God’s Tender Care 上帝的温柔关怀
Dexu Xia
He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart. He gently leads those who have young. (Isaiah 40:11)
Today's Scripture Isaiah 40:10-11, 29-31
Today's Insights Isaiah 40 signals a shift in this prophetic book. Up to this point, the prophecies have focused on the situation of the people of Judah and their looming judgment. They’ve repeatedly broken God’s covenant made with them through Moses. Now Isaiah looks far ahead, and the tone shifts dramatically. But what is this “reward” he refers to in verse 10? The context is militaristic: “the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm.” Hence, reward likely refers to the spoils taken in battle. And what is “his recompense” (v. 10)? It’s either the repayment God will give to His people when He restores them or the vengeance He’ll pour out on those who’ve oppressed them. Such militant language is ironic given the compassionate tone of so much of this chapter. God’s strength, appropriately displayed, enables Him to show us this great compassion and comfort as we meet the challenges of each day
Today's Devotional Sitting in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, I visited with a mother as her newborn baby cuddled up against her chest. In this technologically advanced medical facility, the doctors had recommended a very low-tech “prescription” to improve and strengthen the child’s health—the new mom was to spend extended periods of time simply holding her daughter.
There’s almost nothing like the overwhelming love and tender compassion of a parent providing healing comfort for a child. We see this powerful imagery in the prophet Isaiah’s description of God with His people.
Even after prophesying impending exile for the nation of Israel because they’d rejected God (Isaiah 39:5-7), Isaiah emphasized to the people that God still loved them and would always provide for them. God’s tender compassion and secure care is evident in the beautiful metaphor where He is described as a shepherd who, much like a loving father, gathers His sheep “in his arms and carries them close to his heart” (40:11).
God’s presence grants us peace and protection and reminds us that He carries us close to His heart, like a newborn baby with its mother. As He “gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” (v. 29), the Spirit’s healing comfort allows us to meet the challenges of each day.
Reflect & Pray
What comes to mind when you think about the love of a mother for her newborn baby? How has God’s protective and loving care strengthened you?
Heavenly Father, I'm so grateful that You hold me close to Your heart. By Lisa Samra
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。(以赛亚书 40:11 )
今日经文：以赛亚书 40章10-11, 29-31 节
今日心得：以赛亚书第40章标志着这本预言书的转折。在40章前，预言的焦点集中在犹大人的处境，阐述即将到来的对以色列人的审判上。他们屡次违背上帝藉着摩西与他们所立的约。现在，以赛亚将目光放远，语气也发生了巨大的转变。但他在第10节中提到的“赏赐”究竟是什么呢？从上下文看，这赏赐与军事行动有关：“主耶和华必大有能力地降临，他必用大能的膀臂掌权。”因此，赏赐很可能指的是在战斗中获得的战利品。那么，“他的赏赐”（第10节）又是什么呢？一是与上帝复兴祂的子民时给他们的赏赐有关，二是上帝向那些压迫祂子民的人倾泻复仇。鉴于本章中使用了如此多慈悲的语词，这种争战的言词显得颇具讽刺。在此，上帝的力量恰如其分地展现出来，这对每日应对挑战的我们来说，是极大的恩慈和安慰。
今日灵修 我坐在医院的新生儿重症监护室，探望一位母亲，她的新生婴儿正依偎在她胸前。在这个科技先进的医疗机构里，医生们开了一个非常简单的“处方”，以改善和增强孩子的健康，就是要求这位新妈妈化长时间抱着女儿。几乎没有什么能比得上父母为在治疗中的孩子提供的安慰，就是那份无比深沉的爱和温柔的怜悯。
我们在先知以赛亚对上帝与祂子民相处的描述中看到了这种强有力的意象。 即使在预言以色列民族因拒绝上帝而即将被掳之后（以赛亚书39:5-7），以赛亚仍然向人民强调，上帝仍然爱他们，并会始终供应他们。上帝温柔的怜悯和安稳的看顾，在一个美好的比喻中彰显无遗。他被描述为一位牧羊人，如同慈爱的父亲，将他的羊“抱在怀中，贴在心上”（40:11）。 上帝的同在赐下平安和保护，并提醒我们，他将我们抱在怀里，就像新生的婴儿被母亲拥在怀里一样。正如祂“赐能力给疲乏的人，加力量给软弱的人”（29节），圣灵医治的安慰使我们能够应对每天的挑战。
反思与祷告 当你想到母亲对新生婴儿的爱时，你会想到什么？上帝的保护和慈爱如何坚固了你？ 天父，我非常感谢您将我抱在怀里。 作者：丽莎·萨姆拉