GRACE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP | 恩道堂

While Babylon was laying siege on Jerusalem, Jeremiah’s cousin took the opportunity to sell his property to Jeremiah while the Babylonians had temporarily withdrew from Jerusalem (37:5). According to Mosaic Law it is the duty of the owner to offer the property to kinsmen first (Leviticus 25:23–28). God commands Jeremiah to buy the property.

Jeremiah is perplexity by God’s command to buy the property since the Babylonians will confiscate everything from the Jews. Jeremiah prays to God and his prayer is grounded in solid theology. It is fine to ask God for illumination, but it must be done within the boundary of truth. Jeremiah knows God is the creator of the university and there is nothing too hard for Him to accomplish. He also acknowledges God’s boundless grace and also His righteous judgement on evil. He knows God will continue to do amazing things in the future just like what He did during the first exodus. But still, he does not understand why God commanded him to buy a property during a siege.

God affirms those truths that Jeremiah acknowledges about Him. He wants Jeremiah to live out his faith in God’s promise to return the Jews from the Babylonian captivity and to permanently restore Israel in the end times. Jeremiah will take part in the permanent restoration of Israel when God resurrects him during the Messianic Kingdom. Also, the descendants of the Babylonian captivity will return and again settle in Israel. Jeremiah’s act of faith is to demonstrate his faith is real. His faith works and lives according to his faith.

It is easy to say you believe in such and such facts about God and His promises; but it is a much harder thing to actually live out God’s truth in a consistent way. If we truly believe that Christ’s return is eminent, then without a doubt, all our lives would change in some way. Pray that your life will be consistent with your beliefs, especially in line with God’s character and the imminent coming of His Messianic Kingdom.

当巴比伦围攻耶路撒冷时，耶利米叔叔的儿子趁机在巴比伦军暂时从耶路撒冷撤回之时把他的地卖给耶利米（37:5）。根据摩西律法，地主有责任把地先让与至近的亲属（利25:23-28）。神吩咐耶利米去买这块地。

神有如此吩咐，耶利米为之困惑，因为巴比伦最终还是会充公犹太人的一切。耶利米向神祷告，而他的祷告是扎根在坚定的神学基础上的。我们若要向神问明白一些事情是可以的，但这必须是在真理的范畴以内求告。耶利米知道神是宇宙的创造者，在祂没有难成的事。他也承认神无边的恩典与祂对罪恶公义的审判。他知道神将继续行奇妙的事，就如祂救以色列出埃及时所行的。但是，他仍不晓得神为何吩咐他在被围困之时买一块地。

神申明耶利米所承认关于祂的真理是正确的。神应许使犹太人从巴比伦的俘虏中归回，并要在末日时永远复兴以色列；基于此，神要耶利米活出他的信心。当神于弥赛亚国度将耶利米复活时，他会参与以色列永久的重建。再者，被巴比伦俘虏之人的后裔将会归回并再次定居于以色列。耶利米信心的行为表明了他的信心是真实的。他的信心是按照他的信动工与活出生命的。