以賽亞就這樣作，露身赤腳行走(賽20章)

那時耶和華曉諭亞摩斯的兒子以賽亞說：「你去解掉你腰間的麻布、脫下你腳上的鞋。」以賽亞就這樣作、露身赤腳行走。(賽 20：2)

神警告以色列人，關於他們所要依靠的埃及、古實，將來都要被亞述所滅亡，人民都要被擄，將要赤身露體赤腳而行，因此一點也不能幫助他們。為了要藉著以賽亞先知預言，神不但要先知說，還要表演出來，露身赤腳長達三年。

聖經就像一面靈魂的明鏡，藉由經文照出我們現在的樣子，讓我們讀了經文後，藉以比對所讀的經文自我反省。「三年露身赤腳而行」，何等地久啊！以賽亞的順服，不僅展現於二十多歲年輕時：「我在這裡，請差遣我！」的豪邁；更是在三十年後步入中老年時，為主露身赤腳，在街市上刻意展現羞恥，不得享有「德高望重」時的應有敬重，且達三年之久。

想起法利賽人總愛把繸子作長了，刻意表現虔誠，宴席時愛坐在高位，並假作很長的禱告，所作一切都表現出一副道貌岸然的姿態。先知以賽亞的順服，令人深深感動與敬服。

有時我們獻身為主所用時，潛意識中仍不自覺希望被人敬重，特別是有了一些職分或越來越重要的工作時，對於他人的鄙視、汙衊、羞辱，就越來越不能接受。當我們口口聲聲說愛主，但是「捨己」的那愛的唯一標準我們卻不願意達成。想一想很慚愧：連小小的自己都捨不了了，到底還能為主作甚麼事？因為經上說：

主為我們捨命、我們從此就知道何為愛．我們也當為弟兄捨命。........小子們哪、我們相愛、不要只在言語和舌頭上．總要在行為和誠實上。(約壹3：16、18)

看見先知的順服，提醒自己不但不要成為意見領袖，但期在神面前成為忠心而安靜工作的僕人，不要只會在「言語與舌頭上」說風涼話，總是提一堆不切實際，只是為展現智慧的空泛理論，或是藉以鄙視神的工人，只為抬高自己身價；而是要在實際的「行為與誠實上」，為了敬神愛人付出實際的行動，且願意為主接受一切來自人的羞辱，接受如此卑賤、低微的身分，不期待受世人虛浮的敬重，只為成就神美好的旨意。阿們！

你們當以基督耶穌的心為心。他本有神的形像、不以自己與神同等為強奪的．反倒虛己、取了奴僕的形像、成為人的樣式．既有人的樣子、就自己卑微、存心順服、以至於死、且死在十字架上。(腓 2：5-8)

By Isaiah Kao

Isaiah Did So, Going Naked and Barefoot (Isaiah 20)

May 12, 2026

At that time the LORD spoke through Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, “Go and loosen the sackcloth from your hips and take your sandals off your feet.” And he did so, going naked and barefoot. (Isaiah 20:2, NASB 2020)

God warned the Israelites that Egypt and Cush, upon whom they wished to rely, would one day be destroyed by Assyria. Their people would be led away captive, naked and barefoot, and thus would be completely unable to help them. In order to proclaim this prophecy through Isaiah the prophet, God not only commanded him to speak, but also to act it out by going naked and barefoot for three years.

The Bible is like a mirror for the soul. Through the Scriptures, it reveals our true condition, allowing us to examine ourselves by comparing our lives with what we read. “going naked and barefoot for three years”, how long a time that was! Isaiah’s obedience was not shown only in the boldness of his youth when he declared, “Here am I. Send me!” Rather, even thirty years later, as he entered middle and old age, he was still willing to walk naked and barefoot for the Lord, deliberately bearing shame in public places, giving up the "honor and respect" normally given to a highly respected elder, and enduring this for three full years.

This brings to mind the Pharisees, who loved to lengthen their tassels to display their piety, sought the places of honor at banquets, and pretended long prayers for appearance’s sake. Everything they did projected an outward image of righteousness. The obedience of the prophet Isaiah is deeply moving and worthy of great respect.

Sometimes when we dedicate ourselves to the Lord’s work, deep within our hearts we still unconsciously desire the respect of others. Especially after receiving certain responsibilities or becoming more important in service, we become less able to endure the contempt, slander, and humiliation of others. Though we continually say that we love the Lord, we are often unwilling to fulfill the one true standard of love: self-denial. It is truly shameful to think about. If we cannot even deny our small self, what can we really do for the Lord? For the Scripture says:

“We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers and sisters. … Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.” (1 John 3:16, 18, NASB 2020)

Seeing the obedience of the prophet reminds me not to become merely an opinion leader, but rather a faithful and quiet servant laboring before God. May I not be someone who only speaks in “word and tongue,” offering impractical ideas merely to display wisdom, or criticizing God’s workers in order to elevate myself. Instead, may I serve in actual “deed and truth,” taking real action out of reverence for God and love for others, willingly accepting all humiliation from people for the Lord’s sake, embracing a lowly and humble position without expecting the respect of the world, desiring only to accomplish God’s good will. Amen!

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5–8, NASB 2020)

By Isaiah Kao