Month of Thanksgiving - Day 15

第十五天 賽44:1-8,21-23
1「我的僕人雅各，我所揀選的以色列啊，現在你當聽！ 2 造做你，又從你出胎造就你，並要幫助你的耶和華如此說：『我的僕人雅各，我所揀選的耶書崙哪，不要害怕！ 3 因為我要將水澆灌口渴的人，將河澆灌乾旱之地，我要將我的靈澆灌你的後裔，將我的福澆灌你的子孫。 4 他們要發生在草中，像溪水旁的柳樹。 5 這個要說「我是屬耶和華的」，那個要以雅各的名自稱，又一個要親手寫「歸耶和華的」，並自稱為以色列。』6 「耶和華以色列的君，以色列的救贖主，萬軍之耶和華如此說：『我是首先的，我是末後的，除我以外，再沒有真神。 7 自從我設立古時的民，誰能像我宣告並且指明，又為自己陳說呢？讓他將未來的事和必成的事說明。 8 你們不要恐懼，也不要害怕！我豈不是從上古就說明指示你們嗎？並且你們是我的見證。除我以外，豈有真神嗎？誠然沒有磐石，我不知道一個！』」
21 「雅各，以色列啊，你是我的僕人，要記念這些事！以色列啊，你是我的僕人，我造就你，必不忘記你。 22 我塗抹了你的過犯，像厚雲消散；我塗抹了你的罪惡，如薄雲滅沒。你當歸向我，因我救贖了你。」 23 諸天哪，應當歌唱！因為耶和華做成這事。地的深處啊，應當歡呼！眾山應當發聲歌唱，樹林和其中所有的樹，都當如此！因為耶和華救贖了雅各，並要因以色列榮耀自己。

Isaiah 44:1-8; 21-23
44 “Yet hear now, O Jacob My servant,
And Israel whom I have chosen.
2 Thus says the Lord who made you
And formed you from the womb, who will help you:
‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant;
And you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
3 For I will pour water on him who is thirsty,
And floods on the dry ground;
I will pour My Spirit on your descendants,
And My blessing on your offspring;
4 They will spring up among the grass
Like willows by the watercourses.’
5 One will say, ‘I am the Lord’s’;
Another will call himself by the name of Jacob;
Another will write with his hand, ‘The Lord’s,’
And name himself by the name of Israel.
6 “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel,
And his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts:
‘I am the First and I am the Last;
Besides Me there is no God.
7 And who can proclaim as I do?
Then let him declare it and set it in order for Me,
Since I appointed the ancient people.
And the things that are coming and shall come,
Let them show these to them.
8 Do not fear, nor be afraid;
Have I not told you from that time, and declared it?
You are My witnesses.
Is there a God besides Me?
Indeed there is no other Rock;
I know not one.’”
21 “Remember these, O Jacob,
And Israel, for you are My servant;
I have formed you, you are My servant;
O Israel, you will not be forgotten by Me!
22 I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your transgressions,
And like a cloud, your sins.
Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.”
23 Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it!
Shout, you lower parts of the earth;
Break forth into singing, you mountains,
O forest, and every tree in it!
For the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
And glorified Himself in Israel.

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No matter how we translate it, servant or slave is still a pretty hard word to accept. Yet it is such an important word for Isaiah in chapters 41-53 and means someone who occupies a special position in God’s royal administration of His kingdom (like My servant Moses). Look with what care the Lord speaks of His servant, as a mother about her child and a creator of his prized creation! Jacob needed to be reminded that despite what the dire and dark circumstances of captivity seemed to indicate, the gracious Yahweh had not, would not abandon them. Instead, He would actually amazingly pour out His Spirit (referring to the Messianic age) in abundance, blessing even Israel’s descendants.

Let us give thanksgiving that we are the spiritual descendants (Acts 2:38, 39) who are filled with the Spirit and personally know Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord Almighty, the first and the last. And what thanks we should offer to our God who so tenderly made us and saved us to be His servants whom He will never, ever forget. Sing with me in thanksgiving, I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you. Amen!