我住在一个大城市，这里有很多来自世界各地的居民。在我们的教会附近，便有一间俄罗斯东正教教会、一间清真寺、一间小犹太会堂、和一间大佛寺。这里有各种不同的地方，为人提供各种不同的敬拜方式。这些不同的敬拜方式，就是世界各地宗教的代表。
然而，在以赛亚书中，神提出一个非常有力的论点，衪把自己与以色列邻近国家的偶像相比，衪暴露了他们复杂的拜偶像方式是何等愚昧。这些对偶像无情的嘲弄，表明我们没有瞒着神去跟随它们的理由。神要求我们单单效忠于衪 — 不是因为祂太武断，乃是因为祂是独一的磐石和惟一可靠的神。所有其他的神都是人手所造的，它们只不过是神我们磐石的影子而已。
在这里，神是对以色列民说话的，然而祂的话也暗示，将会有“又一个”加入和表明他们也是“归耶和华的”，因为他们被造也是为了要敬拜神；神显示祂将要怎样把衪赐福的灵浇灌在万民身上。与膜拜其他的神的人为邻，令我们感到眼花撩乱，但归根究底我们仍然信靠那位向我们启示祂自己的神。我们深信，祂的旨意比我们想像中的更伟大，也更更全面。
主啊，祢是我们永远的磐石，除祢以外再没有别的神。我们呼求耶稣的名字，求祂永远带领引导我们，并且邀请来自万国和不同背景的人来敬拜祢。奉衪的名祈求，阿们。
以赛亚书 44:1-8
1 “我的仆人雅各，我所拣选的以色列啊，现在你当听！
2 造做你，又从你出胎造就你，并要帮助你的耶和华如此说：‘我的仆人雅各，我所拣选的耶书仑哪，不要害怕！
3 因为我要将水浇灌口渴的人，将河浇灌干旱之地，我要将我的灵浇灌你的后裔，将我的福浇灌你的子孙。
4 他们要发生在草中，像溪水旁的柳树。
5 这个要说“我是属耶和华的”，那个要以雅各的名自称，又一个要亲手写“归耶和华的”，并自称为以色列。’
6 “耶和华以色列的君，以色列的救赎主，万军之耶和华如此说：‘我是首先的，我是末后的，除我以外，再没有真神。
7 自从我设立古时的民，谁能像我宣告并且指明，又为自己陈说呢？让他将未来的事和必成的事说明。
8 你们不要恐惧，也不要害怕！我岂不是从上古就说明指示你们吗？并且你们是我的见证。除我以外，岂有真神吗？诚然没有磐石，我不知道一个！’”
“Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.” - Isaiah 44:8
I live in a large city with many people from all over the world. Just a short walk from our church there is a Russian Orthodox church, a mosque, a small Jewish synagogue, and a large Buddhist temple. These are all different places with different ways of worship. Different expressions like these make up the world’s religions.
But in Isaiah God makes a very strong point, contrasting himself to the idols of Israel’s neighbors. The sophisticated practices of idol worshipers are exposed as foolish. This is a harsh mockery of idolatry that leaves no room for two-timing. God demands pure allegiance—not because he’s being arbitrary, but because he’s the only Rock, the only dependable God. All others are imitations, or are merely shadows of God the Rock.
God is speaking here to Israel, but there are hints that “others” will join in and call themselves “the Lord’s” as well, because they have also been created for worship. God reveals how he will pour out his Spirit of blessing on all peoples. As bewildering as it can be to live alongside neighbors who worship other gods, we ultimately put our trust in God as he has revealed himself to us. We believe that his purposes are greater and more expansive than we can imagine.
Lord, you are our Rock eternal. There is no one besides you. We call on the name of Jesus to lead and guide us forever, and to invite people of all nations and backgrounds to worship you. In his name we pray. Amen.
诵读: 楚云
片头: 张妙阳
