第三個問題是：「雅各啊，你為何說，『我的道路向耶和華隱藏』？以色列啊，你為何言，『我的冤屈神並不查問』？」（27節）。我們昨天研究的問題是要糾正他們對神的錯誤觀念；今天這個問題卻是要糾正他們對自己的錯誤觀念。他們容許自己以為神已經遺棄了他們。這是多麼的荒謬！讓我問你一個問題：你相信神遺棄了你嗎？如果這樣，你應該感到羞恥。這種不信的悲觀是對全能者的侮辱。

第四個問題是：「你豈不曾知道嗎？你豈不曾聽見嗎？永在的神耶和華，創造地極的主，並不疲乏，也不困倦；他的智慧無法測度」（28節）。這個問題是要譴責他們，他們太不願意相信神的偉大和威嚴。神向他們說話的方式，是為了令他們羞愧，從而放棄他們的不信。我們以為神會衰老和疲乏，這是多麼的無稽。而我們在相信神是神，是至高、全知和全能的這個方面表現得多麼遲鈍。教會其中一個最大的需要是等候主和默想祂的威嚴。因為我們這樣做的時候，也只有當我們願意這樣做的時候，我們才能重新得力，如鷹展翅上騰。

「不信的悲觀是對全能者的侮辱」

進深研究
王上八14-24；代上十七20；詩八十九1-52

1. 所羅門禱告和奉獻的核心是甚麼？
2. 詩人怎樣描述神？

祈禱
我的父、我的神，求您將這些真理寫在我心裡，讓我被這些重要的信念抓緊和掌管。我不想只是將它們當為觀念來持守，而是想讓它們緊抓著我。親愛的天父，求您幫助我。奉主耶穌的名祈求。阿們。

The Vision of God

Day 14

Strength like the eagle's

"They will soar on wings like eagles..." (v.31)

Bible reading:
Isaiah 40:21-31

21 Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded?

22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.

23 He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.

24 No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.

25 "To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One.

26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.

27 Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, "My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God"?

28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.

29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Message

We continue looking at the questions which Isaiah poses to the people of Judah and indeed to the whole nation of Israel, on behalf of God, here in this gripping fortieth chapter.

A third question is this: "Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, 'My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God'?" (v.27). The questions we looked at yesterday were designed to correct their false concepts of God; this one is designed to correct the wrong ideas they had concerning themselves. They were allowing themselves to think that God had abandoned them. How absurd! Let me ask you a personal question: Do you believe God has abandoned you? If you do, you ought to be ashamed of yourself. Such unbelieving pessimism dishonours the Almighty.

A fourth question is this: "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no-one can fathom" (v.28). This question is intended to rebuke them for their slowness to believe in God's greatness and majesty. God talks to them in a way that is calculated to shame them out of their unbelief. How ridiculous it is for us to imagine that God can get old and tired. How slow we are to believe in God as God - sovereign, all-seeing, and all-powerful. The need to "wait upon the Lord" and contemplate His majesty is one of our greatest needs in the Church. For it is when we do so, and only when we do so that our strength will be renewed and we will soar on wings like eagles.

"Unbelieving pessimism dishonours the Almighty"

Prayer
My Father and my God, write these truths upon my heart, so that I shall be gripped and mastered by these important convictions. I don't just want to hold them as ideas, I want them to hold me. Help me, dear Father. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Further study
1 Kings 8:14-24
1 Chronicles 17:20
Psalm 89:1-52

1. What was at the heart of Solomon's prayer of dedication?
2. In what ways does the psalmist describe God?

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