“他们所怕的，你们不要怕，也不要畏惧。” - 赛 8:12

我们周围的世界害怕各种各样的东西。我读了几篇关于人们最害怕的事物的文章。像高空、蛇和牙医这样的选项在很多人的清单中名列前茅。但是经济灾难、战争、恐怖主义和自然灾害等事情也是如此。这些都是世界所惧怕的事。

但主告诉以赛亚，背离神生活的人所惧怕的，不要害怕。世界上其他人可能害怕动荡和灾难，以赛亚不应该害怕这些东西。他不应该害怕阴谋，或身体受到伤害。他不应该害怕过于大胆或说错话。他不应该害怕未来可能发生的事。他甚至不应该害怕没有下一顿饭、保暖的衣物或睡觉的地方。虽然世上的人可能会害怕和担心这些事，但以赛亚不应该这样。

以赛亚应该单单敬畏神。其他一切都在神的掌管之中。祂会护理所有的事。以赛亚所要做的就是顺从神，敬畏祂——也就是尊敬、敬拜和敬畏祂。

我们也被呼召如此行。这世上有很多令我们惧怕的事，但神不希望我们惧怕任何事物。祂希望我们只敬畏祂。因此，本着对主的敬畏，今天在你所行的一切中来敬拜祂，尊崇祂吧。

祷告

配受敬拜的神，请帮助我们只敬畏、敬拜和尊崇你，好使我们在你爱的安慰中得享安息。阿们。

以赛亚书 8:11-18

11耶和华以大能的手，指教我不可行这百姓所行的道，对我这样说： 12「这百姓说同谋背叛，你们不要说同谋背叛。他们所怕的，你们不要怕，也不要畏惧。 13但要尊万军之耶和华为圣，以他为你们所当怕的，所当畏惧的。 14他必作为圣所，却向以色列两家作绊脚的石头，跌人的磐石；向耶路撒冷的居民作为圈套和网罗。 15许多人必在其上绊脚跌倒，而且跌碎，并陷入网罗，被缠住。」不可求问死人16你要卷起律法书，在我门徒中间封住训诲。 17我要等候那掩面不顾雅各家的耶和华；我也要仰望他。 18看哪，我与耶和华所给我的儿女，就是从住在锡安山万军之耶和华来的，在以色列中作为预兆和奇迹。

DON’T FEAR WHAT OTHERS FEAR

“Do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it.” —Isaiah 8:12

The world around us fears all sorts of things. I was reading a few articles about what people fear the most. Things like heights, snakes, and the dentist top a lot of people’s lists. But so do things like economic disaster, wars, terrorism, and natural disasters. These are things that the world fears.

But the Lord tells Isaiah not to fear what people fear when they don’t live in tune with God. While the rest of the world might be afraid of upheaval and destruction, Isaiah isn’t supposed to fear such things. He isn’t supposed to be afraid of conspiracies or of being physically hurt. He isn’t supposed to be afraid of being too bold or saying the wrong thing. He isn’t supposed to be afraid of what the future might hold. He isn’t even supposed to be afraid of not having a next meal or warm clothes or a place to sleep. While the world might fear and worry over those things, Isaiah isn’t supposed to.

Isaiah is supposed to fear only God. Everything else is in God’s control. He will take care of all things. All that Isaiah has to do is obey God and fear him—that is, honor, worship, and be in awe of him.

We are called to do the same. There are many things to fear in this world. But God doesn’t want us to fear any of them. He wants us to fear only him. So in the fear of the Lord, worship and honor him today in everything you do.

Prayer

Worthy God, help us to fear, worship, and honor you alone so that we may rest in the comfort of your love. Amen.