作神眼中補城牆破口的匠人(賽58章)

那些出於你的人、必修造久已荒廢之處．你要建立拆毀累代的根基．你必稱為補破口的、和重修路徑與人居住的。(賽 58：12)

「那些出於你的人」原文做「從你們中間有人」；「建立拆毀累代的根基」原文作「建立各年代的根基」，原文沒有「拆毀」的字，卻有曾經受損的意思；「你必稱為補破口的」其中「補破口的」，原文作「補城牆破損的石匠」；「重修路徑與人居住的」，原文作「使人回轉去某地居住」之意，意思是引人走向天國，可以居住在永生的國度。

本章再次提到真實的信仰，令人不免再次想起主耶穌的大聲疾呼：「凡稱呼我主啊、主啊的人、不能都進天國．惟獨遵行我天父旨意的人、纔能進去。」(太 7：21)。主耶穌說這句話，就是在強調應當正視信仰的本質，不是「有像就好」。信仰不是會跟著人家喊：「主啊！主啊！」就可以，正像以賽亞書本章神所指責的，當時的人以為有禁食禱告，神必垂聽：

他們說：「我們禁食、你為何不看見呢？我們刻苦己心、你為何不理會呢？」看哪、你們禁食的日子、仍求利益、勒逼人為你們作苦工。」(賽 58：3)

信仰不能「他們說」，要「主耶穌說」才能算數。有人以為禁食禱告就是定下禁食的時間，在這段期間裡不要吃東西，專心禱告就好。其實禁食禱告的原意就只是「放下一切，專心祈求」，為了專心禱告，不管天塌下來都不能停下來之意，所以衍生出不吃東西的結果。若禁食卻不禱告，或為禁食而禁食，甚至更糟糕的是如同神在這裡所說的，「仍求利益、勒逼人為你們作苦工」，也就是沒有持守信仰的本質：「遵行天父的旨意」，即不讀聖經、不遵照聖經真理而行，這樣的禁食禱告時間再長，又有何用？

本章所提，都是天父要我們遵行的旨意，因此神也應許我們這樣做了，神必成就我們一切所求的：這樣、你的光就必發現如早晨的光．你所得的醫治、要速速發明．你的公義、必在你前面行．耶和華的榮光、必作你的後盾。那時你求告、耶和華必應允．你呼求、他必說：「我在這裏。」你若從你中間除掉重軛、和指摘人的指頭、並發惡言的事........。(賽 58：8-9)

這些該遵行的天父旨意，包含堅守安息日，並在心態上將安息日視為「可喜樂的」日子，歡喜遵守，這樣我們就要成為神眼中蒙恩的人，也就是「你必稱為補破口的、和重修路徑與人居住的」。

你若在安息日掉轉〔或作謹慎〕你的腳步、在我聖日不以操作為喜樂、稱安息日為可喜樂的、稱耶和華的聖日為可尊重的．而且尊敬這日、不辦自己的私事、不隨自己的私意、不說自己的私話、你就以耶和華為樂．耶和華要使你乘駕地的高處．又以你祖雅各的產業養育你．這是耶和華親口說的。(賽 58：13-14)

我們都當深深查考聖經，追求完全遵守天父的旨意的真實信仰，從生命中倒空自己，只裝進耶穌，讓基督成形在我們心裡，成為神眼中「補破口的」，並成為引人歸向正路使人成為天國居民的人。「補破口的」，原文是「補城牆破損的石匠」，既是「石匠」就是有補城牆破損專業能力之人，絕不是泛泛之輩。而這樣修補屬靈城牆破損的專業能力，對今天而言就是聖靈的幫助，因此，只要願意被聖靈充滿，人人就是神眼中合神心意的匠人。

但聖靈降臨在你們身上、你們就必得着能力．並要在耶路撒冷、猶太全地、和撒瑪利亞、直到地極、作我的見證。(徒 1：8)

By Isaiah Kao

Becoming a Craftsman Who Repairs the Breach in God's Sight (Isaiah 58) 

June 19, 2026

“Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the age-old foundations; and you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets in which to dwell.” (Isaiah 58:12, NASB 2020)

The phrase “those from among you” literally means “someone from among you.” The phrase “raise up the age-old foundations” does not contain the word “destroyed” in the original text, though it does carry the idea that the foundations had been damaged. The expression “repairer of the breach” literally refers to “a stonemason who repairs a broken city wall.” The phrase “restorer of streets in which to dwell” carries the sense of “causing people to return and live in a certain place.” It points to leading people toward the kingdom of heaven, where they may dwell in the eternal kingdom.

This chapter once again speaks about true faith. It certainly brings to mind the Lord Jesus’ stately warning:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” (Matthew 7:21, NASB 2020)

When the Lord Jesus spoke these words, He was emphasizing the need to face the true nature of faith. Faith is not merely "a matter of appearance" . It is not enough simply to follow others in crying out, “Lord, Lord.” Just as God rebuked the people in this chapter, they assumed that because they fasted and prayed, God was obligated to listen:

“Yet they say, ‘Why have we fasted and You do not see? Why have we humbled ourselves and You do not notice?’ Behold, on the day of your fast you find your desire, and oppress all your workers.” (Isaiah 58:3, NASB 2020)

Faith cannot be based on “they say”; it must be based on “the Lord Jesus says.” Some people think that fasting and prayer simply mean setting aside a period of time during which they do not eat and focus on prayer. In reality, the original intention of fasting is to "lay aside everything and to pray to God wholeheartedly". The purpose is to pray so earnestly that nothing can distract or interrupt that focus. Avoiding from food is only a result of that devotion.If one fasts without praying, fasts merely for the sake of fasting, or worse, as God described here, still “finds his own desire and oppresses others,” then he has failed to preserve the essence of faith: "doing the will of the heavenly Father". If a person does not read the Bible and does not live according to biblical truth, what benefit is there in fasting and praying, no matter how long it may last?

The things mentioned in this chapter are all part of the Father's will for us. God also promises that when we practice these things, He will accomplish what we ask of Him:

“Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will spring forth quickly; your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness...” (Isaiah 58:8–9, NASB 2020)

Among the Father's commands is the keeping of the Sabbath. We are also to regard the Sabbath as “a delight,” joyfully observing it with a willing heart. If we do so, we will become those who find favor in God's sight—those of whom it is said:

“You will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets in which to dwell.”

“If because of the Sabbath, you turn your foot from doing your own pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable, and honor it, desisting from your own ways, from seeking your own pleasure and speaking your own word, then you will take delight in the LORD, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; and I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (Isaiah 58:13–14, NASB 2020)

We should all diligently study the Bible and pursue a true faith that seeks to obey the Father's will completely. We must empty ourselves and be filled with Jesus alone, let Christ to be formed in our hearts. Become those whom God calls “repairers of the breach,” people who lead others back to the right path and help them become citizens of the heavenly kingdom.

The term “repairer of the breach” literally refers to “a stonemason who repairs a broken city wall.” A stonemason is a skilled craftsman with the expertise needed to restore damaged walls. He is a professional.

Likewise, the ability to repair breaches in the spiritual wall today comes through the help of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, anyone who is willing to be filled with the Holy Spirit can become a craftsman after God's own heart.

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, NASB 2020)

By Isaiah Kao