悦目且美好
在以赛亚书中，有几段经文警告神的子民，由于他们弃绝了主，不忠于主，他们将遭受毁灭。然而，正如我们在今天的经文中所发现的，神也宣告他将扭转这种局面，使他们得到医治和修复。
当以赛亚写到松树将代替荆棘生长时，我想到了我们家附近生长的带刺入侵植物，它们非常难以清除。如果能把这些植物彻底铲除，那将是多么美好的礼物啊! 荆棘和蒺藜使人和许多动物不适宜居住，所以，如果能用松树和番石榴取代这些碍眼的植物，那将是多么美好啊！这不仅意味着环境会更加惬意，而且取代这些没用植物的灌木和树木也是可以食用和药用的。松树和番石榴既美丽又实用：松树有防腐作用，番石榴提供美味、营养丰富的酱果，叶子可以入药。
我们奇妙的神会用既赏心悦目又能食用的灌木和树木代替荆棘，这不是很美妙吗？这表明了神对他的子民的细心关怀。
你在哪些方面看到神在你的生命中作工，用悦目又美好的东西代替荆棘和蒺藜呢？
主啊，求你根除我们生命中不满、挣扎和纷争的荆棘。用医治和滋养充满我们，使我们可以和受造物一起赞美你。阿们。
以赛亚书 55
1“你们一切干渴的，都当就近水来！没有银钱的，也可以来！你们都来，买了吃。不用银钱，不用价值，也来买酒和奶。
2你们为何花钱买那不足为食物的，用劳碌得来的买那不使人饱足的呢？你们要留意听我的话，就能吃那美物，得享肥甘，心中喜乐。
3你们当就近我来，侧耳而听，就必得活。我必与你们立永约，就是应许大卫那可靠的恩典。
4我已立他做万民的见证，为万民的君王和司令。
5你素不认识的国民，你也必召来，素不认识你的国民，也必向你奔跑，都因耶和华你的神以色列的圣者，因为他已经荣耀你。”
6当趁耶和华可寻找的时候寻找他，相近的时候求告他。
7恶人当离弃自己的道路，不义的人当除掉自己的意念。归向耶和华，耶和华就必怜恤他；当归向我们的神，因为神必广行赦免。
8耶和华说：“我的意念非同你们的意念，我的道路非同你们的道路。
9天怎样高过地，照样，我的道路高过你们的道路，我的意念高过你们的意念。
10雨雪从天而降并不返回，却滋润地土，使地上发芽结实，使撒种的有种，使要吃的有粮。
11我口所出的话也必如此，决不徒然返回，却要成就我所喜悦的，在我发它去成就的事上必然亨通。
12你们必欢欢喜喜而出来，平平安安蒙引导，大山小山必在你们面前发声歌唱，田野的树木也都拍掌。
13松树长出代替荆棘，番石榴长出代替蒺藜，这要为耶和华留名，作为永远的证据，不能剪除。”
Pleasant And Good
"Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow." - Isaiah 55:13
Several passages in Isaiah warn God's people about the destruction that will come upon them because they have rejected the Lord and been unfaithful. And yet, as we find in our passage for today, God also declares that he will reverse the situation and bring about healing and restoration.
When Isaiah writes that the juniper will grow instead of the thornbush, I think of the thorny, invasive plants that grow near our house and are very hard to get rid of. What a gift it would be to have those rooted out for good! Thornbushes and briers make places inhospitable to people and many animals, so to have those harsh plants replaced by junipers and myrtle would be wonderful. This means not only that the situation would be more bearable, but also that the shrubs and trees replacing the unwanted plants would be edible and medicinal. Junipers and myrtles are beautiful as well as functional: junipers have antiseptic properties, and myrtles provide delicious, nutrient-rich berries and have leaves that can be used for medicine.
Isn't it wonderful to know that our amazing God would replace thorns with shrubs and trees that are both pleasant to the sight and good for food? This demonstrates God's attentive care for his people.
In what ways do you see God at work in your life, replacing thorns and briers with things that are both pleasant and good?
Lord, please root out the thornbushes of discontent, struggle, and strife in our lives. And fill us with healing and nourishment, that we may join with creation in praising you. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
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