你們要依從那些引導你們的、且要順服（賽36章）

百姓靜默不言、並不回答一句、因為王曾吩咐說、不要回答他。（賽 36：21）

本章的時間點，是北朝以色列國已經滅亡，不但消滅了北朝，連同南朝的猶大國也已經有46個堅固城和無數的鄉村被攻佔，這勢如破竹的亞述帝國已經包圍耶路撒冷城。

當然希西家王會落到此處境，是因自己信心不足，甚至想依靠埃及國的幫助。

南北朝的諸王，都可以視為今日教會的牧者。有的教會的牧者有好榜樣，專心靠神，自己也建立家庭祭壇，全家為主盡忠，神當然會與這樣的教會同在，即使這位牧者可能不見得擁有一般人眼中的學、經歷與能力，甚至沒有值得稱羨的頭腦；有的教會的牧者對神並不是那麼專心靠主，常常想用自己的方法要帶領教會，用施展抱負的態度在事奉，於是神就任憑這位牧者所帶領的教會總是問題不斷。

南北兩朝的國家平不平安，常常就在王的一念之間，跟能力沒有直接關聯。教會的興衰也在牧者的一念之間，牧者對神有信心主就必同在，因神能在沙漠開江河、在曠野出湧泉。

對於希西家王而言，自己種的果子就要自己承受。但神是憐憫人的神，只要牧者願意及時在神前自卑下來，神未嘗不會因此轉意施行拯救。但最重要的，是不要聽魔鬼說的話。

魔鬼會藉著外面的人，甚至藉著主內的人說話。他們的話，就是要人不要相信神、也不要相信祂的牧者。如亞述軍官所說的話：

於是拉伯沙基站着、用猶大言語、大聲喊着說：「你們當聽亞述大王的話。王如此說：『你們不要被希西家欺哄了、因他不能拯救你們．』也不要聽希西家使你們倚靠耶和華說：『耶和華必要拯救我們、這城必不交在亞述王的手中。』」（賽 36：13-15）

雖然神的牧者不都是堅強的，但是既然是神所膏立的（被按立的），我們就該敬重他們，這是我們當盡的本分。也就是在真理的範圍內，要順服牧者所說的。

以利亞敬、舍伯那、約亞、對拉伯沙基說：「求你用亞蘭言語和僕人說話、因為我們懂得、不要用猶大言語和我們說話達到城上百姓的耳中。」（賽 36：11）

不要跟魔鬼打交道，不要像當時的猶大國的大臣，還要求亞述軍官用亞蘭語，不要用猶大國的話來說。其實對於鬼話，連談都不要談，不要聽就是了。（當時的亞蘭語是國際通用語言，如同今天的英語；猶大話則是國內常用的語言）

對於鬼話，當如這裡所說的：當靜默不語，不回答一句話。因此對於違背真理的言論，不用去爭辯，也不需去回應，時候到了，神必審判。只要在真理規範中順從神所差派的牧者，因為這是我們當盡的本份。

你們要依從那些引導你們的、且要順服．因他們為你們的靈魂時刻儆醒、好像那將來交賬的人．你們要使他們交的時候有快樂、不至憂愁．若憂愁就與你們無益了。（來 13：17）

By Isaiah Kao

Obey Those Who Lead You and Be Subject to Them (Isaiah 36)

May 27, 2026

“But the people remained silent and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, ‘Do not answer him.’” (Isaiah 36:21, NASB2020)

At this point in history, the northern kingdom of Israel had already fallen. Not only had Assyria destroyed the northern kingdom, but it had also captured forty-six fortified cities and countless villages of Judah in the south. The mighty Assyrian Empire had now surrounded Jerusalem.

Of course, King Hezekiah had come to this situation because his faith was weak. He even sought help from Egypt.

The kings of both the northern and southern kingdoms can be viewed as the shepherds of today’s churches. Some church leaders set a good example by relying fully on God. They establish family altars and serve the Lord faithfully with their whole household. Naturally, God is with such churches. Even if such a shepherd may not possess impressive education, experience, ability, or an outstanding mind in the eyes of people, God still works with him.

Other church leaders are not so wholehearted in depending on the Lord. They often try to lead the church by human methods and serve with an attitude of displaying their own ambitions. As a result, God allows the churches they manage to remain full of problems.

Whether the kingdoms of Israel and Judah had peace often depended on a single thought of the king, not directly on his ability. In the same way, the rise or decline of a church often depends on one thought of its shepherd. If a shepherd trusts in God, the Lord will surely be with him, for God can make rivers flow in the desert and springs appear in the wilderness.

As for Hezekiah, he had to bear the fruit of what he himself had sown. Yet God is merciful. If a shepherd is willing to humble himself before God in time, God may still turn and bring deliverance. But the most important thing is not to listen to the words of the devil.

The devil speaks through people outside the church, and even through people within the church. Their words are meant to make people stop believing in God and stop trusting His shepherds. Just as the Assyrian officer said:

“Then Rabshakeh stood and cried out with a loud voice in Judean, and said, ‘Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria. Thus says the king, “Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to save you; nor let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, ‘The LORD will certainly save us. This city will not be handed over to the king of Assyria.’”’” (Isaiah 36:13–15, NASB2020)

Although God’s shepherds are not always strong, since they are anointed by God (ordained), we should still respect them. This is our duty. That is, within the boundaries of truth, we should obey what the shepherds teach.

“Then Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah said to Rabshakeh, ‘Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, because we understand it; and do not speak with us in Judean in the hearing of the people who are on the wall.’” (Isaiah 36:11, NASB2020)

Do not deal with the devil. Do not be like the officials of Judah, who even asked the Assyrian officer to speak in Aramaic instead of the language of Judah. In truth, when it comes to the words of the devil, we should not even discuss them. Simply do not listen. (At that time, Aramaic was the international language, much like English today, while Judean was the common local language.)

Concerning the words of the devil, we should do exactly as this passage says: remain silent and answer not a word. Therefore, when facing teachings that go against the truth, there is no need to argue or respond. When the time comes, God Himself will judge. We only need to follow the shepherds appointed by God within the boundaries of truth, for this is our duty.

“Obey your leaders and submit to them -- for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account - so that they may do this with joy, not groaning; for this would be unhelpful to you.” (Hebrews 13:17, NASB2020)

By Isaiah Kao