第三个问题是：「雅各啊，你为何说，『我的道路向耶和华隐藏』？以色列啊，你为何言，『我的冤屈神并不查问』？」（27节）。我们昨天研究的问题是要纠正他们对神的错误观念；今天这个问题却是要纠正他们对自己的错误观念。他们容许自己以为神已经遗弃了他们。这是多么的荒谬！让我问你一个问题：你相信神遗弃了你吗？如果这样，你应该感到羞耻。这种不信的悲观是对全能者的侮辱。

第四个问题是：「你岂不曾知道吗？你岂不曾听见吗？永在的神耶和华，创造地极的主，并不疲乏，也不困倦；他的智慧无法测度」（28节）。这个问题是要谴责他们，他们太不愿意相信神的伟大和威严。神向他们说话的方式，是为了令他们羞愧，从而放弃他们的不信。我们以为神会衰老和疲乏，这是多么的无稽。而我们在相信神是神，是至高、全知和全能的这个方面表现得多么迟钝。教会其中一个最大的需要是等候主和默想祂的威严。因为我们这样做的时候，也只有当我们愿意这样做的时候，我们才能重新得力，如鹰展翅上腾。

「不信的悲观是对全能者的侮辱」

进深研究
王上八14-24；代上十七20；诗八十九1-52

1. 所罗门祷告和奉献的核心是甚么？
2. 诗人怎样描述神？

祈祷
我的父、我的神，求您将这些真理写在我心里，让我被这些重要的信念抓紧和掌管。我不想只是将它们当为观念来持守，而是想让它们紧抓着我。亲爱的天父，求您帮助我。奉主耶稣的名祈求。阿们。

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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