神必在你們前頭行，必作你們的後盾(賽五十二)中英bilingual

錫安哪、興起、興起、披上你的能力．聖城耶路撒冷阿、穿上你華美的衣服．因為從今以後、未受割禮不潔淨的、必不再進入你中間。耶和華在萬國眼前露出聖臂．地極的人都看見我們神的救恩了。(賽 52：1、10) 

受洗歸入基督的，都是披戴基督(參加 3：27)的；主耶穌說領受聖靈的，必得著能力，穿上這帶有能力的華服由近而遠為神的見證(參徒 1：8)。而這能力由神的話語而來(參路 1：37)，或藉著禱告得到力量(參腓 4：6、13)。本章先知不只是傳報以色列人必經歷被擄歸回聖城的救贖佳音，更是神對正在頌讀本章的你我的期待，期待神的僕人當把握興起機會：「站起來、走出去」；是否看見神對我們的期待？神已應許末後的真教會必然興起(參該 2：9)。 

那報佳音、傳平安、報好信、傳救恩的、對錫安說、你的神作王了．這人的腳登山何等佳美。你們離開罷、離開罷、從巴比倫出來、不要沾不潔淨的物．要從其中出來．你們扛抬耶和華器皿的人哪、務要自潔。你們出來必不至急忙、也不至奔逃．因為耶和華必在你們前頭行．以色列的神必作你們的後盾。(賽 52：7、11-12) 

主耶穌道成肉身來到世上為要完成救贖計畫，唯一的工作是奉差派「傳神國福音」(參路 4：43)。在台灣真耶穌教會傳教百週年的當下，蒙神揀選成為君尊祭司且屬神的子民哪，是否聽見神的呼召：務要自潔、務要報神國福音、務要成為神榮耀的見證人。也許會為福音的緣故受苦難、甚至被綑綁，正如保羅對提摩太的勉勵：「神的道，卻不會被綑綁！」(提後 2：9b)。神應允我們必在前方領路，必成為我們堅實後盾，只管勇敢跟隨神國的大元帥、萬王之王的主耶穌基督，必能得見榮美的天成美景。 

無論如何、總要救些人。凡我所行的、都是為福音的緣故、為要與人同得這福音的好處。(林前 9：22-23) 

鍾佩如

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

God Will Go Before You and Be Your Rear Guard（Isaiah 52）

June 13, 2026

Awake, awake, clothe yourself in your strength, O Zion;

Clothe yourself in your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city.

For the uncircumcised and the unclean

Will no longer come into you.

The LORD has bared His holy arm

In the sight of all the nations,

That all the ends of the earth may see

The salvation of our God.

(Isaiah 52:1, 10 NASB 2020)

Those who have been baptized into Christ have clothed themselves with Christ (see Galatians 3:27). The Lord Jesus said that those who receive the Holy Spirit will receive power. Clothed with this powerful garment, they become witnesses for God, from nearby places to faraway lands (see Acts 1:8).

This power comes from the word of God (see Luke 1:37), and it can also be strengthened through prayer (see Philippians 4:6, 13).

In this chapter, the prophet was not only proclaiming the good news that the Israelites would return from captivity and be redeemed back to the holy city. He was also revealing God's expectation for you and me as we read these words today.

God expects His servants to seize the opportunity to rise up: "Stand up and go out." Do we see what God expects from us? God has promised that His true church in the last days will surely rise up (see Haggai 2:9).

How delightful on the mountains

Are the feet of one who brings good news,

Who announces peace

And brings good news of happiness,

Who announces salvation,

And says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"

Depart, depart, go out from there,

Touch nothing unclean;

Go out of the midst of her, purify yourselves,

You who carry the vessels of the LORD.

But you will not go out in a hurry,

Nor will you go as fugitives;

For the LORD will go before you,

And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

(Isaiah 52:7, 11–12 NASB 2020)

The Lord Jesus came into the world in human flesh to complete God's plan of salvation. His one mission was to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God, for He was sent by the Father (see Luke 4:43).

As the True Jesus Church in Taiwan marks one hundred years of evangelistic work, we who have been chosen by God to be a royal priesthood and His own people should ask ourselves:

Do we hear God's calling?

We must purify ourselves.

We must preach the gospel of the kingdom of God.

We must become witnesses who bring glory to God.

Perhaps we may suffer hardships for the sake of the gospel, and perhaps even be imprisoned. Yet Paul encouraged Timothy:

"But the word of God is not imprisoned."

(2 Timothy 2:9b NASB 2020)

God has promised to lead the way before us and to be our strong rear guard.

Therefore, let us courageously follow the Commander of God's kingdom, the King of kings, our Lord Jesus Christ.

If we do so, we will surely see the glorious beauty of the heavenly homeland.

I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some.

I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

(1 Corinthians 9:22–23 NASB 2020)

By Chung Pei-Ju