我们今天在以赛亚书读到的事，发生在以色列国分裂多年之后。由十个支派组成的北方仍叫以色列（有时也叫以法莲），首都是撒玛利亚。他们已经无望地远离了神。南方的犹大（加上便雅悯支派）也紧随其后。犹大受到亚兰人（叙利亚）和以色列的攻击。犹大王亚哈斯在惊恐中离弃神，转向亚述王寻求帮助（王下16）。
以赛亚告诉亚哈斯不要惧怕，只要坚定地信靠神。他说，以色列和叙利亚将很快被摧毁。神甚至让亚哈斯自己选择一个兆头，来证明他可以信靠神。但亚哈斯拒绝了。所以神，真正的万王之王，亲自给了亚哈斯和大卫家一个记号。神说，将有童女怀孕生子，他将被称为以马内利，意思是“神与我们同在”。
这和我们有什么关系呢？再过一周就是圣诞节了。马太将基督的诞生描述为神给亚哈斯这一记号的奇妙成就。耶稣降生了，祂是以马内利，“神与我们同在”（参太1:9，23）。
我们可能会因为战事或危及生命的事件而失去信心，但这一记号仍是我们的希望。以马内利已经来临，祂还要再来。弟兄姐妹们，你们要在信心上站立得稳，因为“神若帮助我们，谁能敌挡我们呢？”（罗8:31）
主啊，帮助我们在信心上站立得稳。在耶稣里没有什么能使我们与神的爱隔绝，我们为此感谢你。阿们。
以赛亚书 7:1-14; 8:9-10
1乌西雅的孙子、约坦的儿子犹大王亚哈斯在位的时候，亚兰王利汛和利玛利的儿子以色列王比加，上来攻打耶路撒冷，却不能攻取。
2有人告诉大卫家说：“亚兰与以法莲已经同盟。”王的心和百姓的心就都跳动，好像林中的树被风吹动一样。
3耶和华对以赛亚说：“你和你的儿子施亚雅述出去，到上池的水沟头，在漂布地的大路上，去迎接亚哈斯，
4对他说：‘你要谨慎安静，不要因亚兰王利汛和利玛利的儿子这两个冒烟的火把头所发的烈怒害怕，也不要心里胆怯。
5因为亚兰和以法莲，并利玛利的儿子设恶谋害你，
6说：“我们可以上去攻击犹大，扰乱他，攻破他，在其中立他比勒的儿子为王”，
7所以主耶和华如此说：“这所谋的必立不住，也不得成就。
8原来亚兰的首城是大马士革，大马士革的首领是利汛。六十五年之内，以法莲必然破坏，不再成为国民。
9以法莲的首城是撒马利亚，撒马利亚的首领是利玛利的儿子。你们若是不信，定然不得立稳。”’”
10耶和华又晓谕亚哈斯说：
11“你向耶和华你的神求一个兆头，或求显在深处，或求显在高处。”
12亚哈斯说：“我不求，我不试探耶和华。”
13以赛亚说：“大卫家啊，你们当听！你们使人厌烦岂算小事？还要使我的神厌烦吗？
14因此，主自己要给你们一个兆头，必有童女怀孕生子，给他起名叫以马内利。
9列国的人民哪，任凭你们喧嚷，终必破坏！远方的众人哪，当侧耳而听！任凭你们束起腰来，终必破坏，你们束起腰来，终必破坏！
10任凭你们同谋，终归无有，任凭你们言定，终不成立，因为神与我们同在。
“If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” - Isaiah 7:9
Today’s reading in Isaiah takes place many years after the kingdom of Israel had divided. The northern part, made up of ten tribes, was still called Israel (and sometimes Ephraim) and their capital was Samaria. They had hopelessly walked away from God. The southern part, known as Judah (plus the tribe of Benjamin), was not far behind. Judah was under attack by Aram (Syria) and Israel. In a panic, King Ahaz of Judah turned away from God and looked to the powerful king of Assyria for help (2 Kings 16).
Isaiah told Ahaz not to fear but to stand firm with faith in God. Israel and Syria would soon be shattered, he said. God even offered to give Ahaz a sign of his own choosing to prove that he could trust God. But Ahaz refused. So God, the true King of kings, gave both Ahaz and the house of David a sign. God said a virgin would have a son, and he would be called Immanuel, which means “God with us.”
How does that relate to us? A week from today will be Christmas. Matthew describes the birth of Christ as God’s miraculous fulfillment of the sign given to Ahaz. Jesus was born, and he is Immanuel, “God with us” (see Matthew 1:9, 23).
We may be tempted to lose heart because of warring nations or life-threatening events, but this sign remains our hope. Immanuel has come and is coming again. Stand firm in faith, sisters and brothers, for “if God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
Lord, help us to stand firm in faith. Thank you that in Jesus nothing can separate us from your love. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
