(Isa 2:1-5) （赛2：1-5）

Christmas is coming! 圣诞节快到了！Today, we’ve entered the first week of Advent. 我们从今天开始迎接耶稣降临节的第一周。In western tradition, 按照西方传统，Advent offers four weeks,耶稣降临节持续四周时间，for churches to ponder (think about), 让教会在此期间默想，wait and prepare for both the celebration of the Nativity (birth) of Jesus at Christmas and the return of Jesus at the second coming. 等候、并预备庆祝耶稣降生和第二次再来。Just before, 刚才，we lit the first of the Advent candles which symbolizes Hope. 我们点燃了降临节象征盼望的第一支蜡烛。

Through Jesus’ coming into the world people find hope. 藉着耶稣来到世上，人类得着盼望。A hope for restoration, 就是得着复兴，reconciliation, 和睦，and living in harmony with God forever. 并永远与神和好同住的盼望。Next week will be the second candle, which symbolizes peace, 下周我们将点燃象征和睦的第二支蜡烛，then the third, love, 然后是象征爱的第三支蜡烛，followed by the last one, joy. 最后是象征喜乐的第四支蜡烛。During the Advent season, 在耶稣降临节期间，the three services are all preaching about the same bible verse. 三堂聚会都会分享相同经文。Today, 今天，we’re starting the series of messages for Advent from the book of Isaiah. 我们就从《以赛亚书》开始，Let’s look at Isa 2:1-5, 让我们来看 赛2：1-5节。

1, Jesus King of the mountain. V.1-3 耶稣，众山之王1-3节

1,This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem: 2 In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. 3 Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 亚摩斯的儿子以赛亚得默示，论到犹大和耶路撒冷。末后的日子，耶和华殿的山必坚立，超乎诸山，高举过于万岭；万民都要流归这山。必有许多国的民前往，说：来吧，我们登耶和华的山，奔雅各　神的殿。主必将他的道教训我们；我们也要行他的路。因为训诲必出于锡安；耶和华的言语必出于耶路撒冷。 (以赛亚书 2:1-3) Verse one “saw” means that the prophet Isaiah sees something in a dream or a vision. 第1节中的“saw”字，表示先知以赛亚在异梦或异象中看到。In fact, 事实上，the prophet Isaiah lived about 700 years before Christ Jesus. 先知以赛亚生活在主前700年左右。In the dream, 在异梦中，he saw that mount Zion which is located in the city of Jerusalem would be the highest of the mountains. 先知看到耶路撒冷的锡安山高过众山。And the temple was located on Mount Zion. 神的殿坐落在山上。Actually, in Jerusalem, 实际上，Mount Zion is not the highest mountain. 锡安山在耶路撒冷不是最高的。The Mount of Olives and the Mount of Moriah are all higher than Mount Zion in that area. 橄榄山和摩利亚山都比它高。 So definitely, 因此可以肯定地说，the prophet Isaiah is not talking about a literal temple on a literal mountain, 先知以赛亚所说的不是实际的殿和山，what is he talking about? 那他在说什么呢？What is His advent message for all who believe in Jesus? 关于耶稣复临，他给信徒带来怎样的信息？

Let’s first look at what a mountain symbolizes in the biblical context. 我们先来看看在圣经中的山象征什么。In the NT, 在新约《约翰福音》第4章，when Jesus met the Samaritan woman in John chapter 4, 耶稣遇到撒玛利亚妇人，the woman said,妇人说， “20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 我们的祖宗在这山上礼拜，你们倒说，应当礼拜的地方是在耶路撒冷。” (约翰福音 4:20) here we can see that in the bible, 我们看到，mountains are associated with places of worship. 山和敬拜神有关。We see this in Gen 22, 在《创世记》22章，where Abraham offered his son Isaac, as a sacrifice to worship God on Mt. Moriah.亚伯拉罕在摩利亚上将以撒献为燔祭。Mountains speak of the awe and majesty of God, 山传扬神的威严可畏，they are also symbolic of the presence, 也代表神的同在、the power, 能力、 the salvation and the triumph of God. 救恩和得胜。In the OT, 旧约《出埃及记》19-20章记载，God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai (Exod 19-20). 神在西奈山颁布摩西十诫。Elijah overcame the priests of Baal on Mt. Carmel.以利亚在迦密山胜过巴力的祭司(1 Kings 18)（王上18章）。In the NT在新约里， Jesus often went up to the mountain to pray. 耶稣常常上山祷告，Jesus was transfigured on a high mountain (Mt. 17), 并在高山上改变形象（太17章），and was crucified on Mount Calvary.又在加略山被钉十字架。

2 In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. 末后的日子，耶和华殿的山必坚立，超乎诸山，高举过于万岭；万民都要流归这山。 In that context, 这话的背景是，during most of Isaiah’s lifetime, 在以赛亚一生大部分时间，Judah lived under the threat of Assyrian attack. 犹大都处于亚述人的攻击之下。But God gave His people hope by giving this dream to Isaiah, 但神藉着给以赛亚的异梦赐给神子民盼望，that God’s promise of salvation would become true, 即神应许的拯救将会实现，not just for the house of Jacob, 这应许不是只给雅各家，but for all nations! 而是赐给万民！People who have white skin, 白皮肤、dark skin, 黑皮肤、brown skin, 棕色皮肤、and yellow skin, 黄皮肤，whatever their skin looks like, 无论何种肤色的人，will see God’s salvation!都要看到神的救恩！And He will teach us His ways, 祂必将祂的道教训我们，so that we may walk in His paths! 使我们行祂的路！

In the world, we once walked in a way that seemed to be right in our own eyes, 我们在世上曾行自己眼中看为正的路，but in the end, it leads to death! 至终却通向死亡！We once walked with brokenness, 我们曾行在破碎中，we walked in darkness! 就行在黑暗中！But now, 但如今， let’s go up to the mountain of the Lord, 让我们登耶和华的山，to Jesus King of the mountain! 奔向众山之王、我们的主耶稣！He is our salvation and our good shepherd! 祂是我们的拯救，是好牧人！He brings hope and transformation to our lives! 祂改变我们的生命，带给我们盼望！Let’s respond to God’s gracious salvation by seeking His words and teaching, 让我们以寻求祂的话和教训来回应神拯救的恩典，so that we may walk in His path of righteousness and peace! 以至于我们可以行在神公义和平的道上！That’s the hope and blessing Advent brings to us!这就是耶稣降临节带给我们的盼望和祝福！

2, Jesus as the King who judges. V.4耶稣是审判的王，第4节

4 He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 他必在列国中施行审判，为许多国民断定是非。他们要将刀打成犁头，把枪打成镰刀。这国不举刀攻击那国；他们也不再学习战事。 (以赛亚书 2:4) The bible tells us that “we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 经上说，但我们若盼望那所不见的，就必忍耐等候。(see Romans 8:25) (罗马书 8:25)。” because in the world, at the moment, （这样说）是因为现今在世上，do we see all nations “streaming” (flooding) to God’s house (v.2)? 我们真看到万民流归神的殿（第2节）？ No. 没有。Are there “many people” coming for Jesus’ judgement to settle their disputes peacefully? 真看到许多国民寻求主的审判来断定是非？ Have the nations stopped their training for war (v.4)? 看到国和国停止学习战事没有（第4节）？

The answer is “NO”. 答案是“没有”。But Jesus the King of kings has come, 但万王之王耶稣已来到，He is the head of the church. 祂是教会的头。We are living in the last days. 我们生活在末后的日子。As people of God, 我们作为神子民，we are the hope of this world. 我们是这世界的盼望，Although we haven’t seen the fulfilment of these prophecies yet. 虽然这预言还未完全成就。There is hope which has to originate from the house of God! 然而盼望的成就必先从神家开始！It’s the churches role to show the world, 教会的功能是向世界表明，that these prophecies have started to be fulfilled in our midst. 这预言已经在我们中间开始成就。It’s the churches role to bring hope to this hopeless world! 给这无望的世界带下盼望乃是教会的功用！When people in the world see us, 世人看到我们，they should see hope, 就该从我们身上看到盼望、peace, 和平、love and joy, 爱和喜乐，and say, 以至于他们说： “I wanna go with you to the house of God to know the King.”我也想和你一同去神的殿来认识这位王。

What are we supposed to do about problems? 当我们遇到问题该怎么办？Verse 3 says, 第3节说，“many peoples” no matter what skin colour we have“许多国的民”，不论肤色 joining together to go to the house of the Lord to seek God’s instruction on a matter. 一同来到主的家同心寻求引导。It must start with us, the people of God who have Jesus as King. 这必须从我们这认耶稣是王的神子民开始。 In OTBC we have church meetings, 在OTBC，我们举行教会会议，where we seek God to discern the mind of Christ together on different matters. 就各种事务同心寻求神旨意的显明。

But that’s not enough, 但这不够，we need the Holy Spirit to inspire us,我们还需要圣灵激励，to seek His instructions on every aspect of our lives, 引导在我们生活的各个方面寻求神的旨意，whether big things or small things, 无论大事小事，so that we may literally live in the guidance of the King daily. 以至于我们每天都能确实地活在这位王的引导中。And so the world may be amazed at the wisdom, 这世界就会因看见我们的智慧、the understanding, 见识、and the tremendous blessings of reconciliation,因和睦而来的极大祝福、and healing of our relationships we have, 因彼此关系的修复而惊奇，and say, 以至于他们说：“please take me to the house of God, 请带我去神的殿，I wanna worship your King. 我也要敬拜你的王。” Verse 4 says, 第4节，the King will judge and settle disputes (conflicts) for “many peoples”. 这位王必在列国中施行审判，为许多国民断定是非（冲突）。These prophetic words also need to be fulfilled within God’s house first! 这些预言也要首先在神家中成就！It needs to start with our families, and also the church family. 要首先在我们的家里和教会大家庭中成就。Sadly, families in the world are places where spouses raise disputes (arguments and quarrels) over who is right and who is wrong. 可惜在世上，家庭是配偶间争论谁对谁错的纷争之地。Parents and children can take up swords of words and insults against each other. 是父母和子女以口舌的利剑彼此攻击的战场。Why? 为什么会这样？Because the old self is corrupted. 因老我是败坏的。

James 4:1 tells us, “what causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?” “你们中间的争战斗殴是从哪里来的呢？不是从你们百体中战斗之私欲来的吗？” (雅各书 4:1) When a quarrel or conflict rises, 当发生争吵或冲突的时候，what do we usually think naturally? 我们通常是怎么想的？“It’s his fault…都是他的错……he does this and that…是他做了什么什么……he is wrong…是他不对……I’m right…是我对……” Really? 真的吗？Jesus is the King who judges according to the truth! 惟有我们的王耶稣照真理行审判！It clearly says, 这句话明白地说，that it’s not his desires, or her desires that battle within you (or within me)! 不是别人的私欲在你（或我）里面交战！

WHEREVER there are fights and quarrels among you (us), 我们中间无论哪里有争吵打斗，you and me are not to fight against others! 都不要和别人斗！We are called to fight against desires within ourselves! 我们蒙召是与自己里面的私欲战斗！Stop counting other’s faults, 停止计算他人的恶，and assuming that you (I am) are innocent. 不要当自己是无辜（无罪）的！Jesus is the judge! 耶稣才是审判者！Your (my) responsibility is to fight against the desires within you (me) ,你(我)的责任是与你(我)内心的私欲争战，that cause you (me) to lose the peace of Christ. 这些私欲使你(我)失去基督里的平安。Being judgemental is dangerous, 自己作神论断是危险的，the bible clearly tells us, 圣经清楚地告诉我们，God will treat us exactly the way we treat others. 我们怎样待人，神也怎样待我们。 “judgement will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy.” James 2:13. “那不怜悯人的，也要受无怜悯的审判。”（雅2:13）When we feel that we are mistreated, 当我们感到被人恶待，don’t quickly look for the faults of others, 不要立刻去挑人的错，rather, we are to humble ourselves, 乃要谦卑自己，and go to the Lord and ask, 到神面前求问，“Lord, please remind me of 主啊,求你光照，使我想起a similar thing I did that mistreated others, 我也曾做过什么类似的事恶待了别人，so that I can receive your mercy to forgive my sins first, 让我先来领受你对我的怜悯赦罪，then I can pass your grace and mercy unto others…也能以这样怜悯的恩典待人…because we all need Your merciful forgiveness.因我们都需要你怜悯饶恕…”Being critical (judgemental) keeps us under the yoke of hypocrisy, 挑剔(论断)使我们被假冒为善的重轭禁锢，and hinders our walk with the Holy God who is the true judge. 拦阻我们与真正的审判者、圣洁的神同行。If we focus on doing away with the yoke of oppression ourselves, 我们若专心除掉这重轭，and if we focus on doing away with pointing fingers and malicious talk ourselves, 专心除掉指摘人的指头并发恶言的事，and not only we ourselves practice this truly, 不单我们自己去真实操练，but also we help people to walk in this way with compassion, 也存怜悯的心扶持他人一同来走这道路，then what will happen? 将会带出怎样的果效？

God promises, 神应许我们，“then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. Isa 58: 9b-10” “你的光就必在黑暗中发现，你的幽暗必变如正午。”（赛58:9下-10） If we do so, 我们若这样行，the world may see the light from the restoration and healing of our relationships, 世人必从我们关系的修复和医治中看到光，and say, 并说，“We wanna go with you to worship your God who is the light.” “我们愿意与你一同去敬拜你的神，神就是光。”

3, Walking in the light of Jesus.v.5行在耶稣的光中，第5节

“v.5 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.” 【赛2:5】雅各家啊，来吧！我们在耶和华的光明中行走。As the house of God, 我们是神的殿，this is what we are supposed to do! 这是我们所当行的！Isaiah prophesized that we would not go on a private journey as individuals. 以赛亚预言我们不是个人单独去走这路。There would be “many peoples”, 乃是“许多国的民”，not just the people of Israel, 不单以色列民，but people from all nations.而是万民一同行走！“come and let us walk in the light of the Lord!”  “来吧！我们在耶和华的光明中行走！”

John 1:4 tells us, 约翰福音1章4节 告诉我们“in Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” “生命在他里头，这生命就是人的光。”Jesus claims, 耶稣宣告说， “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. John 8:12” “耶稣又对众人说：“我是世界的光。跟从我的，就不在黑暗里走，必要得着生命的光。”（约8:12）During this Advent, 在这降临节期间，when we light the four candles, 当我们点燃四根蜡烛，we are also reminded,主在提醒我们，that we should no longer walk in the ways of this world and of the fallen self, 我们不当继续走世界和堕落旧人的道路，but follow Jesus who is the light. 乃要跟随耶稣这光。Because we once walked in darkness, 因我们从前在黑暗里行，and now we are lights in the Lord. 如今在主里成为光。So that we should live as children of light. 因此行事为人当如同光明之子。

(I knew a brother many years ago. 许多年前我认识的一位弟兄，he had been born again for 17 years.已经重生得救17年之久。He said he had followed Jesus by reading the bible and praying daily. 他说他每天都读经祷告跟随主耶稣。Once he had been passionately serving the Lord in a church, 曾经也热心在一个教会做服事，but after several years, 但多年过后，he went back his old way, 他又回到旧人的道路里，where he became addicted to drugs again,又迷上毒品， and was put to jail for two years…还坐牢两年之久。And he asked me, 他问我，“Jesus says that he is the light of the world, 耶稣说他是世界的光，whoever follows him will never walk in darkness. 跟从他的就不在黑暗里走。Why did I still walk in darkness? 为何我还在黑暗里行？”  Will Jesus tell a lie? 耶稣是说谎的吗？Of course, no. 当然不是。

But what does it mean to walk in the light? 但行在光中是什么意思？1 John 1:5-7, This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.【约壹1:5-7】　神就是光，在他毫无黑暗。这是我们从主所听见，又报给你们的信息。我们若说是与　神相交，却仍在黑暗里行，就是说谎话，不行真理了。我们若在光明中行，如同　神在光明中，就彼此相交，他儿子耶稣的血也洗净我们一切的罪。In this passage, we are told这段经文告诉我们，that walking in the light在光明中行走is to have fellowship with Jesus by living in the truth,就是要藉着活在真理中与耶稣相交，which purifies us from all sin, 这真理洗净我们一切的罪，and to have fellowship with one another in Christ. 并在基督里彼此相交。

In other words, 也就是说，to walk in the light is to walk in the Word of God,在光中行走就是行在神的话语中，and keep in step with the Holy Spirit跟随圣灵的脚步to love God and love people,去爱神爱人，rather than to live according with the desires of the flesh. 不再随从肉体的私欲行事。“Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. Pas 119:105.” “你的话是我脚前的灯，是我路上的光。”（诗119:105）God’s Word is the light. 神的话就是光。

Jesus Christ is the Word that became flesh. 耶稣基督就是道成肉身。If we say we follow Jesus, 我们若说跟随耶稣，we also should live out faith, 我们也当活出信心，and allow the Word to become our life. 让这道成为我们的生命。If we live out the Word, 我们若活出这道，we walk in the light. 我们就在光中行走 。That’s why we need to read the bible and pray daily. 这就是为什么我们需要每天读经祷告。And ask the Holy Spirit to help us keep His words in our hearts,并求圣灵帮我们把主的话记在心里，and guide us to walk in them.并引导我们行在其中。 

What hinders us from living out the light (Word)? 是什么拦阻我们活出这光(道)?The above bible passage clearly tells us,上面的经文清楚地告诉我们，that darkness hinders us from walking in the light. 是黑暗拦阻我们行在光中。Darkness is sin. 黑暗就是罪。Sin causes us to walk in the darkness. 罪使我们行在黑暗里。Where is Hope? 我们的盼望在哪里? 1 John 1:8-9, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 【约壹1:8-9】我们若说自己无罪，便是自欺，真理不在我们心里了；我们若认自己的罪，神是信实的，是公义的，必要赦免我们的罪，洗净我们一切的不义。God is gracious and merciful, 神有恩典有怜悯，slow to anger, 不轻易发怒，abounding in love and faithfulness! 并有丰盛的慈爱和诚实！He sent His Son Christ Jesus to be condemned,祂差祂的儿子基督耶稣被定罪，and crucified on the cross钉在十字架上to save us and give us a new life. 拯救我们并赐给我们新生命。He approaches us with grace and love. 他以恩典和慈爱就近我们。We need to respond to his grace and love with faith and obedience. 我们就当以信心和顺服来回应祂的恩典和慈爱。Repentance is an action with a humble attitude to receive God’s gift in His love. 悔改是谦卑领受神之爱的行动。It’s not a shameful thing. 悔改并不羞耻。If we are shameful of repenting of our sins at some point in our lives, 我们若因在生命中某些点上认罪悔改而感到羞耻，we reject God’s grace,就是拒绝了神的恩典，and at that point we are still walking in darkness. 在这些点上我们仍在黑暗中行。

One day I asked a brother, 一天，我问一位弟兄: “You have two kids, which one do you love more?” “你有两个小孩，你更爱哪个?”He said to me, 他对我说，“As a father, 作为父亲，I love both of them, 他们两个我都爱，but the little one has a softer heart, 但小儿子有颗柔软的心，whenever he does something wrong, 每当他做错事，he comes to me and says, 他会来找我说，“Dad, 爸爸，I’m sorry, 对不起，I’ve done wrong. 我错了。’ My heart melts, 我的心融化了，I comfort him, 我安慰他，he receives my loving correction, 他接受我爱的纠正，and his relationship with me is closer. 他与我的关系更加亲密。But the elder one always makes excuses saying that there is nothing wrong, 但是老大却总是找借口说自己没有什么错，so this kid loses lots of the opportunities to receive my comfort, 所以这个孩子失去了很多得着我安慰的机会，and this one’s relationship with me is not as intimate as the little one’s. 老大就不像老二和我那么亲密。”

This sounds so familiar to me! 这话我听起来那么熟悉！Our Father wants us to repent,我们的天父要我们悔改，(turn away from sin to Him), (转离罪恶转向祂)，so that He can have a close relationship with us. 祂就与我们有亲密的关系。God’s kindness leads us toward repentance (Romans 2:4b). 神的恩慈是领我们悔改(罗马书2:4b)。If we confess our sins, 我们若认自己的罪，He will not condemn us神就不定我们的罪，but forgive us our sins,而是赦免我们的罪，and purify us from unrighteousness. 洗净我们的不义。If we claim we haven’t sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 我们若说自己无罪，便是自欺，真理不在我们心里了。

In this Advent season, 在这基督降临节期，as we are preparing ourselves 我们预备自己to welcome Christ the light into our lives, 迎接基督的光进入我们的生命，let us turn our hearts from exalting the self 让我们的心从高举自己to pleasing God,转向讨神的喜悦，and exalting Jesus, 并高举耶稣，for the King of the mountains will be exalted forever; 因为众山之王将被高举直到永远; as we enter the Advent season, 当我们进入主临节的季节，let us turn our hearts from being judgemental (having a critical attitude) 让我们的心从论断(带着批评挑剔的态度) to letting Jesus judge, 转向让耶稣审判，for He will judge the nations,因祂必在列国中施行审判，and settle disputes for many peoples. 为许多国民断定是非。

Come, House of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.” 雅各家啊，来吧！我们在耶和华的光明中行走。