Scripture Reading : Jeremiah 41
Theme : The Atrocities of Ishmael
Ishmael wanted to kill Gedaliah. Most likely he was jealous that Gedaliah was the ruler instead of him. In any case, Ishmael treacherously murders Gedaliah by pretending to be his friend. He killed both Jews and Babylonians. He is so treacherous that he even killed pilgrims who were going to Jerusalem to worship God at the ruined temple. He even populated the cisterns with dead bodies so that the people cannot have drinking water. Ishmael’s atrocities indicate the deep moral corruption of Judah. When Johanan discovered Ishmael’s atrocities, he pursues him and is able to rescue the captives, including Jeremiah and Baruch. Fearing the Babylonians would kill them for the murder of Gedaliah, Johanan and others intend to flee to Egypt.
Praying the Scripture
All the death, suffering and tragedy during the time of war function to give a picture of what hell is like. Ishmael’s behavior shows that evil will go from bad to worse. Evil people will deceive and be deceived (2 Tim. 3:13). He was being used by Baalis the king of the Ammonites. There is nothing good about living in sin. At the end, only destruction and death will result. Praise God for saving us from the deception and destruction of sin through our faith in Jesus.
经文：耶利米书41
主题：以实玛利的暴行
以实玛利想谋害基大利，极可能因自己未获委派作省长而嫉妒他。无论如何，以实玛利使用了奸诈的手段，先假装以基大利为友然后谋杀他。他杀害的人包括犹太人与巴比伦人。以实玛利性情如此凶残，甚至杀害一般正前往耶路撒冷圣殿敬拜的朝圣者，还将尸首弃于坑中，导致百姓没有饮用水可取。以实玛利的暴行反映的是犹大道德沦丧之深。当约哈难发现以实玛利的暴行后，他率众追赶，并成功地救回耶利米与巴录等被掳之人。因惧怕巴比伦人会因自己所立的基大利被杀而发怒，约哈难与其他人決定逃往埃及。
用经文祷告
战争带来的死亡、痛苦与灾难反映的是地狱的现实情景。以实玛利的行为显明邪恶“必越久越恶”。作恶的人“欺哄人，也被人欺哄”（提后3:13）；他实际上是被亚扪人的王巴利斯所利用。活在罪中并没有益处，最终招来的是有毁灭与死亡。感谢赞美神，藉着我们对主耶稣的信靠，把我们从罪的诡计与毁灭中拯救出来。
