牧者心聲
「敬畏」是⋯⋯
周曉暉牧師
2025 年 7 月 5 日／6 日
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我已從羅馬服事回港，這段日子有些休息和進修。7 月底我會飛往多倫多在宣教大會上服事，請代禱記念。
在羅馬時，我前往參觀梵蒂岡的聖彼得大教堂。這教堂據說能容納六萬人，圓頂高 138 米，為羅馬城區天際線的最高點，信徒從四方八面仰視這壯麗的教堂時，都會產生一份敬畏感。
箴言九 10 說：敬畏耶和華是智慧的開端；認識至聖者便是聰明。箴言提到的「敬畏」，不只是表示崇敬的感覺。對神恭恭敬敬當然需要，但「敬畏」不只是這樣。
「敬畏」就像近視的人，一睡醒下床，就立刻戴上眼鏡，因為不戴，就看不清楚，所以不敢不戴。你出門不敢不帶眼鏡、手錶、八達通、手機等物品，因為沒有它們，就會失去它們給你的幫助、力量與安全感。
「敬畏神」也有懼怕的意味。人要懂得懼怕神，這是信仰中的重中之重。從另一角度看，「敬畏」就是時刻緊緊抓住這位重中之重的神。應用在人與神的關係上，就是人明白所認識的神、世人的上主，其實是生命中不可或缺的。因此「敬畏神」也在表達我們不願神離自己很遠。
箴言全書可分為五個部分。第一部分經文比較連貫，由第一章到第九章一再重複「我兒啊，要聽」、「要留心聽」、要將生命的智慧「謹守」、「存記在心」。
聖言要入心，必須始於聆聽，而且要聽入耳。入了耳，還要好好記著。一個科學節目講過：火箭將人帶上太空很難，但要火箭順利降落地球就更加困難，因為太空人需要在每小時一萬公里的高速下啟動降落程序，這個程序不能有差錯，所執行的每一指令，都與生死存亡有關。可想而知，太空人一定要好好記著各個步驟和程序，否則，一個錯誤，就可能令他葬身大氣層。太空人對返回的過程會感到懼怕，所以他會謹慎。正因為懼怕，所以他會熟讀正確的指令，這指令對他來說就是「活命之道」，能領他平安返回地上。
「敬畏」源於人想走活命之路，於是將神的話語好好存記在心。這樣的「敬畏」不會令人畏首畏尾，卻是注入活力，就像音樂盒的發條，旋緊時會越擰越緊，但這樣做，卻注入了動能，一放手就有美妙的音樂發出。敬畏就是將動力注入你我的生活中，領我們走最正確的道路。
這一季北宣家的講壇會讀箴言一至九章，讓我們的心都存記聖言，以致得著生活和生命的智慧。
I have already returned to Hong Kong after serving in Rome. During this period, I will take time to rest and to study. At the end of July, I will fly out to Toronto to serve at a missions conference. Please remember this in prayer.
While in Rome, I visited St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. It is said to hold up to 60,000 people. The dome rises 138 meters into the air, making it the highest point on the Roman skyline. As believers from all directions gaze up at this magnificent church, a sense of awe arises.
Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” This “fear” is more than just a sense of respect or admiration. Yes, showing reverence to God is needed. But “fear” goes deeper.
It is like a person who is nearsighted. As soon as he gets out of bed, he puts on his glasses – because without them, he cannot see clearly. He would not dare to leave home without them. You would not dare to leave home without essentials like glasses, a watch, Octopus Card, and mobile phone. It is because you know how much you depend on them for help, strength, and a sense of security.
“Fearing God” also denotes a sense of fear. Man needs to learn to fear God, for this is of utmost importance to our faith. From another perspective, to “fear” means holding firmly at all times to God who Himself is of utmost importance. Applied to the relationship between man and God, it means our recognition that the God we know, the LORD over all people, is indispensable in our lives. “Fearing God” also expresses our desire that God not be distant from us.
The book of Proverbs can be divided into five sections. The first section, chapters 1 through 9, flows together, with repeated phrases such as “My son, listen,” “Pay attention,” and “Hold on” to wisdom or “keep them within your heart.”
For God’s holy word to take root in our hearts, we must start with listening, truly listening. Once we have listened in, we must also remember it well. I once learned in a science program how launching a rocket into space is hard – but bringing it back safely to Earth is even harder. Astronauts must follow exact landing procedures while traveling at over 10,000 kilometers per hour. There is no room for error. Following every instruction is a matter of life or death. That is why astronauts must memorize the steps with great care. Otherwise, one error could have them disappear in the atmosphere. Astronauts would fear the process of returning and so they will be cautious. The fear also makes them memorize the instructions accurately. The instructions they carry are their “path to life,” which can take them safely back to Earth.
“Fear” arises from man’s desire to go the way leading to life. It leads us to cherish God’s word in our hearts. This kind of “fear” does not paralyze us. Instead, it fills us with vitality. It is like the spring in a music box. When we turn it, it becomes tighter and tighter. Yet, we are also infusing potential energy into it. Once released, beautiful music flows out. In the same way, the fear pours strength into our lives and leads us down the right path.
This quarter, the sermons at the NPAC family will focus on Proverbs 1 to 9. Let us store the holy word deep in our hearts so that we will gain wisdom to live and the wisdom of life.
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