GRACE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP | 恩道堂

Idols are merely lifeless wood that man creates. They can do nothing. Pagans uphold their idols as if they have power, but these idols are like scarecrows. They are lifeless and are able to scare only mindless men who are like mindless animals.

In contrast, the only true living God is the God of Israel who created the heavens and earth. He demonstrates His divinity by describing the world in accurate scientific ways before man can discover them. For example, mist rise to form clouds and rain (v. 13). Those who worship idols will be put to shame, but those who worship Him will belong to Him forever and inherit His blessings. God will never forsake Israel forever, instead one day it will be His inheritance forever. Believing Jews will belong in the everlasting Jerusalem (Rev. 21-22), and Christians will forever be in this everlasting Jerusalem through Christ (Rom 11:11-36, Matt. 22:8-10). Both will be God’s inheritance forever.

Sadly, most of Jeremiah’s generation of Jews will not be God’s inheritance, but will be uprooted from Jerusalem and exiled. This will be their earthly and eternal punishment. The punishment of Israel is personified by the removal of its tent (v. 20). But in the midst of God’s righteous judgment, Jeremiah plead for God’s mercy on behalf of his people. This is the job of a prophet: being an advocate for people.

As Christians we are priests, mediators like Jeremiah (1 Pet. 2:9). We are called to intercede for hopeless sinners and plead for God’s mercy on behalf of them. We are not to gloat over their punishment but to plead for God’s mercy so that they will repent. This is what Moses did. Pray that you will fulfill your priestly role by interceding for hopeless sinners. Be an advocate for undeserving sinners.

偶像只是人手所造的无生木头。它们什么都做不成。异教徒高举其偶像，仿佛它们有能力似的，但这些偶像只不过像棕树。他们毫无生命，只能吓唬如愚蠢动物一般的愚昧人。

相反地，创造天地的以色列之神才是独一的永生真神。祂早在人类发现以前通过精确的科学术语描述世界，以此表明祂的神性，例如云雾上腾形成云和雨（13节）。敬拜偶像的将感到羞愧，但那敬拜神的将永远归于祂，并要承受祂的祝福为业。神是绝对不会永远丢弃以色列的；总有一日，她将永远成为神的产业。信从神的犹太人将归属于永恒的耶路撒冷（启21-22），而基督徒也将藉着基督永远归属于这个永恒的耶路撒冷（罗11:11-36；太22:8-10）。两者都将永远成为神的产业。

可悲的是，耶利米年代的大部分犹太人不会是神的产业，乃会从耶路撒冷连根拔起，并被放逐。这将会是神对他们在世上以及在永恒里的惩罚。藉着帐篷的移除（20节），神对以色列的惩罚更具体化。然而，即便面对着神公义的审判，耶利米仍代表其百姓恳求神的怜恤。这是先知的工作：作百姓的中保。