【双语灵修】安慰：来自上帝的命令COMFORT: AN ORDER FROM GOD

以赛亚书 40:1, 9–11, 28–31

你们的上帝说：你们要安慰，安慰我的百姓。报好信息给锡安的啊，你要登高山；报好信息给耶路撒冷的啊，你要极力扬声。扬声不要惧怕，对犹大的城邑说：看哪，你们的上帝！10主耶和华必像大能者临到；他的膀臂必为他掌权。他的赏赐在他那里；他的报应在他面前。11他必像牧人牧养自己的羊群，用膀臂聚集羊羔抱在怀中，慢慢引导那乳养小羊的你岂不曾知道吗？你岂不曾听见吗？永在的上帝耶和华，创造地极的主，并不疲乏，也不困倦；他的智慧无法测度。29疲乏的，他赐能力；软弱的，他加力量。30就是少年人也要疲乏困倦；强壮的也必全然跌倒。31但那等候耶和华的必从新得力。他们必如鹰展翅上腾；他们奔跑却不困倦，行走却不疲乏。

6月1日

安慰：来自上帝的命令

你们的　神说：你们要安慰，安慰我的百姓。——以赛亚书40:1

《以赛亚书》有时被称为“旧约的福音书”，因为它宣告了关于神之仆人——即弥赛亚耶稣基督——即将来临的好消息（福音）。在第1至39章中，以赛亚记载了历史事件；而在这卷书随后的篇幅中，他传达了关乎安慰、复兴与盼望的信息。

安慰的源头在于神。唯有神能赐给人心灵的平安；唯有神能赦免罪孽，也唯有在神里面，我们才能得着救赎。

真正的安慰并非来自世俗之物，也不来自他人。安慰乃是来自于神。

我们无法在各种心理疗法或自助心理学中找到完全的安慰。真正的安慰无法在咨询椅上或健身房里寻得。我们同样无法通过享受最奢华的假期或最诱人的感官愉悦找到安慰。安慰无法用金钱购买，也无法从父母那里继承。真正的安慰是神的作为。神既是这份礼物的源头，也是这份礼物的施予者。

先知以赛亚受命要安慰神的百姓。但该如何做呢？绝非通过奉承的话语或虚假的称赞。只有当我们转向神——那取之不尽的恩典源头时，才能体验到真正的安慰。唯有神能清偿我们的债，并赦免我们的罪。真正的安慰唯独在神里面。

祷告

赐万般安慰的神啊，唯有祢能满足我们内心深处的需求。在接下来的这一个月里，求祢帮助我们通过聆听并活出祢的话语，在祢里面寻得我们唯一的安慰。奉耶稣的名祷告祈求，阿们。

Isaiah 40:1, 9-11, 28-31

MONDAY, JUNE 1

COMFORT: AN ORDER FROM GOD

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. —Isaiah 40:1

The book of Isaiah is sometimes called “the gospel of the Old Testament” because it announces the good news (gospel) of the coming of God’s servant, the Messiah, who is Jesus Christ. In chapters 1-39, Isaiah writes about history. And in the rest of the book he delivers a message of comfort, restoration, and hope.

Comfort has its source in God. Only the Lord can bring peace to the human soul. Only God can forgive sins, and only in God do we find redemption.

True comfort does not come from earthly things. It does not come from people. Comfort comes from God.

We cannot find full comfort in various therapies or in self-help psychology. True comfort cannot be found on a couch or in a gym. We do not find our greatest comfort by enjoying the most splendid vacations or the most appetizing pleasures. Comfort cannot be acquired with money or inherited from parents. Real comfort is the work of God. God is both the source and the giver of this gift.

Isaiah the prophet is ordered to comfort the people of God. But how? Not with flattering words or deceptive praise. True comfort can only be experienced when we turn to God, the inexhaustible source of grace. God alone can cancel our debt and forgive our sins. True comfort can only be found in God.

God of all comfort, only you can fill our deepest needs. Throughout this month, help us to find our only comfort in you by hearing from and living into your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.