神的邀请和应许
以赛亚书一章10至19节
10你们这所多玛的官长啊,要听耶和华的话!你们这蛾摩拉的百姓啊,要侧耳听我们神的训诲!
11耶和华说:“你们所献的许多祭物与我何益呢?公绵羊的燔祭和肥畜的脂油,我已经够了;公牛的血,羊羔的血,公山羊的血,我都不喜悦。
12你们来朝见我,谁向你们讨这些,使你们践踏我的院宇呢?
13你们不要再献虚浮的供物。香品是我所憎恶的;月朔和安息日,并宣召的大会,也是我所憎恶的;作罪孽又守严肃会,我也不能容忍。
14你们的月朔和节期,我心里恨恶,我都以为麻烦;我担当,便不耐烦。
15你们举手祷告,我必遮眼不看;就是你们多多地祈祷,我也不听。你们的手都满了杀人的血。
16你们要洗濯、自洁,从我眼前除掉你们的恶行;要止住作恶,
17学习行善,寻求公平,解救受欺压的,给孤儿伸冤,为寡妇辨屈。”
18耶和华说:“你们来,我们彼此辩论。你们的罪虽像朱红,必变成雪白;虽红如丹颜,必白如羊毛。
19你们若甘心听从,必吃地上的美物;
信息分享
事实是,不管圣经如何指斥人的罪,它也同时指出解决的方法。例如,圣经若用「罪债」来形容人的罪,神说,只要人肯接受,基督已为我们偿还了罪债。又例如,若说犯罪就是违反律法,那么基督已代替我们接受了刑罚。每次提到罪,记着我们在基督里,就有赦罪之途。
在以赛亚书这段经文中,神发出一个非常慷慨的邀请。本章的头几节经文清楚描写以色列人的罪。第2节描述神是父亲,祂养大儿女,但儿女却悖逆祂,令祂非常伤心。第3 节指出,即使是牲畜也认得主人,但以色列人却不认识祂。罪已完全蒙蔽了他们。
神却邀请这个充满罪污的国家来与祂辩论,并向他们作出了一个宝贵的应许。罪已在他们身上留下极深的污渍,但神的应许操词明确。罪已涂上了炫目的记号,红如丹颜,深如朱红。神说甚么呢?祂形容祂的赦罪如雪、如洗净的羊毛。白雪落下,遮盖一切──不论是一条道路,还是一堆垃圾,全都被遮盖了。但若神的应许仅止于此,有人会觉得还不足够。
神继续应许,祂会处理罪本身,把罪污彻底洗净。并不是因为基督的工作把罪掩盖了,我们因而被神悦纳;而是神的儿子,基督的宝血洗净了我们一切的不义。这岂不是既奇妙又全备的救恩吗?何不现在就再次衷心感谢神,为着这有一天将带领我们进天家,永远与祂同在的全备的救恩计划!
GOD'S INVITATION AND PROMISE
Isaiah 1: 10-19
10 Hear the word of the LORD,
You rulers of Sodom;
Give ear to the law of our God,
You people of Gomorrah:
11 “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to Me?”
Says the LORD.
“ I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams
And the fat of fed cattle.
I do not delight in the blood of bulls,
Or of lambs or goats.
12 “When you come to appear before Me,
Who has required this from your hand,
To trample My courts?
13 Bring no more futile sacrifices;
Incense is an abomination to Me.
The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies—
I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting.
14 Your New Moons and your appointed feasts
My soul hates;
They are a trouble to Me,
I am weary of bearing them.
15 When you spread out your hands,
I will hide My eyes from you;
Even though you make many prayers,
I will not hear.
Your hands are full of blood.
16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean;
Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes.
Cease to do evil,
17 Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Rebuke the oppressor;
Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow.
18 “Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the LORD,
“ Though your sins are like scarlet,
They shall be as white as snow;
Though they are red like crimson,
They shall be as wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
You shall eat the good of the land;
Message
It is also true that no matter how sin is described in the Bible; the remedy is also stated in similar terms. For example if sin is spoken of as a debt, God says that debt is paid in Christ for those who will accept it. If it is described as the breaking of the law, Christ has paid the penalty for us. Each time sin is described, remember the remedy is there in Christ.
Here in Isaiah God issues a very gracious invitation. In the first verses of the chapter, Israel’s sin is clearly pictured. In verse 2 God is a father who has brought up children but they have proved rebellious and a sad disappointment. In verse 3 even animals acknowledge the hand which feeds them, but Israel does not. Sin has taken over completely.
But God invites this sinning nation to come and talk the matter over and makes a wonderful promise. Here sin has left a deep stain but the words used in God’s promise are so reassuring. Sin has left a glaring mark which is as red as scarlet and as dark as crimson. What does God say? He likens forgiveness to snow or the washing of wool. Snow covers whatever it falls on - whether it is a road or a garbage heap, it covers it all. But if God had left the promise there, some might think it was insufficient. God goes on. He will deal with the sin itself with a washing that cleanses it all away. It is not only covered by the work of Christ and we therefore are accepted before God. But the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Isn’t that a remarkable, complete salvation? Why not take time now to thank God again for this total plan of salvation which one day will lead us on into heaven to be with Him forever?

