幽暗中的大光(賽九)中英bilingual

但那受過痛苦的必不再見幽暗。從前神使西布倫地和拿弗他利地被藐視，末後卻使這沿海的路，約但河外，外邦人的加利利地得著榮耀。 在黑暗中行走的百姓看見了大光，住在死蔭之地的人有光照耀他們。(賽 9：1-2) 

大約在西元前八世紀左右，當時的以色列與猶大正處於亞述帝國侵略的恐懼中。亞述王席捲了西布倫和拿弗他利(即加利利地)，那地的百姓被擄、家園被毀，正是生活在黑暗之中，然而神的救恩卻是出於一個「嬰孩」。在飽受外敵侵擾、充滿痛苦的邊境之地，神卻選在這個最被藐視的地方，賜下希望「大光」，如同耶穌的降生是選擇在最不起眼的馬槽。 

讓我們回想信仰生活，神的恩典往往始於我們最軟弱、最卑微的時候，我們常經歷自己的「加利利」時，可能是人際的挫敗、工作的困境、生活的缺乏或心靈上的空虛，就像在黑暗中摸索，想破頭也無法解決困難。先知在這裡告訴我們，「光」不是我們有能力就可以製造出來的，而是神使我們看見，照耀進來的，而且是當我們承認自己處於黑暗、找不到出口時，那從神而來救贖的「光」才能夠被看見，而被照耀。人往往在承認自己最軟弱、走投無路時，才懂得尋求神的幫助。 

因有一嬰孩為我們而生；有一子賜給我們。政權必擔在他的肩頭上；他名稱為奇妙策士、全能的神、永在的父、和平的君。(賽 9：6) 

第 6 節是這章的核心，先知預言了一位嬰孩的降生，並賦予祂四個名號，不僅是神學上的定義，更是對人性需求的全然回應：

 1、奇妙策士：當我對未來感到迷惘、缺乏智慧抉擇時，祂是超越理性的引導者。 

2、全能的神：那位關心我微小情緒的救主，同時也是掌管宇宙的造物主。祂的能力足以支撐我生命中所有的重擔。 

3、永在的父：這位彌賽亞給予永不離棄、跨越時間的守護。祂是生命的源頭，也是永恆的避風港。 

4、和平的君：世界定義的平安是「沒有衝突」，但神所給的平安是「混亂中的安息」。在焦慮盛行的現代，這份「沙龍」（Shalom）是靈魂深處因連結於主而有的穩妥。 

這四個名號對我們而言是在動盪的時代中，日常屬靈爭戰的根基。 

這眾百姓，就是以法蓮和撒瑪利亞的居民，都要知道；他們憑驕傲自大的心說： 磚牆塌了，我們卻要鑿石頭建築；桑樹砍了，我們卻要換香柏樹。(賽 9：9-10) 

第 9 章後半段描述了北國以色列的傲慢。歷史上，北國在遭受亞述初步攻擊後，不但不悔改，反而誇口要用更好的材料（鑿出的石頭、桑樹換成香柏木）來重建。這種對災難的反應，是一種「技術性修補而非生命性回轉」。這也是我們現代信徒生活的寫照，遇到難題，缺乏自覺、不檢討過錯，自信地以為可以靠己力解決，忽視神要我們學習的是甚麼。 

所以回歸信仰的本質—「政權必擔在祂的肩頭上」，我們已歸入主的名下，主權就是主，讓主真的在我們凡事上掌權，才能得著屬靈上真正的平安。然而如果我們忽略了悔改，只追求外在組織的壯大或硬體的華美，那麼我們也可能陷入「耶和華的怒氣還未轉消」的危機中。唯有謙卑回轉，承認自己的破碎，並仰賴神的恩典重建，才能真正蒙神悅納。 

親愛的朋友，若您還在尋找心靈的寄託，歡迎來認識這位奇妙策士、全能的神、永在的父、和平的君，與我們同享主恩的滋味。 

主耶和華以色列的聖者曾如此說：「你們得救在乎歸回安息、你們得力在乎平靜安穩。」你們竟自不肯。（賽 30：15） 

By柯怡君

真耶穌教會石牌教會、天母教會線上講道

石牌教會https://www.youtube.com/@TJChurchShipai

天母教會https://www.youtube.com/c/TJC_Tianmu/featured

A Great Light in the Gloom (Isaiah 9)

幽暗中的大光

But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish. In earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He will make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.（Isaiah 9:1-2 NASB2020）

Around the 8th century BC, Israel and Judah lived under the fear of the Assyrian Empire.The king of Assyria swept through Zebulun and Naphtali (Galilee), and the people there were taken away, their homes destroyed—they truly lived in darkness.Yet God’s salvation came through a “child.”In a borderland ravaged by enemies and filled with suffering, God chose this most despised place to bring hope—a “great light,” just as Jesus was born in the most unnoticeable manger.

As we reflect on our faith journey, God’s grace often begins in our weakest and lowest moments.We each experience our own “Galilee”—whether in broken relationships, struggles at work, lack in daily life, or inner emptiness.We grope in the dark, exhausting every effort yet finding no solution.The prophet reminds us that this “light” is not something we can produce by our own ability; rather, it is something God enables us to see as it shines into us. Only when we acknowledge that we are in darkness and unable to find a way out can the redeeming “light” from God be seen and received.Often, it is when we reach the end of ourselves that we finally learn to seek His help.

For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

(Isaiah 9:6 NASB2020)

Verse 6 is the core of this chapter. The prophet foretells the birth of a child and gives Him four names—not only theological truths, but also complete answers to human needs:

1. Wonderful Counselor:When I feel lost about the future and lack wisdom for decisions, He is the guide who surpasses human understanding.

2. Mighty God:The Savior who cares about my smallest emotions is also the Creator who governs the universe. His power is sufficient to carry every burden in my life.

3. Eternal Father: This Messiah offers a protection that never leaves and transcends time. He is the source of life and our eternal safe havor.

4. Prince of Peace: The world defines peace as the "absence of conflict", but the peace God gives is rest in "the midst of chaos". In today’s anxiety-filled world, this “shalom” is a deep assurance that comes from being connected to the Lord.

These four names form the foundation of our daily spiritual battles in a turbulent age.

And all the people know it, That is, Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria, Asserting in pride and in arrogance of heart: “The bricks have fallen down, But we will rebuild with smooth stones; The sycamores have been cut down, But we will replace them with cedars.”(Isaiah 9:9-10 NASB2020)

The latter half of chapter 9 describes the arrogance of the northern kingdom of Israel. Historically, after the initial attacks from Assyria, instead of repenting, they boasted of rebuilding with better materials—cut stones instead of bricks, cedars instead of sycamores. This response to disaster reflects a “technical repair rather than a transformational repentance.” This is also a reflection of modern believers. When facing difficulties, we may lack self-awareness, avoid examining our faults, and confidently rely on our own strength, ignoring what God wants us to learn.

Therefore, we return to the essence of faith: “the government will rest on His shoulders.”Since we belong to the Lord, He must truly reign over all aspects of our lives. Only then can we receive true spiritual peace. If we neglect repentance and merely pursue outward growth or external beauty, we may fall into the warning that “the LORD’s anger has not turned away.”Only through humility, repentance, acknowledging our brokenness, and relying on God’s grace to rebuild can we truly find favor in His sight.

Dear friend, if you are still searching for a place of rest for your soul, you are warmly invited to know this Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace, and to share in the goodness of His grace with us.

For this is what the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, has said: “In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing

(Isaiah 30:15 NASB2020)

By Yi-Jun Ke