耶利米书［第三十四章］
Book of Jeremiah 34
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耶利米书 第三十四章 |Book of Jeremiah 34【忠于神的约】
犹大百姓在危难之中曾向神承诺要释放奴仆，但他们却在局势稍有缓解的时后违背了这个承诺，最终他们要面对神的审判。因此，我们要忠于我们与神所立的约，并从过去的错误中悔改，使我们重新与神和好。
一、神的预言与警告（V1-7）
神明确告诉西底家，耶路撒冷将被攻陷，他也将被交在巴比伦王手中，但神仍然应许他得以安详死去。这里带出了神的审判与怜悯并存的特质，提醒我们，即使在最黑暗的审判中，神依然给人留有余地。
当我们在面对生活中的危机时，感觉环境严峻，不要忘记神仍掌权。
二、人背弃与神的约（V8-11）
西底家与耶路撒冷的百姓在危难时刻与神立约，决定释放所有的希伯来奴仆，以遵守律法中的规定（申命记15:12-15），以为借着这个善行，可以讨神的欢心。然而，当巴比伦军队因法老的干预暂时撤退而迎战埃及时，犹大人很快就改变了心意，将已经释放的奴仆重新抓回为奴。
我们应当在任何环境下都要持守与神所立的约，无论环境如何变化！
三、 背约的严重后果（V12-17）
神通过耶利米斥责犹大人违背了与神所立的约。祂曾通过摩西律法规定每七年要释放希伯来奴仆，而他们本应遵守这个律例。然而，犹大人表面上立了约，并且在圣殿之中举行了庄严神圣的立约仪式，却又出尔反尔，在局势改善后反悔，背弃了神的命令。神因此宣告，他们将为此付出代价，不仅要遭遇战争、饥荒和瘟疫，还要面临被赶散的命运。
我们看见，神对罪的态度是严肃的，背约的代价将远远超过我们所想象的。背弃神的诫命不仅会带来属灵上的后果，也会影响我们的实际生活！
四、悖逆者最终结局（V18-22）
神通过他们立约的仪式，劈开牛犊，警告背弃约定的犹大百姓，他们的悖逆将带来毁灭性的后果。犹大王、西底家及其臣仆们都将面临被敌人屠杀和掳掠的命运。巴比伦的军队将重回耶路撒冷，摧毁城墙、焚烧房屋，百姓将被掳走。
违约不仅是对神的冒犯，也是对神的蔑视。它所带来的后果可能看似遥远，但神的审判和后果是实在的。因此，我们需要有意识地保持诚信，并及时悔改自己在言行中的不忠之处。
总结：从背约到悔改的呼召
神是信实的，因此祂也要求我们在与他的关系中同样保持信实！愿我们认真对待我们与神所立的约，并且时常在祷告中检视自己的内心，及时调整方向，回到神的怀抱。让我们学习依靠他的信实，走在正直和忠诚的道路上！
Jeremiah 34: Faithfulness to God’s Covenant
GK611 Morning Devotion
16/10/2024
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Ps Stella
Introduction：
The people of Judah promised God to free the slaves during the crisis, but they broke this promise when the situation eased slightly, and eventually they had to face God's judgment. Therefore, we are to be faithful to our covenants with God and repent from past mistakes so that we can be reconciled to God.
1. God’s prophecies and warnings (V1-7)
God clearly told Zedekiah that Jerusalem would be captured and he would be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon, but God still promised him a peaceful death. This brings out the coexistence of God’s judgment and mercy, reminding us that even in the darkest judgment, God still leaves room for people.
When we face crises in our lives, and circumstances feel dire, don't forget that God is still in control.
2. Man breaks his covenant with God (V8-11)
Zedekiah and the people of Jerusalem made a covenant with God in times of crisis and decided to release all the Hebrew slaves to abide by the provisions of the law (Deuteronomy 15:12-15), thinking that through this good deed, they could please God. However, when the Babylonian army temporarily retreated due to Pharaoh's intervention to confront Egypt, the people of Judah soon had a change of heart and recaptured the freed slaves into slavery.
We should keep our covenant with God under any circumstances, no matter how the circumstances change!
3. Serious consequences of breach of covenant (V12-17)
Through Jeremiah, God rebuked the people of Judah for breaking their covenant with God. He had decreed through the Mosaic Law that the Hebrew slaves should be freed every seven years, and they were supposed to keep this statute. However, the people of Judah ostensibly made a covenant and held a solemn and sacred covenant ceremony in the temple, but they reneged on their promise and turned their backs on God's command after the situation improved. God therefore declared that they would pay the price for this, not only by suffering war, famine, and plague, but also by facing the fate of being dispersed.
We see that God’s attitude toward sin is serious, and the cost of breaking the covenant will be far greater than we imagine. Breaking away from God's commandments not only has spiritual consequences, but also affects our practical lives!
4. The final outcome of the rebels (V18-22)
Through their covenant ceremony, God split the calf to warn the people of Judah who broke the covenant that their disobedience would bring devastating consequences. The king of Judah, Zedekiah, and their servants would all face the fate of being massacred and captured by their enemies. The armies of Babylon will return to Jerusalem, destroy the walls, burn the houses, and carry the people into captivity.
Breaking a covenant is not only an offense against God, but also a defiance of God. The consequences may seem distant, but God's judgment and consequences are real. Therefore, we need to consciously maintain integrity and promptly repent of any infidelity in our words and actions.
Conclusion: From Breaking Covenant to the Call for Repentance
God is faithful, so He requires us to be equally faithful in our relationship with Him! May we take the covenant we have made with God seriously, and often examine our hearts in prayer, adjust the direction in time, and return to the embrace of God. Let us learn to rely on His faithfulness and walk in the path of integrity and faithfulness!