犁過的田裡隱藏著一個秘密。為了慶祝結婚五十週年紀念日，李．威爾森（Lee Wilson）劃出自己32公頃的田地，為妻子準備一份可能是空前盛大的鮮花禮物。他偷偷在這些田地裡種下無數的葵花籽，最後長出120萬株金黃色的向日葵，這是他妻子最愛的花卉。當一望無際的向日葵揚起黃燦燦的花冠時，妻子不禁為威爾森表達的深深愛意震撼不已。這真是個美麗的驚喜！

上帝透過先知以賽亞對猶大百姓說話，告訴他們一個秘密：雖然那時他們還看不到，但等到他們因悖逆而遭受上帝所說的審判之後（以賽亞書3章1節-4章1節），上帝所應許那新的美好日子必然來到。「到那日，從耶和華那裡發生的苗必華美榮耀；那地的果實成為以色列那些逃脫的人的誇耀和光榮」（4章2節，新譯本）。是的，他們會遭受巴比倫人的蹂躪和擄掠，但過後他們會看到一根美麗的「苗」，是從地裡冒出來的新芽。上帝剩餘的百姓會被潔淨、「必稱為聖」（3-4節），並得到祂慈愛的帶領和看顧（5-6節）。

有時候，我們的人生看似黑暗，彷彿看不到上帝實現祂的應許。但只要我們憑信心緊緊抓住祂，終有一天，祂所有「又寶貴、又極大的應許」都會實現（彼得後書1章4節）。那新的美好日子正等著我們。

The plowed ground contained a secret—something hidden. In preparation for their fiftieth wedding anniversary, Lee Wilson had set apart eighty acres of his land to produce perhaps the grandest floral gift his wife had ever seen. He secretly planted countless sunflower seeds that eventually erupted into 1.2 million of the golden plants—his wife’s favorite. When the sunflowers raised their yellow crowns, Renee was shocked and overwhelmed by Lee’s beautiful act of love.

Speaking to the people of Judah through the prophet Isaiah, God shared a secret with them: Though they couldn’t see it now, after His promised judgment against them for their unfaithfulness to Him (Isaiah 3:1-4:1), a new and golden day would dawn. “In that day the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel” (4:2). Yes, they would experience devastation and exile at the hands of Babylon, but a beautiful “branch”—a new shoot out of the ground—would then be seen. A remnant of His people set apart (“holy,” v. 3), cleansed (v. 4), and lovingly led and cared for by Him (vv. 5-6).

Our days can seem dark, and the fulfillment of God’s promises hidden. But as we cling to Him by faith, one day all His “great and precious promises” will be fulfilled (2 Peter 1:4). A beautiful new day awaits.