God’s Word Endures 上帝的话语永久长存
Dexu Xia
The word of our God endures forever. Isaiah 40:8
Today's Scripture. Isaiah 40:1-8
Today's Insights The words recorded in Isaiah 40:6-8 are sobering. There’s nothing flattering about humans being described as “grass [that] withers” (v. 7) or “flowers [that] fall” (v. 8). These word pictures describe the temporary nature of our human existence, which contrasts with the permanence of “the word of our God” (v. 8). The apostle Peter, before citing Isaiah 40:6-8 to biblically support the point he was making in 1 Peter 1:24-25, wrote these words: “You have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God” (v. 23). Isaiah wasn’t the only biblical spokesperson to grasp the potency and permanence of the Scriptures. The psalmist’s words in Psalm 119:89 touch on this theme: “Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” Though constantly confronted with our frailty, we find comfort that “the word of our God endures forever” (Isaiah 40:8).
Today's Devotion In the early 1900s, successful steel businessman Charles Schwab decided to build perhaps the most lavish mansion in New York City. Completed in 1906, his Riverside Drive estate took its inspiration from French chateaus and spanned an entire city block, with lush gardens, grand halls, and opulent interiors. It stood in stark contrast to the rising apartment buildings that would soon define Manhattan. Despite its grandeur, the estate struggled to find a buyer after Schwab’s death. The mansion was too large, too costly, and out of step with real estate trends. Riverside Drive estate was demolished in 1948. Both the mansion and the man faded away.
It’s easy for us to point to earthly realities like wealth, ambition, and mansions as destined to fade away. The words of Isaiah 40 remind us, “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field” (v. 6). Isaiah wrote to people enduring God’s discipline for their faithlessness. After He had corrected them, God would comfort them (vv. 1-2). What the prophet says about people, grass, and flowers is true (vv. 6-7). But the truth of God Himself? It will outlast men and mansions and wealth and ambition and accolades. Yes, “the word of our God endures forever” (v. 8).
It’s good to keep in mind how fragile we are. And it’s wise to remember God’s word is everlasting.
Reflect & Pray
What have you witnessed that has withered and faded away? How does God’s eternal nature and unfailing word encourage you?
Eternal God, I praise You because Your word endures forever!
By John Blasé
“我们上帝的话必永远立定。”以赛亚书40章8 节
今日经文：以赛亚书40章1-8 节
今日感悟 以赛亚书40章6-8节中所记载的话语令人警醒。将人类描述为“枯干的草”（7节）或“凋谢的花”（8节），绝非什么恭维之词。这些生动的意象描绘了人类存在的短暂本质，这与“我们上帝的话”（8节）的永恒性形成了鲜明对比。使徒彼得在彼得前书1章24-25中引用以赛亚书40:6-8来提供圣经依据、从而佐证其论点之前，曾写下这样的话：“你们蒙了重生，不是由于能坏的种子，乃是由于不能坏的种子，是借着上帝活泼常存的道”（23节）。
以赛亚并非唯一一位领悟到圣经之大能与永恒性的圣经代言人。诗篇作者在诗篇119篇89节中的话语也触及了这一主题：“耶和华啊，你的话语安定在天，直到永远。”尽管我们时常不得不直面自身的软弱与短暂，但我们仍能从中寻得安慰，因为“我们上帝的话语永远立定”（以赛亚书40:8）。
今日灵修 20世纪初，一位成功的钢铁商人查尔斯·施瓦布决定在纽约市建造一座或许是当时最为奢华的豪宅。这座位于河滨大道的宅邸于1906年竣工，其设计灵感源自法国的城堡庄园，占地横跨整整一个街区，拥有繁茂的花园、宏伟的大厅以及极尽奢华的室内装潢。它与随后拔地而起、并最终定义了曼哈顿城市风貌的那些公寓大楼形成了鲜明的反差。尽管这座宅邸气势恢宏，但在施瓦布去世后，它却难以寻得买家接手，因为这座豪宅面积过于庞大，维护成本极其昂贵，且已与当时的房地产市场潮流格格不入。最终，这座河滨大道宅邸于1948年被拆除。无论是这座豪宅，还是那位曾经的主人，都已随风消逝。
对于我们而言，指出现世的财富、野心、豪宅等终将消逝，是一件轻而易举的事。以赛亚书40章的话语提醒我们：“凡有血气的尽都如草，一切的美容都像野地的花”（6节）。以赛亚这些话是写给那些因不忠而正在受上帝管教的人们。在施行管教之后，上帝便会转而安慰他们（1-2节）。先知关于世人、草木与花卉的论述是千真万确的（6-7节）。然而，关于上帝本身的真理又是如何呢？上帝的真理将超越世人、豪宅、财富、野心以及一切赞誉，长存不朽。是的，“我们上帝的话语必永远立定”（8节）。 铭记自身的脆弱，是一件有益的事；而谨记上帝的话语永恒长存，则是一种智慧。
反思与祷告 你曾目睹过什么事物枯萎凋零、最终消逝得无影无踪？你如何从上帝那永恒的本性与永不落空的话语中得到鼓励？ 永恒的上帝啊，我赞美祢，因为祢的话语永远长存！
作者 约翰·布雷斯