耶利米书［第四十七章］
Book of Jeremiah 47
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耶利米书 第四十七 |Book of Jeremiah 47【神对非利士人的审判】
从昨天的耶46开始一直到耶51，都是在强调神对以色列外围的外邦国家施行审判。昨天提到埃及会遭遇到巴比伦军队的攻击。而今天47章的内容更是针对神要要以巴比伦军队审判非利士人。
一、神为何审判非利士人？(v1-4)
1.侵略与压迫神的子民
非利士人是以色列人的长期敌人。他们的恩怨持续了数个世纪，主要集中在士师时代至列王的时期。他们曾多次侵略和压迫以色列百姓。撒上 4提到，非利士人击败以色列军队并夺走神的约柜。他们还污秽神的圣物，进一步羞辱神的选民，展示他们的敌对和压迫。此外，为了防止以色列人制造刀枪来反抗，非利士人联合其他民族控制并压制以色列人，严格管制铁器的使用。
神预言审判非利士，是为了使犹大人认识到，在神的时间里，神不止审判属自己的百姓，神也必以公义来审判一切抵挡以色列民的国家。
所以弟兄姐妹，如果你不是因为犯罪而处在困难逼迫中，一定要相信神是公义的。神的审判是公正的，也是按祂时间表进行的。尽管敌人可能看起来短期内得逞，但神的公义会在最终的时刻彰显，将降临毁灭仇敌。
2.那绊倒人的必受审判
非利士拜的神明是大衮，以及迦南人最崇敬的巴力西卜。从士师记 10:6 还有撒母耳记多处的经文，记载了非利士人试图通过偶像崇拜和异教信仰腐化以色列人与神的关系，绊倒他们导致偏离真道，走向偶像崇拜和堕落的道路。
耶稣在 路加福音17:1-2里说过，那绊倒人的有祸了。 尤其是作为基督徒的我们，如果我们的行为绊倒另外一个人，使人远离神，以致灵魂失丧，这便是大祸。就像非利士人一样，免不了要遭神的审判。
我们的生命或言行举止是否还会不小心绊倒人呢？比如，在言语上对信仰表现热情出，在行为上却缺乏爱心或真诚、平时在工作上论断上司和批判同事、过于急切地传福音，给他人施加压力，使人反感。又或者在信仰中表现出自高自大、缺乏谦卑的心。生活放纵、追求享乐，甚至在经济、性格或工作上不诚实等。
让我们的生命活出信仰的真实性与有吸引力的见证，不绊倒人。
3.保持信仰中立敌基督
推罗和西顿是腓尼基的海港，是整个地中海最繁荣的贸易中心。推罗和西顿因其繁荣而心生骄傲，自认为神，并以其财富和地位自夸。当非利士欣赏并与之结盟，就是与神为敌，所以在神眼中同样要受审判。不但如此，推罗和西顿为了自己的利益，常出卖以色列，将犹大和耶路撒冷人卖为奴。因此我们看到，推罗和西顿、甚至非利士都是没有立场的只图自身的利益，哪里对自己有好处就靠那边站与他结盟。结果都要被神审判和灭绝。
弟兄姊妹，我们必须认清自己的信仰立场，绝不能因为怕而妥协。若应该表明立场支持真理，与主同站时，我们却因为环境压力、社会期待或某些原因缄默不语，这也就是变相的抵挡真理、敌基督。必会被神审判。
4.彻底剪除罪恶的根源
迦斐托海岛，也称为克里特岛，是非利士人祖先居住之地，是他们的起初的根源地。神对非利士的审判是彻底的将其根源拔除。这教导我们对付生命里的罪，绝不可姑息，一定要认真的彻底剪除罪恶的根源。正所谓斩草不除根春风吹又生。
二、神的审判几时才止息？(v5-7)
很多时候当人在被审判或被神管教的时候，都会希望神可以怜悯，让这些苦难快快过去。但就像非利士人一样，当他们问神审判几时才止息？神反而问他们，“你用刀划身，要到几时呢？所以，若希望神可以止息审判，我们就要：
1.懂得尊重身体
耶利米说神审判临到，当迦萨成完全被夷为平地、亚实基伦归於无有时，非利士人的情景将会像外邦人用刀划身那样的哀恸。
当亲人去世，迦南人会用刀划身以示悲哀，这是迦南的风俗。他们在拜偶像时，也会以此方式敬拜，因此利未记里已提到这是神所禁止的。
现在很多年轻人被世属同化，认为刺青是一种艺术。但圣经老早提到用刀割身体是神所不喜悦的。
此外，身体是神所创造的，是主耶稣基督用生命赎回的，在遇到艰难绝望时，我们无权破坏它或轻易就想要结束生命。经文提醒我们爱惜自己的身体。作为圣灵的殿，我们更不要以迦南的风俗或拜偶像的仪式使到我们的身体被玷污。比如，犯奸淫、通奸、色情、手淫等。此外，滥用毒品或酒精、饮食过度或不健康生活方式，懒惰与缺乏锻炼、没有给予合理的休息，都是伤害神所给我们的身体。虽然锻炼身体不能取代属灵成长，安有健康才能更好地服事神，活出荣神益人的生命。
2.懂得真实悔改
V6-7 耶利米描述了当非利士人在被审判，极其痛苦悲伤的时候，他们会向神发出哀求，希望神的刀剑能止息。神并没有答应。
神为什么要让耶利米对着非利士人来发预言？按神怜悯慈爱的属性，相信只要非利士人愿意悔改，神必会给他们出路。但很可惜，他们想要神停止刀剑，却不愿意真实的悔改。结果就真的灭亡了。
让我们的悔改不是为了摆脱痛苦，而是发自内心的悔改。并带来属灵生命的转变，重新走向神的祝福。
总结：
在5785年赎回的恩典和这40天与神筑梦的祷告里，让我们拥有真实悔改的生命。彻底剪除生命中罪恶的根源、勇敢持守信仰的立场和赎回身体在属灵或肉身上的健康。让我们的生命不但不绊倒人，反而要成为吸引众人归向主、脱离永死的审判。
Jeremiah Chapter 47: God’s Judgment against the Philistines
GK611 Morning Devotion
08/11/2024
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Ps Deborah
Introduction:
From yesterday’s Jeremiah 46 to Jeremiah 51, they all emphasize God’s judgment on the foreign countries outside Israel. Yesterday it was mentioned that Egypt would be attacked by the Babylonian army. And today’s chapter 47 is more about God’s plan to use the Babylonian army to judge the Philistines.
1. Why does God judge the Philistines? (v1-4)
(1) Invasion and oppression of God’s people
The Philistines were Israel's long-standing enemies. Their feud lasted for centuries, mostly from the time of the Judges to the time of the Kings. They invaded and oppressed the people of Israel many times. 1 Samuel 4 mentions that the Philistines defeated the Israelite army and took away the ark of God. They also defiled God's holy things, further humiliated God's chosen people, and demonstrated their hostility and oppression. In addition, in order to prevent the Israelites from making swords and guns to resist, the Philistines united with other peoples to control and suppress the Israelites and strictly controlled the use of iron tools.
God prophesied the judgment of the Philistines in order to make the people of Judah realize that in God’s time, God would not only judge His own people, but God would also judge all nations that resisted the Israelites with righteousness.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, if you are not in difficulty and persecution because of sin, you must believe that God is righteous. God’s judgment is just and takes place according to His timetable. Although the enemy may seem successful in the short term, God's justice will be revealed in the final moment and will come to destroy the enemy.
(2) Those who offend others will be judged
The gods worshiped by the Philistines were Dagon and Baalzebub, whom the Canaanites revered most. From Judges 10:6 and many passages in the Book of Samuel, it is recorded that the Philistines tried to corrupt the relationship between the Israelites and God through idolatry and pagan beliefs, stumbling them away from the true way and leading to idolatry and the path of depravity.
Jesus said in Luke 17:1-2, Woe to him who offends. Especially as Christians, it would be a great disaster if our behavior stumbles another person and causes him to stray away from God, causing his soul to be lost. Just like the Philistines, they will inevitably be judged by God.
Will our lives or words and deeds still accidentally stumble to others? For example, you may show enthusiasm for your faith in words but lack love or sincerity in your actions; you may judge your boss and criticize your colleagues at work; you may be too eager to preach the gospel, put pressure on others, and offend others. Or they may show arrogance and lack of humility in their faith. Living an indulgent life, pursuing pleasure, or even being dishonest in finances, character or work, etc.
Let our lives live out the authenticity of faith and attractive testimony without stumbling others.
(3) Remain Faith Neutral Antichrist
Tyre and Sidon were Phoenician seaports and the most prosperous trading centres in the entire Mediterranean. Tire and Sidon became proud of their prosperity, considered themselves gods, and boasted of their wealth and status. When the Philistines admired and formed an alliance with them, they were enemies of God, and therefore they were also subject to judgment in the eyes of God. Not only that, Tire and Sidon often betrayed Israel and sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem into slavery for their own benefit. Therefore, we see that Tire, Sidon, and even the Philistines have no position and are only interested in their own interests. Wherever it is good for themselves, they will stand with him and form an alliance. The result will be judgment and destruction by God.
Brothers and sisters, we must clearly understand our faith stance and must not compromise out of fear. If we should take a stand to support the truth and stand with the Lord, but we remain silent due to environmental pressure, social expectations, or some reasons, this is a disguised form of resistance to the truth and antichrist which will be judged by God.
(4) Completely cut off the root causes of sin
The island of Caphtor, also known as Crete, is where the ancestors of the Philistines lived and was their original origin. God's judgment on the Philistines was to completely uproot their roots. This teaches us that when dealing with sin in our lives, we must never tolerate it, but we must seriously and thoroughly cut off the root of sin. As the saying goes, if the grass is cut without removing the root, it will grow again when the spring breeze blows.
2. When will God’s judgment end? (v5-7)
Many times, when people are being judged or disciplined by God, they hope that God will be merciful and let these sufferings pass quickly. But like the Philistines, when they asked God when will judgment cease? Instead, God asked them, "How long will it take for you to cut yourself with a sword? Therefore, if we hope that God can end the judgment, we must:
(1) Know how to respect the body
Jeremiah said that when God's judgment comes, when Gaza is completely razed to the ground and Ashkelon is reduced to nothing, the Philistines will mourn like the Gentiles who cut themselves with a sword.
When a loved one dies, the Canaanites will cut their body with a knife to express their sorrow. This is a Canaanite custom. They also worshiped in this way when they worshiped idols, so Leviticus mentioned that this was forbidden by God.
Nowadays, many young people are assimilated by the family and think tattooing is an art. But the Bible has long mentioned that cutting the body with a knife is displeasing to God.
In addition, the body was created by God and redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ with his life. When we encounter difficulties and despair, we have no right to destroy it or easily want to end our lives. Scripture reminds us to take care of our bodies. As the temple of the Holy Spirit, we should not allow our bodies to be defiled by Canaanite customs or idolatry rituals. For example, committing adultery, fornication, pornography, masturbation, etc. In addition, drug or alcohol abuse, overeating or an unhealthy lifestyle, laziness and lack of exercise, and failure to give reasonable rest can all damage the body God has given us. Although physical exercise cannot replace spiritual growth, being healthy can serve God better and live a life that glorifies God and benefits others.
(2) Understand true repentance
V6-7 Jeremiah describes that when the Philistines were being judged and in great pain and sorrow, they would cry out to God, hoping that God's sword would be stopped. God did not answer.
Why did God let Jeremiah prophesy to the Philistines? According to God’s attributes of mercy and love, I believe that as long as the Philistines are willing to repent, God will definitely give them a way out. But it is a pity that they want God to stop the sword, but they are not willing to truly repent. The result is that it really dies.
Let our repentance not be an escape from pain, but repentance from the heart. And bring about the transformation of spiritual life and move towards God's blessing again.
Conclusion：
In the redemption grace of 5785 years and in these 40 days of praying with God to dream, let us have a life of true repentance. Completely cut off the roots of sin in our lives, bravely stand by our faith, and redeem our body's spiritual or physical health. Let our lives not only not stumble others, but also attract others to come to the Lord and escape the judgment of eternal death.