看哪，他們和他們的工作都是虛空，且是虛無。他們所鑄的偶像都是風，都是虛的。以賽亞書41:29
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Isaiah 41 the Lord is in his courtroom, he is inviting idols of the nations to present their case before him why they are to be seen as anything more than pieces of wood or metal. He says let them tell of their great deeds, but of course they can't speak. He says in v 24, But no! You are less than nothing and can do nothing at all. Those who choose you pollute themselves."
以賽亞書第41章，耶和華在祂的法庭裡，要各國的假神呈上他們的案件，他們不過是木頭和金屬。神要他們說明他們偉大的作為。不過，他們當然是不會說話。耶和華在第24節說：看哪，你們屬乎虛無，你們的作為也屬乎虛空，那選擇你們的是可憎惡的！
Powerful words. Idolatry has been a problem for those following God for thousands of years. A disturbing verse is found in 2 kings 17:33 "They worshiped the Lord, but they also served their own gods…: this was said thousands of years ago, but it’s still true today.
很強烈的文字！幾千年來，偶像崇拜對於跟隨上帝的人一直都是個問題。列王紀下 17:33說：他們又懼怕耶和華，又侍奉自己的神，從何邦遷移，就隨何邦的風俗。這段話是幾千年前說的，但如今事實仍是如此。
In Isaiah 41 God establishes why he is superior to the dead idols people were worshipping.
以賽亞書第41章，神表明祂比那些人所敬拜但卻沒有生命的偶像更高。
1. He stirs up nations and gives them victory over others, he is able to influence events that change the course of history.
祂攪動萬國，掌管勝敗，有能力影響那些改變歷史的事件。
2. He is the lifegiver, summoning each generation in it’s time to his purposes. No generation has ever existed or will exist without him giving them the ability to do so.
祂賜下生命，在所定的時期，根據祂的旨意，召喚每個世代。沒有神的允許，沒有任何世代能夠存在。
3. He has helped the Israelites throughout their history and he says as you look back, see my hand in it and see how I rescued you. Can idols rescue you?
回顧以色列的過往歷史，神的手在其中拯救。偶像可以施行拯救嗎？
4. He cares for the needy and the downtrodden, sustaining them and lifting them up.
祂眷顧那些有需要的人及受壓迫的人，扶持他們站立。
5. He is able to see the future and warn his people about what will take place, which idol can truly do the same?
祂有能力預見未來，警告百姓即將發生的事情。偶像可以做這些事情嗎？
6. He calls himself the first and the last and everything in between. The author of our human story and the finisher of it and the one who is in all of it.
祂是首先的、末後的、以及一切在其中的。祂是人類歷史的作者和完成者。
In v 29 it says " See, they are foolish, worthless things. All your idols are as empty as the wind."
第29節說：看哪，他們和他們的工作都是虛空，且是虛無，他們所鑄的偶像都是風，都是虛的。
Idol worship takes many forms, some do bow before actual wooden images made by men. But some bow before unseen idols that are secretly worshipped. How do I know if I’m worshipping an idol?
偶像崇拜有很多模式。有些人的確會在人造的木頭雕像面前跪拜。然而，有些人是在看不見的偶像面前跪拜。我要如何知道我有崇拜偶像呢？
An idol is anything that takes the place of God in our lives.
Idols are the things that distract you from God.
What I prize, or value the most.
What I trust the most.
What would break your heart if you lost it?
The passion of your heart.
偶像是任何取代神在我們生命位置的東西。
偶像是使你不能專心於神的事物。
我最重視的、我最相信的。
當你失去什麼東西時，你會心碎？
你心裡的熱情。
Today take some time to identify your idol. Be ruthless, be honest as you examine your life. I can’t go through the whole list of what might be an idol, but the Holy Spirit can be your guide to point out any idolatry in your life.
今天，花一點時間辨明你的偶像是什麼。當你驗察你的生命時，要誠實並堅決。我沒有辦法列出所有的偶像清單，但聖靈是你的引導，祂會指出你生命中的偶像。
In India there was a yearly festival held to an idol called juggernaut. The huge idol would be taken out of the temple and paraded to his nearby country house, a smaller temple. Hundreds of thousands of people attend the festival. The giant cart is pulled along and is so heavy it makes grooves in the road. Helping to pull the idol is seen as a way to be blessed by the idol. If you happen to die within a 5 mile radius while he is pulled along your descendants will be blessed beyond measure. Sometimes people will lay themselves on the road before the cart and be killed under its weight.
在印度，每一年為了印度教主神juggernaut會舉辦慶典。印度教徒每年用車載這個巨大的神像遊行。成千上萬的人參與這樣的盛典。乘載這個神明的車非常重，過程中會在馬路上留下溝痕。幫忙拉行偶像的舉動被視作受祝福的方式。如果在拉行過程中，你死於半徑五英里的範圍，你的後代子孫會大大的被祝福。有一些人甚至會躺在路上，被車的重量輾死。
One woman did that, and when the procession was past 2 young children sat near the trodden body of their mother. A passerby said to the children, “Where is your home?”, “That’s our home they replied.” What a tragic story. We may even say what a foolish woman she was. But do we not do the same with our idols.
有一個女子真的這麼做。遊行隊伍行進，兩個小孩坐在他們被踩踏的母親屍體旁邊。一位路人問孩子：你家在哪裡呢？他們回答：我們家就在這裡。這真是一個悲劇啊！我們可能甚至會說那個女子很愚笨。但，我們何嘗也不是對我們自己的偶像做相同的事情呢？
Know this, your idol will let you down, But our great and glorious God never will.
你要知道，你的偶像會讓你失望，但我們偉大榮耀的神絕不會讓你失望。
prayer:
Father God, the first and the last, you are no idol. You are the one true living God who we can put all our hope in. You have never failed and never will. Help us to be true to you and to remember the 2nd commandment, not to have any other gods but you. Please reveal to us any idols that we may be worshipping subtly, help us to know that we are not immune to idolatry. May we be humble and honest with ourselves and turn away from whatever it is that has captured our hearts and turn to you and you alone, Amen.
父神，祢是起初末後的，祢不是偶像。祢是那唯一又真又活的上帝，是我們倚靠的盼望。祢永遠不會失敗。幫助我們對祢真誠忠心，記得第二條誡命，除祢以外，不可有別的神。幫助我們察覺自己在崇拜的偶像，幫助我們知道，對於偶像崇拜，我們並不是完全免疫。幫助我們要謙卑，對自己誠實，遠離任何佔領我們心的人事物，單單歸向祢。阿們。
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看哪，他們和他們的工作都是虛空，且是虛無。他們所鑄的偶像都是風，都是虛的。以賽亞書41:29
▎Brother Dylan
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