耶利米书［第十四章］
Book of Jeremiah 14
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耶利米书 第十四章 |Book of Jeremiah 14【干旱中的呼求】
引言：
干旱在圣经中常常象征着属灵的荒凉。对今天的信徒来说，我们都曾经历过‘灵里的干旱’，就是一种感到与神远离的时期。生活中无论多么努力，似乎都感受不到神的恩典与祝福。在这样的时刻，我们该如何回应？这段经文，我们可以看见祈祷、悔改与神的公义之间的关系，了解如何在困境中重新回归上帝。
一、干旱中的困境（V1-6）
耶利米书14章从描述一场可怕的干旱开始。在这幅惨烈的景象中，我们不仅看到犹大民在物质上的匮乏，也看到他们在灵性上的干涸。这场干旱不仅反映了上帝对他们罪恶行为的审判，也象征着他们对神的关系已经破裂。
二、悔改中的表象（V7-9）
我们看到百姓承认了自己的罪过，承认他们的背逆和对上帝的离弃。然而，他们并没有从心底深处为自己的行为感到痛悔，而是希望神为了自己的荣耀和声誉施行拯救。
这里，我们看到百姓对神的失望与质疑。他们感到神的拯救似乎迟迟没有到来，甚至怀疑神是否仍然与他们同在。他们希望神像过去那样行大能拯救他们，但没有意识到正是他们的罪恶让神远离。
三、祷告不被悦纳（V10-12）
百姓虽然在口头上承认了自己的罪过，但他们内心并未改变。他们仍然喜爱‘妄行’，继续走在悖逆的道路上。因为他们并没有真正悔改，神决定不再听他们的祷告。因此，神命令先知「不要为这百姓祈祷求好处」，因百姓现在所需要的是悔改，而不是「求好处」。
有时我们或许会经历同样的处境，感到祷告得不到回应。我们可能会觉得困惑，甚至失望。然而，真正的祷告不仅仅是嘴唇上的承认，更是心灵的转向。
四、神进一步警告（V13-16）
耶利米继续为百姓代求，企图以假先知欺骗百姓为由为他们争取神的怜悯。但神的回应却更加严厉。祂指出，无知和天真并非百姓被骗的原因，傲慢才是。神也指出，假先知用虚假的信息安慰百姓，给他们带来虚假的希望，导致百姓没有真正的悔改。
许多时候，世上的声音会告诉我们，某些行为是无所谓的，神的标准可以放宽。因此，我们必须警醒，分辨出那些真正指向悔改与神的教导，远离虚假的安慰。
五、末日审判预言（V17-22）
虽然神亲自审判百姓，但祂对人的痛苦并非漠不关心，反而像管教儿子的父亲，心中也会与儿子一同哀哭。而耶利米耶继续恳求神不要彻底抛弃祂的百姓。他承认百姓的罪过，并恳求神再一次施行拯救。他呼求神‘为你的名的缘故，不要厌恶我们’。
尽管神的公义要求对罪恶的审判，但祂的怜悯与慈爱却始终与祂的百姓同在。即便在最严厉的审判中，神仍然期盼百姓能回转归向祂，重新与祂建立亲密的关系。
总结:
今天，让我们重新审视我们与神的关系。是否有任何“偶像”在我们的生命中占据了原本属于神的地位？我们是否在经历灵性的干涸，感到与神的距离越来越远？让我们每一个人都重新校正自己的灵命方向，走在神的光中，拒绝虚假的偶像，坚定依靠唯独耶和华这一位独一的真神。愿神赐下祂的恩典，使我们每一天都能经历祂真实的同在与丰盛的祝福。
Jeremiah Chapter 14: Crying Out in Drought
GK611 Morning Devotion
11/09/2024
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Ps Stella
Introduction:
Drought in the Bible often symbolizes spiritual dryness. For today's believers, we have all experienced a 'spiritual drought'—a period where we feel distant from God. No matter how hard we try in life, we can't seem to feel God's grace and blessings. In moment like this, how should we respond? This passage shows the relationship between prayer, repentance, and God's righteousness, helping us understand how to return to God in times of difficulty.
1. The Struggles in Drought (V1-6)
Jeremiah 14 begins by describing a terrible drought. In this bleak scene, we see not only the material lack of the people of Judah but also their spiritual dryness. The drought only reflects God's judgment on their sins but also symbolizes the broken relationship between them and God.
2. The Superficial Repentance (V7-9)
We see the people acknowledge their sins, admitting their rebellion and abandonment of God. However, their remorse is not genuine; they hope God will save them for His own glory and reputation rather than their true repentance.
Here, we also see the people’s disappointment and doubts in God. They feel that God’s salvation seems delayed, even doubting whether He is still with them. They hope for God’s great deliverance as in the past but fail to realize that it is their sins that drive God away.
3. Prayer Not Accepted (V10-12)
Although the people verbally admit their sins, their hearts remain unchanged. They still love "to wander" and continue walking in the path of disobedience. Because they haven't truly repented, God decides not to listen to their prayers. Thus, God instructs the prophet, "Do not pray for the well-being of this people," for what they need now is repentance, not blessings.
Sometimes, we may experience similar situations, feeling like our prayers go unanswered. We may have doubts or even disappointment. However, true prayer is not just lip service but a turning of the heart.
4. God's Further Warning (V13-16)
Jeremiah continues to intercede for the people, attempting to plead for God's mercy by blaming the false prophets who misled them. However, God’s response is even more severe. He points out that ignorance and naivety are not the reasons the people were deceived—it was pride. God also point out that the false prophets comforted the people with false messages, giving them false hope, preventing true repentance.
Often, the voices of the world may tell us that certain behaviors don’t matter, that God’s standards can be relaxed. Therefore, we must stay vigilant, discerning messages that truly lead to repentance and God's teachings, avoiding false comforts.
5. Prophecy of Final Judgment (V17-22)
Although God judges the people, He is not indifferent to their suffering. Like a father disciplining his son, He weeps alongside them. Jeremiah continues to plead with God not to completely abandon His people. He acknowledges their sins and asks for God’s deliverance once again. He calls out to God, "For the sake of Your name, do not despise us."
Though God’s justice demands judgment on sin, His mercy and love always remain with His people. Even in the harshest judgment, God hopes for His people to turn back to Him and re-establish an intimate relationship.
Conclusion:
Today, let us re-examine our relationship with God. Are there any "idols" in our lives that have taken the place that belongs to God? Are we experiencing spiritual dryness, feeling increasingly distant from God? Let us each recalibrate our spiritual direction, walking in God's light, rejecting false idols, and steadfastly relying on the one true God - Yahweh. May God bestow His grace, allowing us to experience His real presence and abundant blessings every day.