannot move. Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer; it cannot save them from their troubles.

“Remember this, keep it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.’

Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are now far from my righteousness. I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away, and my salvation will not be delayed.

Why?

Bel and Nebo are idols and became their burden. Do I have any burdens like these?

God's love comes upon the remnant of the people of Isreal, and it has come true later in the history of Israel.

God is trustworthy and worthy to be worshiped by his people.

Those people worship the idols and carry it, their eyes are blind and their hearts are hardened, they don't know what they are doing.

Remember God's purpose will stand, and God will do all God pleases.

How?

Worship the Lord and listen to his word, no one else is like our Lord in the world and universal.

And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me

 Isaiah 45:14-25

The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, and those tall Sabeans— they will come over to you and will be yours;

Surely God is with you, and there is no other; there is no other god. Truly you are a God who has been hiding himself, the God and Savior of Israel.

For this is what the Lord says— he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited— he says: “I am the Lord, and there is no other. I have not spoken in secret, from somewhere in a land of darkness;

Declare what is to be, present it—  let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the Lord? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.

Why?

The Lord is faithful and the problem is always caused by human beings.

Surely God is with us, and there is no other; there is no other god.

The Lord has not spoken in secret, so anyone who seeks the Lord in darkness is seeking the dark nation, the evil.

How?

I belong to the Lord for the Lord I am trusting is a living Lord and his love and righteousness endure forever. Praise the Lord for his Holy name.

I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness: I will make all his ways straight

Isaiah 45:1-13

This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I will go before you and will level the mountains 

For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.

“Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds among the potsherds on the ground.

Woe to the one who says to a father, ‘What have you begotten?’ or to a mother, ‘What have you brought to birth?’

“This is what the Lord says— the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker: Concerning things to come, do you question me about my children, or give me orders about the work of my hands? It is I who made the earth and created mankind on it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts. I will raise up Cyrus in my righteousness: I will make all his ways straight. He will rebuild my city and set my exiles free, but not for a price or reward, says the Lord Almighty.”

Why?

Cyrus is God's anointed king, who will rise up in righteousness, rebuild Jacob's city, and set Jacob's exile free. All of these things come true later.

My God is the Lord, and there are no others; apart from me, there is no God.

What are my idols today? All are created by the Lord. My life and my strength are in the hands of the Lord. 

It is the Lord who is in charge of my future and my way.

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古列波斯王，神會使用基督徒，也使用教會以外的人，讓人知道這世界在神的手中。

神興起古列是為了神的國。波斯不僅知道本來在耶和華手中，現在把這些權柄交給古列王，為要讓他使以色列人歸回。

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How?

Humble me and give honor to the Lord. There is no god except the Lord. 

Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, and woe to the one who says to his parent, 'What have you begotten? or What have your brought to birth? All of us are created, how can we quarrel with the maker?

Remember these things, Jacob, for you, Israel, are my servant. Return to me, for I have redeemed you

Isaiah 44:9-28

All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame.

Let them all come together and take their stand; they will be brought down to terror and shame.

Half of the wood he burns in the fire; over it he prepares his meal, he roasts his meat and eats his fill. He also warms himself and says, “Ah! I am warm; I see the fire.” From the rest he makes a god, his idol; he bows down to it and worships. He prays to it and says, “Save me! You are my god!” They know nothing, they understand nothing; their eyes are plastered over so they cannot see, and their minds closed so they cannot understand.

No one stops to think, no one has the knowledge or understanding to say, “Half of it I used for fuel; I even baked bread over its coals, I roasted meat and I ate. Shall I make a detestable thing from what is left?  Shall I bow down to a block of wood?”

“Remember these things, Jacob, for you, Israel, are my servant. I have made you, you are my servant; Israel, I will not forget you. I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.”

“This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the Lord,  the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself,

who says of Jerusalem, ‘It shall be inhabited,’ of the towns of Judah, ‘They shall be rebuilt,’  and of their ruins, ‘I will restore them,’

Why?

People worship idols for their eyes are blind and their hearts fill with fear and their deeds are worthless.

No one stops to think, no one has the knowledge or understanding of what they have done.

But our God is our redeemer, my savior, we are servants of the Lord.

Sing for joy, you heavens, for the Lord has done this; shout aloud, you earth beneath. 

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9-20製造偶像者心中的無知

9-11: 製造或是拜偶像，就是白忙一場。羞愧： 空虛

12-17:製造的過程，材料，有能力的是鐵匠，人卻去拜鐵匠做出來的東西。木匠也一樣拿剩下的木頭做偶像，使用木頭取暖、煮飯...比例都是人決定的，反而求這個偶像來幫助他。神賜我們資源，財物讓我們支配使用。我們是這些物的管理者，很當中得到享受，怎麼我們反而被這些控制。

剩下的：拿來造偶像，用不到的東西所造出來的

我們的神不是呼之即來，揮之即去。當我們要求神來符合我們需要時，就和這些人一樣。

21-28 對比只有神話語。神的話語。真神創造人，救贖人，創造諸天，真神顯出一切的虛假。

這些人的智慧不是真智慧。按神話語來傳誦，神一定成就。以賽亞所說的必定成就。古列、波斯王會讓以色列人歸回。

我們想要支配一切，最後反而被這些東西支配。

How?

Praise to the Lord, Almighty! May my heart and my mind turn to the Lord and have the understanding and acknowledge of the way of the Lord.

Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God.

Isaiah 43:22-44:8

But now listen, Jacob, my servant, Israel, whom I have chosen. This is what the Lord says—  he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.

“This is what the Lord says— Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come—  yes, let them foretell what will come. Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.”

Why?

Jesus is the Lord, and our God, the Lord Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from there is no God. We are chosen and guided to be God's witness.

Jacob is chosen by the Lord, so we, every Christian are selected by the Lord.

Only our God can proclaim this and foretell it long ago.

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v22-24人的軟弱：人的問題，沒有求告神，應付式的信仰，沒有拿最好的來奉獻，神看來根本沒有獻祭。信仰的核心是討神的喜悅，讓神滿意，我們自然得到神的祝福。否則只是以自我為中心。

v25-28 指出人的出路。惟有我為自己的緣故塗抹你的過犯。人不知道怎麼辦時，神指出只有神自己解決問題。神管教以色列人不是減掉而是拯救，人無法反駁

44：v1-5 神把自己給我們。耶書崙： 正直之意（小名）。原來是枯乾的，一直在找水。聖靈澆灌使我們，讓我們甘心情願給神使用。在手上寫歸耶和華，不要忘記耶和華。

44:v6-8 唯有神是盼望。磐石是保障的意思，除了神以外沒有別的保障。

How?

We are the witness of the Lord so we have to listen to the word of the Lord and be a Christ-like person.

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!

Isaiah 43:1-21

But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead. Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west.

“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior.

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

“Yet you have not called on me, Jacob, you have not wearied yourselves for me, Israel.

“I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more. Review the past for me, let us argue the matter together; state the case for your innocence.

Why?
The Lord is the love who saves his people for the sake of his Holy name.

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. God has chosen his people from the dead.

Even we may walk through the fire but for the protection of the Lord, we will not be burned.

We are God's witness and God's servant whom God has chosen. The love of the Lord comes upon me.

Don't be a fool before the Lord, and come closer to the Lord. For Jesus is the love.

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神要做新事，我們不能只是思念過去的事

v1-7 不要害怕：因為1)救贖  2)我是耶和華 3)看為寶貴 4)神的愛  列邦人替換我們的生命

是我為自己的榮耀創造的   好述說我的美德

v 8-13 我們是神的見證人：誰能將未來的有事顯出來，神的百姓要見證神，說出以前的事和將來的事。這是神的揀選。你們是我的見證，我們經歷神也為了我們成為神的見證人。我們是為神的榮耀而創造的。

14-21要經歷更多：從被綑綁回到應許之地。過去如此，將來也要如此。新事；如今要發現，你們豈不知道嗎？我必在曠野開道路，在沙漠開江河。神為以色列人開道路。你們不要記念從前的事，也不要思想古時的事。不要只是緬懷過去。原來沒有盼望、方向。神開道路就有方向，我們知道我們死後去那裏，曠野、沙漠令人沒有方向一本來一無所有，而且有盼望。以前曾經以色列人滄海中開道。現在在曠野也要經歷神！也不要因為常經歷恩典而以為理所當然，自然而然的，都是神做的。野生動物都知道是神的作為，何況我們人呢?

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How?

 I can say nothing before the Lord. May my way, my heart, and my mind accompany the Lord.

Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth

Isaiah 42:10-25

Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them.

Let them give glory to the Lord and proclaim his praise in the islands. The Lord will march out like a champion, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies.

I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn rivers into islands and dry up the pools. I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. But those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods,’ will be turned back in utter shame.

Which of you will listen to this or pay close attention in time to come? Who handed Jacob over to become loot, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the Lord, against whom we have sinned? For they would not follow his ways; they did not obey his law. So he poured out on them his burning anger, the violence of war. It enveloped them in flames, yet they did not understand; it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.

Why?

Can I sing to the Lord always? This is the attitude every Christian has to do.

Give glory to the Lord and proclaim his praise in the islands.

To be a servant of the Lord can I sense the command and direction of the Lord has said. Imitating the mind and heart of the Lord, or just caring about myself?

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42章起四個僕人之歌

開瞎子眼，人聽不見，看不見，仍然在黑暗中。

神把神要做的事先告訴以色列人，他的僕人，但是他的百姓卻不聽。

海島：在以色列西邊，曠野在以色列南邊。海島、曠野：這是泛指全世界。

神不再沈默了，不再任憑，神要發聲，為主的百姓伸冤，帶領神的百姓，出黑暗入光明。

神要行新事，人卻常常看不到，聽不明白。主要是沒有存敬畏的心，受教的心，所以看不懂，聽不見。敬畏耶和華是智慧的開端。認識至聖者便是聰明、存謙卑的心。

How?

May my life always go on the way of the Lord's way, and may my mind and my heart always focus on the Lord. Please lead my heart and mind on the way of the Lord through the Holy Spirit.

A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out

Isaiah 42:1-9

Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”

I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.
9 See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.”

Why?

This describes the servant of the Lord, Messiah, who will come in God's plan. 

A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. Jesus Christ come to save his people and help everyone trust in Him.

Jesus Christ is the hope of all islands.

Jesus Christ will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles.

All of these descriptions reveal Jesus Chris is the servant of the Lord.

All of us, Christians have the responsibility to show the love and the righteousness of the Lord.

How?

Be the light in this world to show the glory of Jesus from me!