大馬色、古實與埃及是一批體會到以賽亞審判預言壓力的國家。預言說到：大馬色的榮耀漸漸黯澹，徒留瘦削的身子與靈魂於人間而已，卻有少數人知錯悔改──猶如橄欖樹上僅存的碩果──讓人對未來的豐收存一線希望。古實雖然體形高大、皮膚光滑，上帝卻要修剪他蔓延的枝條，直到有一天，他們回歸錫安、尊崇上帝，承認祂才是古實的主宰。埃及，這個歷經內戰、經濟蕭條和屬靈貧乏國家，意識到他們信仰的破產來自供奉假神。但終有一天萬軍之耶和華宣告說：「埃及我的百姓……有福了。」（賽19：25）

        法庭上呈現前所未有的景象。
        案件已經提出；陪審團已經停止辯論；最後宣判「有罪！」這時卻發生了一椿意想不到的事，主審法官正巧是這個罪犯的父親，在他兒子走到繳罪鍰的櫃台之前，法官步下席位，脫下袍子，趨前為有罪的兒子付罰金，這就是公義，也是憐憫！
        這故事說明了一個屬天的真理。這位法官若以無罪開釋兒子，就是不公正，然而他的愛敦促他代付罰金，上帝也是這樣！祂的公義使祂不能無視人類犯罪、頂撞祂的事實，同時祂的大愛卻賜下祂獨生的兒子為人類的罪付上代價。
        以賽亞書十四章一到八節是篇有關憐恤的信息，夾在許多有關審判的黑暗篇章中，顯得十分突出。信息內容是：上帝是公義的，對每一個信靠祂的人而言，祂也是慈愛的！祂的愛已經為人類罪的問題提出了答案（11：10）──一位救主。今天，你給祂的回應是什麼呢？

        舊約時代的戰俘（20：1-4）
        論到埃及的審判中，上帝指示以賽亞打扮成戰俘的樣子──露身赤腳──達三年之久，這是上帝要將災禍帶給埃及的預兆。

缺乏公義的憐憫是慘忍，缺乏憐憫的公義不是正義。

English

        Damascus, Ethiopia, and Egypt are next to feel the hot blast of Isaiah's burdens of judgment. The glory of Damascus would be removed, leaving behind leanness of body and soul. But a handful would repent and— like the gleanings from an olive tree—provide hope for a future harvest. Ethiopia, though tall in stature and smooth of skin, would be pruned away like branches, and would one day return to Zion to pay homage to God and acknowledge Him as her Sovereign. Egypt would experience civil war, economic ruin, and spiritual poverty, showing the bankruptcy of Egypt's false gods. But one day the Lord of hosts would declare, "Blessed be Egypt my people" (19:25).

        The courtroom scene unfolds as it has countless times before. The case is presented; the jury recesses; a verdict is reached: "Guilty!" But then the trial lakes an unexpected twist. The presiding judge also happens to be the father of the convicted criminal. And just before his son reaches the bar where the fine is to be assessed, the judge steps down from his seat, takes off his robe, and approaches the bar to pay the fine for his guilty son. Justice . . . and mercy!
        That story illustrates a divine truth. The judge would not have been just if he had allowed his son to go free. But his love caused him to take his son's place in paying the fine. The same is true about God. He would not be just if he ignored the sins com¬mitted against Him. At the same time, His great love shines forth in the gift of His Son to pay the price for humanity's sins.
        Isaiah 14:1-8 is a message of mercy inserted between many dark chapters of judgment. God is just, but in His love for those who trust Him, He has provided the answer to humanity's sin problem (11:10)—a Savior. What is your answer to Him today?

        Old Testament POWs (20:1-4)
        As part of His judgment on Egypt, God instructed Isaiah to dress like a prisoner of war—unclothed and barefoot—for three years as a sign of the calamity God was going to bring on Egypt.

Mercy without justice becomes unmerciful; justice without mercy, unjust.