與我同受苦難的主(賽63章)

他們在一切苦難中、他也同受苦難．並且他面前的使者拯救他們．他以慈愛和憐憫救贖他們．在古時的日子、常保抱他們、懷搋他們。(賽 63：9)

本章一開始讀到神對以色列選民的仇敵以東人所施行的刑罰。以東人也同樣是亞伯拉罕的後裔，卻處處與神的選民以色列人敵對，因而惹動神大發烈怒，讓神在他們身上報欺壓選民的仇。以東人預表今天敵基督的人，這些人不見得都是從教會以外來的壓力，其實從聖經中看來，這些敵對的力量未來將主要來自教會的內部。今日以屬靈的角度來看這些過去的以東人，可能是今日教會中那些敵對真信徒、阻擋與控告主僕的人，或是干擾教會成長的內部力量。本章也是對今日的預言，因為時候到了，神必為祂的真信徒報仇。

敬畏神，原文的意思就只有「畏懼神」之意，所以人一旦不怕神，就可能會為所欲為、膽大包天，一點也談不上敬拜神。在教會中可以看到的，就是以張狂的態度敵對、阻擋神的工人。身為神工人的基本態度，就是要懼怕神，而不是怕人，更不會怕魔鬼。因為怕神，所以不敢對神所交辦的任務怠忽職守，也因為怕神，對神的旨意絕對是使命必達。

本章最讓我感動的，是當神拯救祂的選民時，聖經中出現「他們在一切苦難中、祂也同受苦難」這段話。是的！神從來不是在旁邊看我們受苦、任憑我們獨走陰暗的幽谷，而是住在我們裡面，與我們「一同經歷」。因為聖靈是住在我們裡面的，所以我們的感受、我們的心思，祂都知道。

遵守神命令的、就住在神裏面．神也住在他裏面。我們所以知道神住在我們裏面、是因他所賜給我們的聖靈。(約壹 3：24)

我們有了聖靈，表示神就住在我們裡面。因此當我們行惡、惑心術不正時，神也在我們裡面，祂必都知道。我們正在看甚麼，祂也與我們一同看見。當我們現在極度憂傷、因受委屈極度憤怒時，祂也與我們同受苦難。 

你知道我受的辱罵、欺凌、羞辱．我的敵人都在你面前。(詩 69：19)

因聖靈同在，主與我一同受苦，所以我所受的辱罵、欺凌、羞辱，其實都落在主的身上。如此看來，主會不知道我的苦嗎？不！祂必知道。而且，那些看似站立在我面前正在敵視我的人，若我是主忠心的僕人，他們就是站在主的面前敵對主的人。凡以敵對的態度對待主僕人的人，就是敵對主，而且，主必報仇。

想起那沙灘上腳印的故事，它講明了當我們軟弱到走不動的時候，沙灘上原本留下一雙大的、一雙小的同行的腳印，這時只剩一人的腳印時，其實剩下的是主的腳印，因為主已懷抱我，祂知道我已沒有能力走路。正如此段經文所述：因為「他以慈愛和憐憫救贖他們．在古時的日子、常保抱他們、懷搋他們。」感謝主！主既與我同在、與我同受苦難，我還有甚麼好擔心的？

但是若我們執意要違背神的命令，神就要做我們的仇敵，這樣就不妙了。我們應當常保敬畏神、畏懼神的心，就不敢悖逆祂，因我們必願意時時尋求神的旨意，一生與主站在一起，讓主永遠住在我心裡，直到生命的終點。

他們竟悖逆、使主的聖靈擔憂．他就轉作他們的仇敵、親自攻擊他們．(賽 63：10)

By Isaiah Kao

The Lord Who Suffers with Me (Isaiah 63)

June 24, 2026

"In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them; in His love and in His mercy He redeemed them, and He lifted them and carried them all the days of old." (Isaiah 63:9, NASB 2020)

At the beginning of this chapter, we read about God's judgment upon Edom, the enemy of His chosen people Israel. The Edomites were also descendants of Abraham, yet they constantly opposed God's people and provoked His great wrath. Therefore, God took vengeance for His people.

The Edomites foreshadow the antichrist forces of today. These pressures do not necessarily come from outside the church. In fact, according to the Bible, much of this opposition will arise from within the church itself. From a spiritual perspective, these Edomites may represent those within the church who oppose true believers, hinder and accuse the Lord's servants, and disrupt the growth of the church. This chapter is also a prophecy for our time. When the appointed time comes, God will surely avenge His faithful believers.

The original meaning of fearing God is simply "to be afraid of God." Once a person no longer fears God, he may do whatever he pleases and become bold in his wrongdoing. In the church, this is often seen in those who arrogantly oppose God's workers. The basic attitude of a worker of God is to fear God , not people, and certainly not the devil. Because he fears God, he does not dare neglect the tasks entrusted to him. Because he fears God, he is determined to carry out God's will completely.

What moves me most in this chapter is the statement that when God saved His people, "In all their affliction He was afflicted." Yes, God has never stood by and watched us suffer as we walk alone through the dark valley. Rather, He experiences it together with us from ‘’within‘’. Since the Holy Spirit dwells in us, He knows our feelings and understands our thoughts.

"The one who keeps His commandments remains in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He remains in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us." (1 John 3:24, NASB 2020)

If we have the Holy Spirit, it means that God dwells in us. When we do evil or "evil intent" , God knows it because He is within us. Whatever we look at, He sees as well. Therefore, when we are deeply grieved or burning with anger because of injustice, He also suffers with us.

"You know my reproach and my shame and my dishonor; all my adversaries are known to You"

(Psalm 69:19, NASB 2020)

Because the Lord suffers with me, the reproach, bullying, and humiliation that I endure also fall upon Him. Seeing it this way, could the Lord possibly be unaware of my pain?Certainly not. He knows it all.

Moreover, those who appear to stand against me are, if I am truly the Lord's faithful servant, actually standing against the Lord Himself. Those who oppose the Lord's servants are opposing the Lord, and the Lord will surely take vengeance.

The story of the footprints in the sand illustrates this truth well. When we become so weak that we can no longer walk, the two sets of footprints, one large and one small, become only one set. Those footprints belong to the Lord, because He is carrying us. He knows that we no longer have the strength to walk on our own. For "in His love and in His mercy He redeemed them, and He lifted them and carried them all the days of old." Thank You, Lord! Since You are with me, what do I have to worry about?

However, if we insist on disobeying God's commandments, then God will become our enemy, and that is a fearful thing. If we continually maintain a heart that fears God, we will not dare rebel against Him. Instead, we will seek His will at all times, stand on His side throughout our lives, and allow Him to dwell in our hearts forever.

"But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; therefore He turned Himself to become their enemy, He fought against them." (Isaiah 63:10, NASB 2020)

By Isaiah Kao