耶利米书［第三十五章］
Book of Jeremiah 35
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耶利米书 第三十五章 |Book of Jeremiah 35【听从顺服，分别为圣】
一、敬虔顺服的利甲族（V1-11）
约雅敬做王的末年，巴比伦率领亚兰军队第二次入侵犹大的时候，神吩咐耶利米去邀请利甲族的人来到圣殿的二楼的一个大房间内，亲请他们喝酒。目的是要透过这个行动，斥责不肯顺服的犹大百姓、官长和王。
利甲族因为遵守他们先祖利甲的儿子约拿达曾吩咐他们永远不可以喝酒、不盖房撒种、不栽种葡萄园（不酿酒）。在迦南地以外过游牧的生活，一生要住帐棚，因此当众拒绝喝酒。
约拿达因为他亲眼看见以色列百姓如何被迦南人诱惑，随从他们敬拜偶像。所以，为了避免他的族人同流合污，落入迦南人的偶像崇拜，约拿达订下了严格的戒令，是后裔不跟迦南有任何瓜葛。
从约拿达和利甲族的生命，我们可以有以下的提醒：
1.有属灵的分辨力
对现代文化中的偶像、变相偶像或价值观的影响，如物质主义、享乐主义等，神儿女要有分辨力并避免在信仰生活中妥协。也要追求圣洁，不与世俗同流合污。反而要分别为圣的活出基督徒当有的身份。
2.属灵遗产的传承
约拿达不仅自己活出敬虔的生活，也为后代留下了属灵的遗产，使得他的子孙在几代人后依然能遵守这些戒令。
我们要在信仰的传承上有责任感和愿意付代价。不仅通过教导，更要以身作则，塑造子孙、甚至属灵后裔世代持守在神的心意中，并将信仰一代一代的传递下去。
3.付代价听从顺服
从约拿达到耶利米请利甲族喝酒，时间相隔了250年。250年里，每一代的利甲族在听从顺服上，都必须付上极大的代价，才能够持守圣洁，不被迦南人同化。而约西亚王除掉以色列当中的偶像敬拜，进行宗教改革，却但持守了一代，来到他的儿子，约雅敬就守不住了。这也提醒我们，信仰要一代一代的传承下去，每一代都必须在听从与顺服上付代价，并且忠实地传承下去。
二、悖逆不听的以色列（V12-19）
神说，约拿达只说了一次，利甲族就守了250年。但祂从早到晚警戒百姓，甚至差遣仆人和众先知劝他们回头、离开恶道，不随从事奉别神，但他们始终不愿听从。
利甲族是游牧民族，是外邦人。约拿达只说了一次，250年里他们都守住了先祖的规定。神的百姓，有圣殿、有律法、是犹太人、神的选民，却偏偏都不守约，也不愿听从。因此，V17神说要使所说的灾祸临到犹大人和耶路撒冷的一切居民。相反的，利甲族世世代代都有人从他们的族群中，可以和利未人一样的侍立在神面前来服事神。
1.持守真理圣别忠于神
神的选民却没有听从神不断藉先知所说的话。今天我们愿意听从父母、组长、牧者的话吗？更重要的是在逼迫困苦中，我们的信仰是否站立得住？坚定信靠并忠于神的托付？
2.听从顺服世代服事神
利甲族遵守约拿达的规矩，神应允他们的后裔必永不缺人侍立在神面前。我们岂不更因祂的恩慈，永远侍立在祂面前吗？所以我们要珍惜神对我们的拣选。并要带领我们的后代世世代代的来服事神。
总结：你会怎么选择？
利甲族：
1.对有可能犯错的先祖所吩咐的依然坚守不渝
2.约拿达只说了一次不准饮酒，利甲族人就听从了
3.利甲族人遵守的规例只有暂时的意义，但他们仍然坚守
4.利甲族人数百年来都是恪守诫命的
5.利甲族人因而蒙福
以色列:
1.背弃了与那绝对无误的神所立之约
2.神一而再、再而三地命令以色列人离开罪恶，他们却抗拒，不肯听从
3.以色列人则违背神关乎永恒的律法
4.以色列人数百年来却都在违抗神
5.以色列人因而招祸
让我们选择效法利甲族在这充满诱惑和挑战的世界中，听从顺服神，坚定不移地走在神的道路上，活出分别为圣的生命。
Jeremiah 35: Obedience and Holiness
Introduction: Are you kidding me?
I. The Devout Obedience of the Rechabites (vv. 1-11) During the final years of Jehoiakim’s reign, when Babylon, along with Aramean forces, invaded Judah for the second time, God instructed Jeremiah to invite the Rechabites to a large room on the second floor of the temple and offer them wine. The purpose was to use their example to rebuke the disobedient people, leaders, and kings of Judah.
The Rechabites refused to drink wine because they were following the commands of their ancestor Jonadab, the son of Rechab, who instructed them to never drink wine, build houses, plant crops, or vineyards (not even to make wine). Instead, they were to live a nomadic life outside the land of Canaan, always dwelling in tents. Thus, they publicly rejected the wine offered.
Jonadab had witnessed how the Israelites were tempted by the Canaanites to worship idols. To prevent his descendants from falling into the same idolatry, he issued strict commands that ensured the Rechabites would have no ties with Canaanite culture or practices.
From the life of Jonadab and the Rechabites, we can draw the following lessons:
1. Spiritual Discernment God’s children must have the discernment to recognize and avoid the idols or distorted values of modern culture, such as materialism and hedonism. They should pursue holiness and refuse to compromise their faith, living a life set apart for Christ.
2. The Passing Down of Spiritual Legacy Jonadab not only lived a devout life himself but also left a spiritual legacy for his descendants, enabling them to keep his commands generations later.
We must take responsibility for passing on our faith, both by teaching and by setting an example, shaping our children and even spiritual descendants to remain within God’s will. We must pass the faith from generation to generation.
3. The Cost of Obedience From Jonadab to the Rechabites' encounter with Jeremiah, 250 years had passed. In those 250 years, each generation of Rechabites had to pay the price of obedience to maintain their holiness and avoid being assimilated by the Canaanites. Meanwhile, King Josiah’s reforms against idol worship in Israel were only sustained for one generation, as his son Jehoiakim failed to continue them. This reminds us that faith must be passed down through generations, and each one must pay the price of obedience and faithfully carry the torch.
II. The Rebellious Disobedience of Israel (vv. 12-19) God stated that Jonadab gave his command once, and the Rechabites obeyed for 250 years. Yet God had warned the Israelites repeatedly, from morning till night, and even sent His servants and prophets to urge them to repent, turn from their evil ways, and forsake other gods, but they refused to listen.
The Rechabites were a nomadic, foreign tribe. Jonadab only gave the command once, and for 250 years they adhered to their ancestor’s instructions. Meanwhile, God’s people, who had the temple and the law, were Jews, and were God’s chosen, repeatedly broke the covenant and refused to listen. As a result, in verse 17, God declared that He would bring disaster upon Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. In contrast, the Rechabites were promised that their descendants would always have someone standing before God to serve, like the Levites.
1. Upholding the Truth, Holiness, and Loyalty to God Although God's people had the prophets and His continuous guidance, they failed to heed His words. Today, do we listen to the words of our parents, leaders, and pastors? More importantly, does our faith stand firm in times of persecution and hardship? Are we steadfast in trusting and being faithful to the mission God has entrusted to us?
2. Generational Service to God through Obedience The Rechabites obeyed Jonadab’s commands, and God promised that their descendants would always have someone serving before Him. Should we not also, out of gratitude for God’s grace, stand before Him forever? Therefore, we must cherish God's calling and lead our descendants to serve Him for generations to come.
Rechabites
1.They faithfully obey the commands of their ancestors, even though he could have been wrong 2.Jonabab gave a single command to abstain from wine, and the Rechabites obeyed 3.Rechabites obeyed the commands with temporary significance but still faithfully adhere to them 4.Rechabites were faithful for hundreds of years 5. Rechabites were blessed for their faithfulness
Israelites
1.They broke the covenant made with the infallible God 2.God repeated command them to obey, but they resisted and refuse to listen 3.Israelites violated God’s eternal law 4.Israelites were disobedience for hundreds of years 5. Israelites were cursed with disasters for their disobedience
Let us choose to follow the example of the Rechabites, who, in a world full of temptations and challenges, obeyed and followed God wholeheartedly, walking the path of holiness, living a life set apart for Him.
Conclusion: What will you choose?