從迷惘到信靠
在亮光中顫抖！
經文
以賽亞書二十一1-10
1論海旁曠野的默示：有仇敵從曠野，從可怕之地而來，好像南方的旋風，猛然掃過。
2令人悽慘的異象已默示於我。詭詐的行詭詐，毀滅的行毀滅。以攔哪，你要上去！瑪代啊，你要圍困！主說：我使一切歎息止住。
3所以，我滿腰疼痛；痛苦將我抓住，好像產難的婦人一樣。我疼痛甚至不能聽；我驚惶甚至不能看。
4我心慌張，驚恐威嚇我。我所羨慕的黃昏，變為我的戰兢。
5他們擺設筵席，派人守望，又吃又喝。首領啊，你們起來，用油抹盾牌。
6主對我如此說：你去設立守望的，使他將所看見的述說。
7他看見軍隊，就是騎馬的一對一對地來，又看見驢隊，駱駝隊，就要側耳細聽。
8他像獅子吼叫，說：主啊，我白日常站在望樓上，整夜立在我守望所。
9看哪，有一隊軍兵騎著馬，一對一對地來。他就說：巴比倫傾倒了！傾倒了！他一切雕刻的神像都打碎於地。
10我被打的禾稼，我場上的穀啊，我從萬軍之耶和華以色列的神那裡所聽見的，都告訴你們了。
信息分享
我們今天要討論「有時禱告蒙應允會帶來痛苦」的這個主題。不單哈巴谷明白這一點，以賽亞對此也有認識。
以賽亞就他當時的政治情況要求光照──對希伯來先知來說，這既是宗教事件，又是政治事件。他求神給他領悟力和理解力，讓他可以看到和明白對別人隱藏的事情。他祈求神的光照，讓他的目光能夠穿過未來而向百姓說出先知的話。神應允把亮光賜予他！他的禱告得到了回應！黑暗變成逐漸明亮的曙光。他是看見了，但是他所看到的東西卻令他的靈魂充滿恐懼，所以當他意識到這種情況時，他寧願自己不曾預知未來。亮光在他周圍閃爍，但是那啟示所帶來的痛苦令他幾乎希望能回到無知的黑暗去。
他看見了甚麼呢？他看見他所愛的人民遭強勁的敵人擊打；他又看見他們的家園和城市被最無情的敵人粉碎。神真的應允了他的禱告，給了他所祈求的領悟力，但他卻因為看到的凶兆而難過，他要遠離眼見的情景，他的身體因為可怕的未來而顫抖。請聽《當代聖經》（Living Bible）怎樣演繹今天的經文：「我的思想搖晃；我的心奔馳；我被可怕的恐懼抓著。晚上的一切安息──曾經是那麼令人歡欣──現在都消失了；我清醒地躺著，在顫抖。」有時，留在不知情的黑暗裡面可能比在亮光中顫抖會更好。
「當他知道時，幾乎希望自己不曾知道」
進深研究
但十1-21；哀三22-23；啟一17
1. 但以理和約翰怎樣回應神的異象？
2. 神的憐憫怎樣表達出來？
祈禱
天父，求您幫助我更靠近您的道路和您的旨意。求您教導我懂得分辨渴想和強求；「渴想要知道」可能讓我感到困惑，但是「強求要知道」卻會令我顫抖。阿們。
From Confusion to Confidence
Trembling in the light!
Bible reading:
Isaiah 21:1-10
1 A prophecy against the Desert by the Sea: Like whirlwinds sweeping through the southland, an invader comes from the desert, from a land of terror.
2 A dire vision has been shown to me: The traitor betrays, the looter takes loot. Elam, attack! Media, lay siege! I will bring to an end all the groaning she caused.
3 At this my body is racked with pain, pangs seize me, like those of a woman in labor; I am staggered by what I hear, I am bewildered by what I see.
4 My heart falters, fear makes me tremble; the twilight I longed for has become a horror to me.
5 They set the tables, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink! Get up, you officers, oil the shields!
6 This is what the Lord says to me:
"Go, post a lookout and have him report what he sees.
7 When he sees chariots with teams of horses, riders on donkeys or riders on camels, let him be alert, fully alert."
8 And the lookout[a] shouted, "Day after day, my lord, I stand on the watchtower; every night I stay at my post.
9 Look, here comes a man in a chariot with a team of horses. And he gives back the answer: 'Babylon has fallen, has fallen! All the images of its gods lie shattered on the ground!'"
10 My people who are crushed on the threshing floor, I tell you what I have heard from the Lord Almighty, from the God of Israel.
Message
We continue discussing the subject of the pain that some- times results from answered prayer. Not only Habakkuk, but also Isaiah knew something of this.
Isaiah asked for light on the political situation of his day - a religious matter to a Hebrew prophet as well as a political one. He asked God to give him insight and understanding that he might see and comprehend what was hidden from others. He prayed for a divine illumination whereby his gaze might pierce the future so that he might speak forth a prophetic word to his people. And God gave him light! His prayer was answered! The darkness turned to a growing twilight. He saw - but what he saw filled his soul with terror. When he knew, he almost wished he did not know. The light glimmered all around him, but the pain of its revelation made him wish that he was back in the darkness of ignorance once again.
What did he see? He saw the people he loved broken by the might of the enemy. He saw their homes and cities shattered by the most ruthless of foes. God had truly answered his prayer and given him the insight he desired, but he turned from it sick with foreboding and with his body quivering in fearful anticipation. Listen to how the Living Bible paraphrases our text for today: "My mind reels, my heart races; I am gripped by awful fear. All rest at night - so pleasant once - is gone, I lie awake trembling." Perhaps, at times, it is better to remain in the darkness of ignorance than to tremble in the light of illumination.
"When he knew, he almost wished he did not know"
Prayer
O Father, help me to be in closer touch with Your ways and Your purposes. Teach me the difference between desiring and demanding - a desire to know may leave me wondering, but a demand to know may leave me trembling. Amen.
Further study
Daniel 10:1-21
Lamentations 3:22-23
Revelation 1:17
1. How did Daniel and John respond to the vision of God?
2. How is God's mercy expressed?
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