在这个充满盼望的异象中,我们看到一个强而有力的呼召,它催促我们有所行动。在第6节,神这样说:“耶路撒冷啊,我在你城上设立守望的,他们昼夜必不静默。”这是一幅关于代祷的有力图画,上面绘画了人们彼此代祷和为神在他们生命中作工的祷告。在上古时代,在城上守望的目的,是要监视有什么事情发生,探察可能会临近的敌人或危险。
在今天,我们的社会没有实质的人在城上做守望者,然而有很多人都在做类似的事情。气象报告员告诉我们会有怎样的天气;财经专家在留意金融市场趋势;有些人则在监察地理政治的发展。
在以赛亚书中,神说衪已经在城上设立守望的——那些分辨在灵界中发生的事和为这些事祷告的人。他们就像那些热切和坚定地祷告的信徒,这些信徒祷告说:“愿你的国降临,愿你的旨意行在地上,如同行在天上”(马太福音 6:10)。
你的心有没有被感动去为某一件事祷告呢?圣灵怎样感动你去为你的邻居、同事、或同学祷告?神邀请你做城上的守望者,为别人和为神的国降临有力的祷告,是神使命的关键策略。
神啊,我们为代祷带来的能力感谢你。作为城上的守望着,我们祈求你的国降临,你的旨意行在地上,如同行在天上。阿们。
以赛亚书 62章
1我因锡安必不静默,为耶路撒冷必不息声,直到他的公义如光辉发出,他的救恩如明灯发亮。
2列国必见你的公义,列王必见你的荣耀。你必得新名的称呼,是耶和华亲口所起的。
3你在耶和华的手中要作为华冠,在你神的掌上必作为冕旒。
4你必不再称为“撇弃的”,你的地也不再称为“荒凉的”,你却要称为“我所喜悦的”,你的地也必称为“有夫之妇”,因为耶和华喜悦你,你的地也必归他。
5少年人怎样娶处女,你的众民也要照样娶你;新郎怎样喜悦新妇,你的神也要照样喜悦你。
6耶路撒冷啊,我在你城上设立守望的,他们昼夜必不静默。呼吁耶和华的,你们不要歇息,
7也不要使他歇息,直等他建立耶路撒冷,使耶路撒冷在地上成为可赞美的。
8耶和华指着自己的右手和大能的膀臂起誓说:“我必不再将你的五谷给你仇敌做食物,外邦人也不再喝你劳碌得来的新酒。
9唯有那收割的要吃,并赞美耶和华,那聚敛的要在我圣所的院内喝。”
10你们当从门经过经过,预备百姓的路;修筑修筑大道,捡去石头,为万民竖立大旗。
11看哪,耶和华曾宣告到地极,对锡安的居民说:“你的拯救者来到!他的赏赐在他那里,他的报应在他面前。”
12人必称他们为圣民,为耶和华的赎民,你也必称为被眷顾不撇弃的城。
"I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. . . ." - Isaiah 62:6
In this vision of hope we find a powerful call to action. In verse 6, God says: "I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem. They will never be silent day or night." This is a powerful picture of intercessory prayer, in which people pray for others and for God's work in their lives. In ancient times the purpose of watching on the walls of a city was to observe what was happening and to spot enemies or danger that might approach.
We don't have literal watchers on the walls in our culture today, but there are lots of people who do something similar. Weather forecasters tell us what weather is coming. Financial experts keep an eye on the markets. Others watch what's going on in geopolitics.
Here, in Isaiah, God says that he has put watchmen on the walls—people who discern what is going on in the spiritual realm and pray about it. They are like believers who pray with passion and deep conviction, "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10).
Is there a situation stirring your heart to prayer? How might the Spirit be calling you to pray for your neighbors, co-workers, or fellow students? God invites you to be a watcher on the wall. Strong prayer for others and for the coming of God's kingdom is a key strategy in his mission.
Thank you, God, for the power of intercessory prayer. As watchers on the wall, we pray for your kingdom to come and your will to be done on earth as in heaven. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳