耶利米书［第三十七章］
Book of Jeremiah 37
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耶利米书 第三十七章 |Book of Jeremiah 37【你想要怎样的神？】
今天，我们要从耶利米书37章，通过耶利米和西底家的对比，反思自己对神的态度。思考：你想要怎样的神？
一、西底家自欺欺人不悔改（V1-10，17）
犹大国的西底家王和百姓不肯听从神，但是在巴比伦人的围困之下走投无路，于是他派人去找先知耶利米，让耶利米在神的面前为犹大国代求，期望能够从神得到一些帮助。西底家一次次得到的是警告：如果不悔改，审判将临到。然而，西底家选择了忽视这些警告，他想从神那里得到好消息，却不愿意遵行神的命令。神劝戒他们，不要自欺，仇敌必不离开！
西底家其实已经有了自己想要的‘神的样子’：一个帮他解决巴比伦威胁的神！其他的都不想听！ 西底家不想要一个让他回归正道、带领他悔改的神，而是渴望一个能够满足他期望、按他要求行动的神。这种错误的期待让他陷入了自欺的陷阱。
撒但虽然是最大的骗子，但如果我们不自欺，祂也不能欺骗我们！
二、耶利米忠心于神不妥协（V6-17）
耶利米在面对强大的压力时，始终忠于神的话语。他没有为了讨好人而改变神的信息，就算他被囚禁受苦。西底家王虽然曾多次向耶利米求问神的旨意，但耶利米从未妥协，他传讲的依然是神的真实信息：巴比伦人会回来，耶路撒冷必被攻陷。
我们是否被误会被毁谤？或是因为做了一件好事而惹祸上身？当周围的环境要求我们‘修改’真理的时候，是否还能像耶利米那样坚定忠心于神？今天耶利米为义受苦，不妥协地忠心传递神的话语，按照圣经的教导是有福的！彼前3:17神的旨意若是叫你们因行善受苦，总强如因行恶受苦。
三、神的怜悯与公义不改变（V18-21）
耶利米恳求不要将他关押在危险、缺乏的地方，并得到了西底家的回应，还供给他每日的食物。这体现了神对耶利米的怜悯，即便在困境中，神仍保守他。在审判即将临到的时刻，神仍有怜悯为忠心的仆人预备出路，但神的公义是绝不会因为人的不顺服而改变。
神的怜悯不是容忍罪恶的借口，而是给我们悔改和重新开始的机会。我们是否有时像西底家一样明知错了，却选择无视神的警告？神的公义提醒我们，选择顺服祂比眼前的安逸和短暂的逃避更重要。
总结：你想要怎样的神，就决定你怎样去跟随神！
从耶利米和西底家的对比中，我们看到了对神的不同态度将带来的不同命运。我们要问自己：我想要怎样的神？ 是一个只提供帮助却不要求改变的神，还是一位既怜悯又公义、带领我们走向圣洁的神？愿我们每个人都能在神的怜悯中得着力量，在祂的公义中行走正道，做祂忠心的仆人。
Jeremiah 37 What kind of God do you want?
GK611 Morning Devotion
22/10/2024
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Ps Daniel
Introduction：
Today, we want to reflect on our attitude towards God from Jeremiah 37, through the comparison between Jeremiah and Zedekiah. Reflect: What kind of God do you want?
1. Zedekiah - deceiving himself and others and not repenting (V1-10, 17)
King Zedekiah of Judah and his people refused to obey God but were cornered under the siege of the Babylonians. So he sent people to find the prophet Jeremiah, asking Jeremiah to intercede for Judah before God, hoping that Can get some help from God. Zedekiah was warned again and again that judgment would come if he did not repent. However, Zedekiah chose to ignore these warnings. He wanted good news from God but was unwilling to obey God's commands. God warned them not to deceive themselves, the enemy would never leave!
Zedekiah already had the ‘god’ he wanted: a god who could help him deal with the Babylonian threat! He doesn’t want to hear anything else! Zedekiah did not want a God who could bring him back to the right path and lead him to repentance, but he longed for a god who could meet his expectations and act according to his requirements. This false expectation led him into a trap of self-deception.
Although Satan is the biggest liar, he cannot deceive us if we do not deceive ourselves!
2. Jeremiah-loyal to God without compromise (V4-17)
Jeremiah remained faithful to the Word of God in the face of intense pressure. He did not change God's message to please others, even while he was imprisoned and suffering. Although King Zedekiah asked Jeremiah many times for God's will, Jeremiah never compromised. What he preached was still God's true message: the Babylonians would return, and Jerusalem would be captured.
Have we been misunderstood or slandered? Or did you do a good deed and get into trouble? When the surrounding environment requires us to ‘revise’ the truth, can we remain steadfast and loyal to God like Jeremiah? Today, Jeremiah suffered for righteousness and faithfully delivered the word of God without compromise. He was blessed according to the teachings of the Bible! 1 Peter 3:17 For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.
3. God’s mercy and justice never change (V18-21)
Jeremiah pleads not to be imprisoned in a place of danger and scarcity, and Zedekiah responds by providing him with daily provisions. This reflects God’s mercy toward Jeremiah, and God still protected him even in difficult circumstances. At the moment when judgment is about to come, God still has mercy and prepares a way out for his faithful servants, but God’s justice will never change because of man’s disobedience.
God’s mercy is not an excuse to tolerate sin, but it gives us the opportunity to repent and start over. Are we like Zedekiah sometimes choosing to ignore God’s warnings when we know we are wrong? God’s justice reminds us that choosing to obey Him is more important than immediate comfort and temporary escape.
Conclusion: The kind of God you want determines how you follow God!
From the contrast between Jeremiah and Zedekiah, we see the different destinies that different attitudes toward God will bring. We have to ask ourselves: What kind of God do I want? A God who only provides help but does not require change, or a God who is both merciful and just and leads us toward holiness? May each of us gain strength from God’s mercy, walk on the right path in His righteousness, and be His faithful servants.