我不知怎樣說、因為我是年幼的(耶1章)

耶利米說、耶和華的話臨到我、說：「我未將你造在腹中、我已曉得你、你未出母胎、我已分別你為聖．我已派你作列國的先知。」我就說：「主耶和華阿、我不知怎樣說、因為我是年幼的。」耶和華對我說：「你不要說我是年幼的．因為我差遣你到誰那裏去、你都要去．我吩咐你說甚麼話、你都要說。」(耶 1：4-7)

每次讀到這段經文，眼淚總是不自主落下。耶利米約二十歲左右蒙主揀選為列國的先知，這二十歲是個何等的年紀啊？想起自己二十歲的時候還在做甚麼？靈性已成熟到可以成為神的先知了嗎？還有，先知不同於祭司，祭司是柔軟的，是替人向天父代求的。然而先知卻必須是剛烈的，神要他說甚麼他就要說甚麼，而且不可「轉譯」(加油添醋)，只能原汁原味地說出來。正如神跟耶利米所說的：「我吩咐你說甚麼話、你都要說」。

從聖經歷史看來，耶利米個性是柔弱、多愁善感的，但神卻不是因為你的個性是甚麼才揀選你去做甚麼。耶利米的柔弱個性，碰上神剛烈的命令，冷熱交互作用下，就像冷風遇上熱空氣一樣，於是發生有如這幾天的劇烈降雨，豪雨成災。柔弱的耶利米，多次夾在神與悖逆百姓間的衝撞下，他哭了！

耶利米不是不認識自己，所以他向神表達：「主耶和華阿、我不知怎樣說、因為我是年幼的。」這句年幼的，其實包含他心中許多的恐懼、擔心。想起自己雖然不像耶利米那樣的年幼負軛，但是29歲接教會的教務負責人，同樣感受到自己的軟弱與強烈不安。接負責人的那個月，每晚以淚洗面，正如冷熱交鋒下，所產生的超大豪雨，總是有止不住的淚水。

神的旨意是好的，後來這位年幼軟弱的先知，在一連串的經煉之後，最後感動地說出：「每早晨這都是新的．你的誠實、極其廣大。我心裏說、耶和華是我的分．因此、我要仰望他。凡等候耶和華、心裏尋求他的、耶和華必施恩給他。人仰望耶和華、靜默等候他的救恩、這原是好的。人在幼年負軛、這原是好的。他當獨坐無言、因為這是耶和華加在他身上的。」(哀 3：23-28)

如今，即使自己所承擔的事工越來越重，卻已不再像往日一樣哭泣，因為神所給的這「幼年負軛」的人生特別優惠，已使自己因為擁有更多特別的操練，可以在面對各種挑戰時更加熟練。

耶利米的多愁善感，使他因此成為多產(文字)的先知，他的文字有如他的淚水一樣，那止不住的淚水化成文字，成就耶利米書、耶利米哀歌的龐大篇幅。想起我也是愛哭的人，因多愁善感，神也使我能寫，按照祂的旨意可以於彈指之間寫下許多文章，造就屬神的人。

你不要懼怕他們、因為我與你同在、要拯救你．這是耶和華說的。於是耶和華伸手按我的口、對我說、我已將當說的話傳給你。看哪、我今日立你在列邦列國之上、為要施行拔出、拆毀、毀壞、傾覆、又要建立栽植。(耶 1：8-10)

神也應許要立這位年僅20歲的年輕人「在列幫列國之上」，而且還要「施行、拆毀、傾覆、又要建立栽植」，是因「我與你同在」。神總是喜歡用自認為軟弱、能力不足的人做祂的工人，就好像匠人要使用工具之前，所挑選的工具一定要「清潔乾淨」，不可以因髒污(個人意見)干擾任務。因為所憑藉的是神的能力，不是自己。

看哪、我今日使你成為堅城、鐵柱、銅牆、與全地、和猶大的君王、首領、祭司、並地上的眾民反對。他們要攻擊你、卻不能勝你．因為我與你同在、要拯救你．這是耶和華說的。(耶 1：18-19)

By Isaiah Kao

When I Said, “I Do Not Know How to Speak, Because I Am Only a Youth” (Jeremiah 1)

June 28, 2026

Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Then I said, “Alas, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, because I am a youth.” But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ because everywhere I send you, you shall go, and all that I command you, you shall speak.” (Jeremiah 1:4–7, NASB 2020)

Whenever I read this passage, tears naturally fill my eyes. Jeremiah was about twenty years old when the Lord called him to be a prophet to the nations. What a young age that was! I often think back to what I was doing when I was twenty. Had I grown spiritually enough to become God's prophet?

A prophet is different from a priest. A priest is gentle, interceding before the heavenly Father on behalf of others. A prophet, however, must be firm. Whatever God commands him to say, he must say. He must not "reinterpret" (overstate). He can only proclaim God's words exactly as they are. As the Lord told Jeremiah: "All that I command you, you shall speak."

Looking at biblical history, Jeremiah was gentle, sensitive. Yet God does not choose a person based on his natural personality. Jeremiah's gentle nature met God's firm command. It was like cold air offending by warm air, producing a violent storm. Caught between God's message and the rebellion of His people, Jeremiah wept again and again.

It is not that

Jeremiah doesn't know himself. Therefore he said to God, "Alas, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, because I am a youth." The words "I am a youth" expressed much more than his age. They revealed the fear and anxiety hidden in his heart.

Although I was not called as young as Jeremiah, I was twenty-nine when I received church council member. I also deeply felt my weakness and great uneasiness. During my first month in that responsibility, I cried every night. Just like the heavy rain produced when cold and warm air meet, my tears seemed endless.

God's will is always good. After many years of training, this once-young and weak prophet was finally able to declare:

"They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. 'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'Therefore I wait for Him.' The LORD is good to those who await Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man that he should bear the yoke in his youth. Let him sit alone and keep quiet, since He has laid it on him." (Lamentations 3:23–28, NASB 2020)

Today, although the ministry I carry has become much heavier, I no longer cry as I once did. The special blessing of "bearing the yoke in youth" has given me unique training. Because of it, I have become more experienced in facing every challenge.

Jeremiah's sensitive heart also made him a very fruitful writer. His tears became words, producing the great books of Jeremiah and Lamentations. I, too, am someone who easily cries. Because of my sensitive heart, God has also enabled me to write. According to His will, He allows me to write many articles in a very short time to edify His people.

"Now behold, do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you," declares the LORD. Then the LORD reached out with His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me, "Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant." (Jeremiah 1:8–10, NASB 2020)

God also promised to establish this twenty-year-old young man "over the nations and over the kingdoms," giving him authority "to uproot and to tear down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant," because "I am with you." God often delights in using those who consider themselves weak and inadequate to serve Him. Just as a craftsman chooses a clean tool before using it, God seeks vessels that are clean and free from anything that would hold back His work. The work depends on God's power, not our own.

"Now behold, I have made you today as a fortified city and as a pillar of iron and walls of bronze against the whole land, to the kings of Judah, to its officials, to its priests, and to the people of the land. They will fight against you but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to save you," declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 1:18–19, NASB 2020)

By Isaiah Kao