18 Feb 2016, Jeremiah 4 耶利米书 4, Destruction from North 从北方来到的毁灭

Scripture Reading  : Jeremiah 4

Theme                  : Destruction from North

 

Call to Genuine Repentance (1-4)

In the end of chapter 3, the Jews sound like they have repented, but in reality, it is superficial. Josiah’s reforms are not enough. They only change their outward behaviors because of their fear of punishment. However, inwardly they still love their sins and have not turned to God. God calls them to change their heart and attitude toward sin and God. He wants them to plough (soften) their hard hearts and to circumcise (cleanse) themselves so that they will love God, His character and thus practice His character of truth, justice and righteousness (v. 2). When they do this, all the nations will worship God.

Coming Destruction from the North (5-18).

If they continue in their pretense to be under God’s lordship, then God will send the Babylonians, the invaders from the north, to punish them for their gross sins. It will be a time of bitterness and doom.

Jeremiah’s Sorrow (19-31).

Jeremiah’s reaction to his countrymen’s impending doom is sorrow, self-righteousness or indifference. This is similar to Paul’s reaction for his people in Romans 9:2. This is also the reaction of Jesus toward sinners (Mark 3:5). Sorrow is a mark of love for the people. Jeremiah is in anguish because he saw the impending destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon and also the apocalyptic destruction of Jerusalem in the end times in vv. 23-31.

 

 

Praying the Scripture

  1. Jeremiah is a great prophet of God because he loves his people, even though they are sinners. He has compassion on them and desires them to repent and be saved. Jeremiah has the same heart as God who does not wish anyone to perish (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). Pray that you will have the same heart of love for people as God. God judges, but we are called to love people and warn them of coming judgment and the only way of salvation through Jesus. We should not look at them with self-righteousness or indifference.
  1. There are many professing Christians who are deceptively under God’s lordship. They proclaim God to be their king but they do not act like one. Inwardly they are not resolved to be under His rule. Thy bless God under prosperous circumstance but curse God under difficult times. They are not worshipping God, but only seek to make transactions with Him. This is true of prosperity gospel Christians. To be under God’s lordship is to love not just the blessing of the physical world, but also to trust God in hard times and to allow God to build our Christ-like character during hard times (James 1:2-4). Pray that you will embrace all of God’s lordship for His glory and for the good of building your Christ-like character.

经文:耶利米书4

主题:从北方来到的毁灭

 

呼召要真实悔改(1-4)。

在第三章的结尾中,犹太人似乎已经悔改,但那实际上只是表面的。约西亚的改革是不足够的。由于犹太人害怕受到惩罚,改革只能改变他们的外在行为。然而,他们仍暗自喜爱罪恶,心还没有转向神。神呼召他们要改变对罪与对神的心志以及态度。祂希望犹太人能开垦(软化)坚硬的心,自行割礼(洁净自己),叫他们能爱神与神的品格,从而操练神诚实、公平和公义的品德(2节)。当他们能如此行,列国将会敬拜神。

从北方即将来临的毁灭(5-18)。

如果犹太人持续伪装自己已降服于神的主权,神就会派从北方到来的侵略者巴比伦人惩罚他们重大的罪。那将会是苦独与祸害的时期。

耶利米的哀痛(19-31)。

对其同胞即将面临的祸害,耶利米的反应是哀痛、自义,还是漠不关心?保罗在罗马书9:2对其百姓的反应也是相似的。耶稣对罪人的反应亦是如此(可3:5)。哀痛是对百姓爱的标志。由于耶利米看到巴比伦即将对耶路撒冷进行毁灭,又看到23-31节中耶路撒冷在末日时的毁灭,因此他感到极其悲愤。

 

用经文祷告

  1. 即便犹太人是罪人,耶利米仍然爱他的百姓,所以他是神伟大的先知。耶利米对他们有怜悯,并渴望他们能悔改、得救。耶利米与神有相同的心,不希望看到任何人沉沦(提前2:4;彼后3:9)。祷告你能拥有与神一样爱人的心。神会审判,但我们被召要去爱人,并对即将到来的审判警告他们,让他们晓得耶稣是唯一得救的途径。我们不应该以自义或冷漠的眼光看待他们。
  1. 许多自称是基督徒的自以为他们是活在神的主权下的。他们宣告神是他们的王,但却言行不一。他们内心里还未立志按神的律生活。他们在顺境时感谢神,在逆境时却诅咒神。他们并不是敬拜神,乃是与祂进行交易。致富福音的信徒就是如此。归于神的主权并不单是爱物质上的祝福,还要在困境中信靠神,并让神在这段时间塑造我们更有基督的品性(雅1:2-4)。祷告你会为了神的荣耀,以及为塑造你更有基督的品格欣然接受神在你生命中的一切主权。