Scripture Reading : Jeremiah 16
Theme : Bane and Blessing
Bane (1-13)
Even though Jeremiah is lonely, God commands him not to marry and have kids because of the impending disaster on Israel. God wants to spare Jeremiah from greater pains than loneliness. Marriage is supposed to be a blessing from God, but not under such corruption. God also commands Jeremiah not to mourn for his fellow countrymen’s death or celebrate with them in feasts because judgment is looming and God will show no grace to them. Perhaps, it is also God’s way of sparing Jeremiah from further pain later.
Blessing (14-21).
Bane is never God’s last word for Israel and the world. In the end, the nation will be restored; even the gentiles will worship God. This blessing in the end is referring to the Messianic Kingdom when both Jews and gentiles will confess that their idols are just worthless scarecrows and lies. God will do this so that all will know His glorious name and be in awe of Him (Eph. 1:6).
Praying the Scripture
- Jeremiah’s life was difficult but God’s grace was still with him and enabling him to endure. God’s grace is demonstrated by His command to Jeremiah not to marry so that he will be spared from the extreme pain of seeing his family suffer. No matter how hard our circumstance is God’s grace is always with us. He promises to never leave us (Matt. 28:20). He also promises a way to endure and escape from our temptation (1 Cor. 10:13). Praise God for His faithful grace so that we can live confidently, not in fear for we know His faithful character. He will never leave us or forsake us, but is always working for our good, which is to be like Christ (Rom. 8:28-29).
- We may wonder why God allowed sin to enter the world and corrupt the whole world. Why does pain and corruption must exist first then redemption and heaven? Why not just have heaven in the first place and never let it be corrupted in the beginning? The answer is so that the triune God can display the totality of His glorious character of compassion, mercy, love, faithful, and justice through redemption and restoration. Believers are invited to see God’s amazing work and character so that we will be in awe and enjoy Him forever (Eph. 1.6). The mystery is that God is in control, yet He is not responsible for man’s sins, but man is responsible for his sins. Such mystery cannot be solved until Christ comes back, but we can trust His word is true and that He is fully righteous because His character is at stake. God’s character is His highest glory, even greater than His power (Ex. 34:6-7).
经文：耶利米书16
主题：诛戳与祝福
诛戳（1-13）。
即便耶利米是孤独的，但由于以色列即将发生灾难，因此神吩咐他不要娶妻与养儿育女。神不希望耶利米经受比孤独更大的痛苦。婚姻本该是从神而来的祝福，但却不是在如此败坏的时代中。神也吩咐耶利米不要为其同乡百姓的死而哀哭，或是与之在宴席中庆祝，因为审判已经隐现，而神也不会向他们施恩典了。这也可能是神免去耶利米经受更大痛苦的方式。
祝福（14-21）。
诛戳绝不是神对以色列和全世界最后的话。最终，以色列将会被复兴；即使外邦人也会敬拜神。这在末后的祝福指的是弥赛亚王国；那时候，犹太人与外邦人都要承认其偶像只是无用的稻草人，全是谎言。神将如此行，叫世人都晓得祂荣耀的名并敬畏祂（弗1:6）。
用经文祷告
- 耶利米一生都是艰难的，但神的恩典持续与他同在，叫他有能力忍受得住。神的恩典在此：祂吩咐耶利米不要娶妻，叫他无需经受目睹家人受难的极致痛苦。无论我们的处境有多艰苦，神的恩典常与我们同在。祂应许绝不离弃我们（太28:20）。祂也应许了一条路让我们可以忍受并且脱离试探（林前10:13）。我们要赞美神信实的恩典，因为我们认识祂信实的品性，我们就能以信心，而不是以恐惧活着。神总不撇下我们，也不丢弃我们，且持续完成祂为我们所作的善工，乃更像基督（罗8:28-29）。
- 我们或许不能理解神为何允许罪恶进入并败坏全世界。痛苦和败坏为何必须先存在，才有救赎恩与天堂？为何不单单把天堂摆在最初，叫世界原先就不堕落？答案就是三以神要通过救赎与复兴彰显祂全然的怜恤、怜悯、仁爱、信实与公平的属性。信徒被邀看见神奇妙的作为与品性，叫我们永远敬畏和享受祂的同在（弗1:6）。这奥妙就在神掌管一切，但祂对人的罪没有责任，人却要为自己的罪负责。直到耶稣的再来，此奥秘是不会被解开的，但我们可以相信神话语的真实性，也能相信祂是完全公义的，因为这关系到祂的品性。神的品性是祂最高的荣耀，甚至比祂的能力更为大（出34:6-7）。
