以祂為你們所當怕的、所當畏懼的（賽8章）

但要尊萬軍之耶和華為聖．以他為你們所當怕的、所當畏懼的。（賽 8：13）

神藉以賽亞的口說預言，說到災難必臨到，而且這樣的災難，卻不是現在眼前所看得見的威脅，因為眼前的亞蘭軍與以色列軍都將先滅亡。因此所預言的災難，是指後面將來的災難。所以，「他們所怕的、你們不要怕、也不要畏懼。」（賽 8：12b），因為沒有任何人是值得懼怕的。

〔大衛的詩。〕耶和華是我的亮光、是我的拯救．我還怕誰呢？耶和華是我性命的保障．〔保障或作力量〕我還懼誰呢？（詩 27：1)

這是大衛的詩。大衛年輕時被掃羅王動用國家的軍隊追殺，曾經也覺得離死不過一步，最後發現人不是最可怕的，該怕的是天上的真神。

當人不懼怕神，就會為非作歹、為所欲為。如：使徒行傳中的亞拿尼亞夫婦，就是看似虔誠，卻不懼怕神的人。人一旦不懼怕神，就敢試探神，遊走在真理的邊緣。

彼得說：「亞拿尼亞為甚麼撒但充滿了你的心、叫你欺哄聖靈、把田地的價銀私自留下幾分呢？........你不是欺哄人、是欺哄神了。」亞拿尼亞聽見這話、就仆倒斷了氣。聽見的人都甚懼怕。（徒 3-5）

石牌教會斜對面曾經有一間補習班，老闆總是故意將車子停在石牌教會門口影響出入。有一天，有一位熱心的同靈去跟這位老闆說明此入口有長輩、行動不便的人要出入，可否在聚會時間不要停這裡？這位老闆很兇悍，在教會門口大聲咆哮。因為我是教牧負責人，當下我就勸這位同靈算了！聽憑主怒吧！結果沒多久，這補習班不明原因突然關門不營業，接著就發現補習班消失搬走了。

人，不可怕，甚至連魔鬼也不用怕牠，該怕的只有神。聖經中說的「敬畏神」，原文本意都只有「畏懼」的意思。我們所拜的真神耶穌基督，不是那種會讓你心想事成的神，而是處處管教你，時時要鑒察你的神。但是這位神，卻是「本為善、慈愛永遠長存」的神，也是「恆久忍耐、又有恩慈」的神，凡是愛祂的人，祂都會讓這樣的人的萬事都互相效力，並因此得益處。

我們曉得萬事都互相效力、叫愛神的人得益處、就是按他旨意被召的人。（羅 8：28）

今天我們都當謹慎，有時不知不覺打著「愛主」的名號，卻「行義過分」，也就是不認真查考真理，所行越過了基督的教訓，熱衷自以為是的事奉行為，且不接受勸誡、我行我素，如此就是「不懼怕神」的人。保羅曾提到：

但無論是我們、是天上來的使者、若傳福音給你們、與我們所傳給你們的不同、他就應當被咒詛。我們已經說了、現在又說、若有人傳福音給你們、與你們所領受的不同、他就應當被咒詛。（加 1：8-9）

真正怕神的人，一定會急著將神的命令，一條一條都認識清楚。所以真正怕神的人，必有每日讀經的生活。因為他們深怕沒有弄清楚神的命令而去行，會惹神的憤怒，因為知道神乃是烈火，是可以瞬間燒滅獻上凡火的祭司的神。

所以我們既得了不能震動的國、就當感恩、照神所喜悅的、用虔誠敬畏的心事奉神。因為我們的神乃是烈火。（來 12：28-29）

By Isaiah Kao

He shall be your fear,  and He shall be your dread (Isaiah 8)    

“It is the LORD of armies whom you are to regard as holy.

And He shall be your fear,

And He shall be your dread.” (Isaiah 8:13, NASB 2020)

God spoke through Isaiah, declaring that disaster would surely come. Yet this disaster was not the immediate threat before their eyes, for the armies of Aram and Israel would first be destroyed. Therefore, the prophesied calamity referred to what would come later. For this reason, “You are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it” (Isaiah 8:12b), because no human being is truly worthy of fear.

“The LORD is my light and my salvation;

Whom should I fear?

The LORD is the defense of my life;

Whom should I dread?” (Psalm 27:1, NASB 2020)

This is a psalm of David. When he was young, he was hunted by King Saul, who used the nation’s army to pursue him. At times, David felt that death was only a step away. Yet in the end, he realized that man is not the most fearful thing—God in heaven is.

When people do not fear God, they will act wickedly and do whatever they please. For example: Ananias and Sapphira in the book of Acts appeared pious, yet they did not fear God. Once a person does not fear God, he dares to test God and walk along the edge of truth.

Peter said,

“Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? … You have not lied to men but to God.” And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and died; and great fear came over all who heard of it. (Acts 5:3–5, NASB 2020)

Across from Shipai Church, there was once a cram school. The owner often intentionally parked in front of the church entrance, obstructing access. One day, a zealous brother kindly explained that elderly and less mobile people needed to use that entrance, and asked if he could avoid parking there during service times. The owner became very aggressive and shouted loudly at the church entrance. As the RA Pastrol, I advised the brother to let it go and leave room for the Lord’s wrath. Not long afterward, the cram school suddenly closed for unknown reasons and soon disappeared entirely.

Man is not to be feared; even the devil need not be feared. The only One to fear is God. In the Bible, the original meaning of “fear God” is simply “to be afraid.” The true God we worship, Jesus Christ, is not one who merely grants your wishes, but One who disciplines you everywhere and examines you at all times. Yet He is also the God who is good, whose lovingkindness endures forever, who is patient and kind. For those who love Him, He causes all things to work 

together for good.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28, NASB 2020)

Today, we must be careful. Sometimes, without realizing it, we act in the name of “loving the Lord,” yet go to excess in righteousness, that is, we do not carefully examine the truth, but go beyond the teaching of Christ. We become enthusiastic in self-willed service, refuse correction, and insist on our own way. Such people are those who do not fear God. Paul said:

“But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!” (Galatians 1:8–9, NASB 2020)

Those who truly fear God will urgently seek to understand His commands one by one. Therefore, those who truly fear God will certainly have a daily life of reading the Bible. They deeply fear acting without clearly understanding God’s commands, lest they provoke His anger. For they know that God is a consuming fire, who can instantly destroy those who offer unauthorized fire before Him.

“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let’s show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28–29, NASB 2020)

By Isaiah Kao