以赛亚是在向一个价值观冲突的文化说话。在某些方面，它就像我们今天的文化：人们聚集在一起敬拜，却对为神而活不感兴趣。许多人醉心于财富、美貌、权力和物质生活（赛 1-2章）。
以赛亚的信息对当时的人来说是不舒服的，而今天它仍然能震醒人们。神并不满足于人们走过场的敬拜，然后忽略祂的呼召，在这个世界上做公正和正确的事。以赛亚的信息显明上帝标准的深度。上帝通过以赛亚警告百姓，他们的罪会带来毁灭和被掳的后果。
但将来神会带来复兴。神应许要差遣一位救主，他将以行正直和公义的事来带领神的百姓，并为各国带来和平与安息。
以赛亚用生动的形像来描述这一切，他拿树来比喻神子民的审判和救赎。代表权力和威望的高大树木将被砍伐，变得卑微；但当树桩上长出嫩芽时，希望就会再次升起。
神的灵会这样做——不是基于人的力量或骄傲，而是靠智慧、怜悯和公义。伟大将通过谦卑来实现，生命将通过死亡而来。
神啊，我们承认自己常常认为“越大越好”，我们惊异于你将为所有的受造物带来救赎——不是通过胜利或压倒性的征服，而是通过救主耶稣基督的诞生。阿们。
以赛亚书 10:33-11:9
33看哪，主万军之耶和华以惊吓削去树枝，长高的必被砍下，高大的必被伐倒。
34稠密的树林，他要用铁器砍下，黎巴嫩的树木必被大能者伐倒。
1从耶西的本必发一条，从他根生的枝子必结果实。
2耶和华的灵必住在他身上，就是使他有智慧和聪明的灵，谋略和能力的灵，知识和敬畏耶和华的灵。
3他必以敬畏耶和华为乐，行审判不凭眼见，断是非也不凭耳闻；
4却要以公义审判贫穷人，以正直判断世上的谦卑人，以口中的杖击打世界，以嘴里的气杀戮恶人。
5公义必当他的腰带，信实必当他胁下的带子。
6豺狼必与绵羊羔同居，豹子与山羊羔同卧，少壮狮子与牛犊并肥畜同群，小孩子要牵引它们。
7牛必与熊同食，牛犊必与小熊同卧，狮子必吃草与牛一样。
8吃奶的孩子必玩耍在虺蛇的洞口，断奶的婴儿必按手在毒蛇的穴上。
9在我圣山的遍处，这一切都不伤人，不害物，因为认识耶和华的知识要充满遍地，好像水充满洋海一般。
"A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit." - Isaiah 11:1
Isaiah was speaking to a culture with conflicted values. In some ways it was like our culture today, in which people might gather for worship but are not really interested in living for God. Many are distracted by wealth, beauty, power, and material things. (See Isaiah 1-2.)
Isaiah's message was uncomfortable for people then, and it still jolts people awake today. God isn't satisfied with people going through the motions of worship and then ignoring his call to do what is just and right in the world. Isaiah's message unveils the depths of God's standards. Through Isaiah God warned the people that their sin would bring consequences: destruction and captivity.
But then later God would also bring restoration. God promised to send a Savior who would lead by doing what is right and just, bringing peace and rest for the nations.
Isaiah uses vivid imagery to describe all of this, and he compares the judgment and redemption of God's people to trees. Big, lofty trees representing power and prestige will be cut down and brought low. But hope will rise again later when a shoot grows from a stump.
The Spirit of God will do this—not on the basis of human power or pride but by wisdom, mercy, and justice. Greatness will come through humility. Life will come through death.
God, we confess that we often think "bigger is better," and we marvel that you will bring about redemption for all creation—not by a triumphant, overpowering conquest but through the unassuming birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
