畫錯重點的信仰（賽1章）

你們要洗濯、自潔．從我眼前除掉你們的惡行．要止住作惡、學習行善．尋求公平、解救受欺壓的、給孤兒伸冤、為寡婦辨屈。（賽 1：16-17）

以賽亞書共66章，如同聖經的66卷。其中前卷為1到39章，屬於警告、責備，較嚴厲的部分，如同舊約的39卷；後面的40到66章提到關於彌賽亞的預言，屬於安慰的部分，如同新約的27卷。故以賽亞書素有「小聖經」的稱呼。

以賽亞先知也是極年輕時就接受呼召成為神的先知（參 賽6章）。「先知」原意有「如同泉源湧出」之意，所以先知要不斷將神的話說出來，不但安慰的話要說，即使是嚴厲、難以接受的話也要說，所以先知並不是大家都歡迎的人，因此必要時，也要忍受孤寂。

本章開宗明義就是指出當時錯誤的信仰，與他們相應的懲罰。神感嘆即使如此刑罰，全身是傷，百姓還是我行我素行惡，我行我素做自以為是的敬拜。

你們為甚麼屢次悖逆、還要受責打麼？你們已經滿頭疼痛、全心發昏。從腳掌到頭頂、沒有一處完全的．盡是傷口、青腫、與新打的傷痕．都沒有收口、沒有纏裹、也沒有用膏滋潤。（賽 1：5-6）

過去自己還在參與每屆大專班學生靈恩會工作時，因為擔任輔導組的工作，要安排與主持學員的見證會。見證會中發現，總是聽見因為違背神的命令而被管教的見證，心中不由得感慨：「為何要常常令我親愛的救主耶穌失望而受管教呢？」

你們不要再獻虛浮的供物．香品是我所憎惡的．月朔、和安息日、並宣召的大會、也是我所憎惡的．作罪孽、又守嚴肅會、我也不能容忍。你們的月朔、和節期、我心裏恨惡、我都以為麻煩．我擔當、便不耐煩。你們舉手禱告、我必遮眼不看．就是你們多多的祈禱、我也不聽．你們的手都滿了殺人的血。（賽 1：13-15）

當我們不認真考究這位神所要的，也就是「行公義、好憐憫、存謙卑的心，與神同行。」（參 彌 6：8），這時做再多的禱告、做再多的事奉，都是枉然。這是與以賽亞先知同時代的彌迦先知的呼籲。

信仰，要畫對重點，也就是去做神喜悅的事，不是有做就好。所以信仰的重點是什麼？那就是神怎麼說，我們就怎麼做，不要自以為是，我行我素。神不是難懂的神，祂不像虛偽的人類，總愛戴偽善的面具行可憎的事。神所要的總是明講，就寫在聖經中、就攤在陽光下，是人人可讀、可明白的。所以才會說：事奉的人，不能沒有靈修。因為事奉的事工人員，若沒有每天的讀經習慣，就會亂做，越幫越忙。看似很認真在做工，卻是惹神憤怒，正如此章所言之神的憤怒。

這裡神說：「你們要洗濯、自潔．從我眼前除掉你們的惡行．要止住作惡、學習行善．尋求公平、解救受欺壓的、給孤兒伸冤、為寡婦辨屈。」，也就是要做神喜悅的事，如此切實去做了，神才會垂聽我們的呼求。

曾有人發現自己的聖靈不見了，問我該怎麼辦？其實我們該講的都已講過，但是這位兄姐仍舊是存心驕傲、不願意改變。當下心想：「這樣繼續下去，你怎麼可能求得到聖靈？因為人不願意先改變，神不會垂聽他的禱吿啊！除非神憐憫你。」

當每日藉由讀經照屬靈的鏡子，用謙卑的心日日自我省察，並付出行動，才能真正畫對信仰的重點。

因為聽道而不行道的、就像人對着鏡子看自己本來的面目．看見、走後、隨即忘了他的相貌如何。惟有詳細察看那全備使人自由之律法的、並且時常如此、這人既不是聽了就忘、乃是實在行出來、就在他所行的事上必然得福。（雅 1：23-25）

By Isaiah Kao

A Misplaced Focus in Faith (Isaiah 1)

“Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight.

Cease to do evil, learn to do good;

Seek justice, rebuke the oppressor,

Obtain justice for the orphan, plead for the widow’s case.” (Isaiah 1:16–17, NASB 2020)

The Book of Isaiah contains 66 chapters, parallel with the 66 books of the Bible. The first section, chapters 1 to 39, consists of warnings and rebukes, a more severe portion, like the 39 books of the Old Testament. The latter section, chapters 40 to 66, speaks of the Messiah and contains messages of comfort, like the 27 books of the New Testament. Therefore, Isaiah is often called a “mini Bible.”

The prophet Isaiah was also called by God at a very young age (see Isaiah 6). The word “prophet” carries the idea of something like a spring flowing out continuously. Therefore, a prophet must constantly speak God’s words—not only words of comfort, but also words that are stern and difficult to accept. For this reason, prophets are not always welcomed by people and must sometimes endure loneliness.

This chapter begins by pointing out the misplaced faith of the people at that time, along with the punishment that followed. God laments that despite such discipline, though their whole body is wounded, the people still persist in doing evil and continue their self-willed, self-righteous worship.

“Where will you be stricken again, as you continue in your rebellion?

The whole head is sick and the whole heart is faint.

From the sole of the foot even to the head there is nothing healthy in it,

Only bruises, welts, and raw wounds,

Not pressed out nor bandaged, nor softened with oil.” (Isaiah 1:5–6, NASB 2020)

In the past, when I 

served in each session of the Student Spiritual Convocation for college students, I was responsible for arranging and hosting testimony sessions. During those sessions, I often heard testimonies of people being disciplined because they disobeyed God’s commands. Deep in my heart, I felt this sorrow: “Why do we so often disappoint my beloved Savior Jesus?”

“Do not go on bringing your worthless offerings,

Incense is an abomination to Me.

New moon and Sabbath, the calling of assemblies—

I cannot endure wrongdoing and the festive assembly.

I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts,

They have become a burden to Me;

I am weary of bearing them.

So when you spread out your hands in prayer,

I will hide My eyes from you;

Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen.

Your hands are covered with blood.” (Isaiah 1:13–15, NASB 2020)

When we do not carefully seek what God truly desires—namely, “to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (see Micah 6:8)—then no matter how much we pray or serve, it is all in vain. This was also the call of the prophet Micah, who lived in the same era.

Faith must have the correct focus—that is, to do what pleases God. It is not enough just to do something. So what is the focus? What God says, we do. We must not act according to our own opinions or go our own way. God is not a God who is hard to understand. He is not like hypocritical humans who wear masks and do detestable things. What God desires is clearly spoken, written in the Bible, and laid open in the light for everyone to read and understand.

That is why those who serve cannot be without daily spiritual cultivation. If workers in ministry do not have the habit of daily Bible reading, they will act blindly and end up causing more harm than good. They may appear very diligent, yet they provoke God’s anger—just as seen in this chapter.

Here God says: “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor, obtain justice for the orphan, plead for the widow’s case.” This means doing what pleases God. Only when we truly practice these things will God listen to our prayers.

Someone once realized that the Holy Spirit seemed to have left them and asked me what to do. Everything that needed to be said had already been said, but this person was unwilling to change. At that moment, I thought: “How could you possibly receive the Holy Spirit? If a person is unwilling to change first, God will not listen to their prayers—unless He shows mercy.”

Each day, through reading the Bible, we look into a spiritual mirror. With a humble heart, we examine ourselves daily and take action. Only then can we truly place the correct focus in our faith.

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who has looked intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and has continued in it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an active doer, this person will be blessed in what he does.( James 1:23-25 NASB )

By Isaiah Kao