Unfounded Fears 毫无根据的恐惧

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Dexu Xia

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Aug 9, 2025, 8:38:04 PM8/9/25

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I will build you a dynasty as enduring as the one I built for David and will give Israel to you. 1 Kings 11:38

Today's Scripture 1 Kings 11:34-39; 12:31-32

Today's Insights Jeroboam wasn’t the first (or last) Israelite king who succumbed to fear rather than trust in God (see 1 Kings 12:26-33). Saul was afraid of a Philistine assault and presumptuously offered a sacrifice. By doing so, he gave up a “kingdom over Israel for all time” (1 Samuel 13:13). Saul later failed again to obey God because he “was afraid of the men and so [he] gave in to them” (15:24) and Samuel repeats the verdict on Saul’s dynasty (v. 23). Likewise, other kings throughout Israel’s history were judged on whether they acted out of compromising fear of others or a healthy fear of God, otherwise known as faith.

Today's Devotional “I love you. I’ll never leave you.” Julia saved her husband’s text message so she could read it whenever she was afraid. A troubled childhood had left her with a fear of loved ones abandoning her. She’d often ask for reassurance from her husband, and she would wait anxiously for him to come home from work. Prayer and counseling helped Julia respond to her fear in healthier ways. “I’d look at my fear in the light of my husband’s loving promises to me,” she says. “I’d think, His promises are true! and behave accordingly.”

King Jeroboam also had unfounded fears. Because of Solomon’s apostasy, God had already promised Jeroboam, “I will take the kingdom from [David’s] son’s hands and give you ten tribes” (1 Kings 11:35). God assured him that if he obeyed Him, He would “give Israel to [him]” (v. 38). Yet Jeroboam was afraid. “If these people . . . offer sacrifices at the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem,” he thought, “they will . . . return to King Rehoboam” (12:27). His fear drove him to set up nearby sites of idol worship to prevent his subjects from turning to Solomon’s son (vv. 26-33). As a result, Jeroboam faced God’s judgment (14:7-16). If only he’d trusted God’s promises!

We don’t have to deal with unfounded fears on our own. God has given us the safety of His promises in Scripture. Let’s allow His loving truths to illuminate our mind and steps.

Reflect & Pray

What unfounded fears do you have? What does Scripture say about them?

Dear God, please teach me how to respond to my fears and help me obey You. by Karen Huang

“你若听从我一切所吩咐你的，遵行我的道……像我仆人大卫所行的，我就与你同在，为你建立坚固的家，像我为大卫立的那样，将以色列人赐给你。列王纪上 11:38

今日经文：列王纪上 11章34-39节；12章31-32 节

今日心得：耶罗波安并非第一个（或最后一个）屈服于恐惧而非信靠上帝的以色列国王（参见列王纪上 12:26-33）。扫罗因惧怕非利士人的攻击，擅自献祭。他这样做，就永远放弃了“对以色列国度的统治”（撒母耳记上 13:13）。后来，扫罗再次不顺服上帝，因为他“惧怕那些人，就向他们屈服”（15:24），撒母耳复述了对扫罗王朝命运的宣判（23节）。同样，以色列历史上的其他国王也受到评判，评判的标准是他们的行为，是他们出于对他人的恐惧而妥协，还是对上帝表现出应有的敬畏，这也就是他们的信仰。

今日灵修 “我爱你。我永远不会离开你。” 朱莉娅保存了丈夫的短信，以便在害怕的时候阅读。坎坷的童年让她害怕亲人抛弃她。她经常向丈夫寻求安慰，焦急地等待他下班回家。朱莉娅用祷告和接受辅导等更健康的方式帮助自己应对恐惧。“我会用丈夫对我充满爱的承诺来审视我的恐惧”，她说。“我会想，他的承诺是真实的！我就照此行事。”

耶罗波安王也曾有过毫无根据的恐惧。由于所罗门的背叛，上帝已经应许耶罗波安：“我必从大卫儿子的手中将国夺回，将十个支派赐给你”（列王纪上11:35）。上帝向耶罗波安保证，只要他肯顺服，上帝必“将以色列赐给他”（38节）。然而耶罗波安却惧怕，他心想：“如果这些人……在耶路撒冷耶和华的殿里献祭，他们……就会归向罗波安王”（12:27）。他的恐惧驱使他在附近设立偶像崇拜场所，以防止他的臣民转向所罗门的儿子（26-33节）。结果，耶罗波安面临上帝的审判（14:7-16）。要是他当初能信靠上帝的应许就好了！

我们不必独自面对毫无根据的恐惧。上帝已在圣经中赐给我们祂应许的平安。让我们祈求上帝慈爱的真理照亮我们的心思意念，并引领我们的脚步。

反思与祷告你有哪些毫无根据的恐惧？关于这些恐惧，圣经是如何教导的？亲爱的上帝，请教导我如何回应我的恐惧，并帮助我顺服祢。