3 May 2016, Lamentation 5 耶利米哀歌 5, Prayer of Restoration 求复兴的祷告

Posted on May 2, 2016 in Devotions, Lamentation |

Scripture Reading  : Lamentation 5

Theme                      : Prayer of Restoration

 

Jeremiah recounts the misery of Israel and prays for its restoration based on God’s character and promises. Children must bear the consequences of the sins of their ancestors, but not their ancestors’ guilt (Eze. 18:20). There is no such thing as a “generational curse,” that says later generations are cursed by previous generations’ sins. God is righteous and gracious. Whoever does not repent, God will judge, whoever repents He will forgive, independent of their ancestors’ sins. This is His glorious character as stated in Exodus 34:6-7 (third, fourth generation in this passage is not literal but symbolically means every or all generations (cf. Amos 1:3-2:6), which parallels the word  thousands in the same passage). None of us is left hopelessly by our ancestors’ sins. Whoever returns to God through Jesus can be freed from their sins. Jeremiah is exhorting the exiles to repent and not feel hopeless or accuse God of injustice and complain about it (Eze. 18:2). The prophet Daniel took God’s counsel and pray in such way in Daniel 9:1-19.


Praying the Scripture

When you sin, do not blame it on other people or the environment. This is not to say that other people or the environment have no bearing on you, but the primary responsibility of your sin is in you, not outside of you; it is in your heart, not outside of your heart. To blame it on others alone is to neglect your responsibility to own your sins. God’s grace is powerful enough to overcome the effect of previous generation of sins. All of God’s children can break the bad habits and sins of previous generations. God even uses your background to mold you into the image of Christ (Rom. 8:28-29). Take responsibility for your sins and come to the Lord for forgiveness and purification.

经文：耶利米哀歌5

主题：求复兴的祷告

 

耶利米回顾以色列的遭遇，并按神的品性与应许求神复兴以色列。儿女必须承担他们列祖犯罪的后果，但无需承受他们的愧疚（结18:20）。因此，所谓的“世代诅咒”是不存在的，即后代因先辈的罪孽受诅咒。神是公义的，且满有恩典。无论先辈有罪与否，凡不愿悔改的，神会审判；凡悔改的，神会饶恕。这是神在出埃及记34:6-7所彰显的荣耀品性（这节经文的“三四代”并不是指具体的数字，而是象征每一个或所有的世代（参：司1:3-2:6）；这与文中的“千万人”是并行的）。无人会因自己先辈的罪孽变得彻底绝望。凡借着耶稣归回神的可以从罪中得着释放。耶利米是在劝诫被逐之民要悔改，不要感到绝望，或认为神不公平而发怨言（结18:2）。


用经文祷告

当你犯罪时，不要归咎于他人或环境。这并不代表你不会受到他人或环境的影响，但犯罪的主要原因是内在因素而非外在因素；其关键是你的心，不是你内心以外的东西。你若只归罪于他人，就是疏忽你对自己犯罪的责任。神恩典之大能足以遮盖前世人犯罪的后果。凡属神的孩子都能戒除坏习惯以及前世的罪孽。神甚至能使用你的背景塑造你更像基督（罗8:28-29）。你要为自己的罪负责，并来到主前求饶恕，得洁净。


2 May 2016, Lamentation 4 耶利米哀歌 4, Great Suffering 莫大苦楚

Posted on May 2, 2016 in Devotions, Lamentation |

Scripture Reading  : Lamentation 4

Theme                      : Great Suffering

 

In this chapter, Jeremiah again reminds the exiles the sins of Israel and their suffering in order to emphasize the need to repent and seek God’s grace as stated in chapter 3. God again reiterates His promises to bring them back from exile (v. 22) and to punish Israel’s enemies who gloated over her destruction. Such reminder of judgment and promise of restoration is designed to cause the exiles to return to God. The prophet Daniel took God’s counsel and pray in such way in Daniel 9:1-19.


Praying the Scripture

The Jews did learn to some degree not to worship idols after God’s punishment. After the Jews returned from exile, they never again worshipped explicitly idols made by the hands of man. However, they did continue to worship idols in their hearts. The lesson of the fall of Jerusalem is to tell us that every person’s ultimate salvation from the sin of idolatry is in the New Covenant (Jer. 31:31-34). The New Covenant was inaugurated by Jesus’ death and resurrection; and the power of the Spirit of the New Covenant was initiated by Jesus’ ascension (John 16:7). All who put their faith in Jesus will instantly receive a new life from the Spirit and given new power to overcome their sin of idolatry (Gal. 5:16). Praise God that He has provided your only hope of salvation from sin of idolatry and God’s wrath. Salvation is found in nothing else. Only God can give you a new heart to worship Him and find everlasting joy in Him. Pray that you will rely on the Spirit to put to death the deeds of your old self.

经文：耶利米哀歌4

主题：莫大苦楚

 

在这个篇章中，耶利米再次提醒被逐之民有关以色列的罪以及他们的苦难，为的是强调第三章中的信息：他们需要悔改并寻求神的恩典。神重申了祂的应许：祂必带他们回到以色列去（22节），且要惩罚以色列幸灾乐祸的敌人。神提醒他们此审判和复兴之应许的目的是要叫被逐之民归回神。先知但以理便按神的教训祷告了（参：但9:1-19）。


用经文祷告

犹太人受到了神的惩罚后在某程度上确实学到他们不可敬拜别神。犹太人被放逐回去后，他们再也没有明目张胆地敬拜人手所造之物。然而，他们心里仍然在拜偶像。耶路撒冷的沦陷所带来的教训是让人晓得脱离偶像敬拜之罪的最终救赎是在新约中（耶31:31-34）。新约的开拓是借着耶稣的死与复活而来；新约圣灵的大能则是由耶稣升天后开始彰显（约16:7）。凡信靠耶稣的即刻从圣灵得着新生命，并有全新的能力胜过偶像敬拜之罪（加5:16）。当赞美神，因为祂为你提供了脱离偶像与神震怒的唯一希望。唯有神能赐你一颗新造的心敬拜祂，并在祂里面得着永恒的喜乐。祷告你会靠着圣灵治死老我的行为。


30 Apr 2016, Lamentation 3 耶利米哀歌 3, Lament and Hope 哀号和盼望

Posted on May 2, 2016 in Devotions, Lamentation |

Scripture Reading  : Lamentation 3

Theme                      : Lament and Hope

 

This lament by Jeremiah is written for the sake of all the survivors from the fall of Jerusalem. He models a biblical way of dealing with suffering and pain in a broken world. The prophet does not pretend his pains and feelings are not there. He does not suppress them by ignoring them. Instead, he deals with his suffering and pain by honestly and humbly bringing them before God, not ignoring God or hating Him. In his honest and humble lament to God, God graciously opens his heart to remember His character and promises (vv. 21-45). It is his faith in God’s character and promises that produces hope and endurance in him. His sorrows are held in check by his hope. God also reveals his sins and his need for forgiveness and humility. Such humility and forgiveness is the antidote to complaint, entitlement, and pride (v. 39).


Praying the Scripture

When you suffer, God encourages you to be honest with Him and lay your feelings before Him. This is common in the Psalms. Such lament is not a weapon designed to manipulate God into getting what you want like pagans who inflict pain on themselves in order to receive their gods’ favor (1 Kgs 18:28). It is also not a catharsis session designed to purge your emotions through pure psychological means. Such lament is designed to bring you, as a sufferer, before the Lord of the universe and to start to depend on Him humbly and forsake the idols that you had trusted to save you and give you pleasure. Suffering is designed to bring us to God who alone can fix your brokenness and pain. Such lament is designed to lead you to reflect on the character and promises of God whose natural disposition is to forgive and restore, not to punishment (v. 22-24, 33). It is also designed to move you to examine yourself and to agree with God’s righteous judgment on your sins and idolatry (v. 39). Lastly, such lament is designed to produce hope that comes from your faith in God’s character and promises. Endurance builds character and hope (Rom. 5:4). Hope builds a longing for God (Gal. 5:5), who is our portion, our treasure (v. 24). If you think you are waiting long enough, keep waiting, for God knows how long you need to wait for. This is how you ought to live as an exile in this broken world (1 Pet. 2:11).

经文：耶利米哀歌3

主题：哀号和盼望

 

耶利米是为耶路撒冷沦陷后的生还者写下这首哀歌的。他让我们晓得如何在这破碎的世界里承受苦难和痛楚。这位先知并没有假装他毫无感觉，没有痛楚。他也没有无视自己的情感，从而抑制自己的感受。反之，他坦然面对自己的苦楚和伤痛，虚心将这一切带到神面前，而不是无视神或憎恨祂。在他向神坦诚与谦卑的哀号中，神恩待他，让他想起神的品性与应许（21-45节）。耶利米的信心是扎根在神的品性与应许上的，所以他仍有盼望与忍耐。他的盼望比忧伤更大。神也揭示了他的罪，以及他当谦卑与蒙饶恕的需要。这种谦卑与饶恕是怨言、权益和骄傲的良药（39节）。


用经文祷告

当你受苦的时候，神鼓励你向祂坦诚一切，将自己的感受摆在祂面前。这在诗篇中是很普遍的。这种哀号并不是摆弄神的武器，叫神帮你圆梦；这与外邦人尝试夺得他们偶像之喜悦而自割自刺（王上18:28）是不同的。这也不是一个宣泄的时间，藉着纯属心理学的方式发泄你的情绪。这种哀号是要将身为受苦之人的你带到宇宙万物的主宰面前，叫你开始虚心依靠祂，舍弃你曾信赖能救你并给予你福分的偶像。苦难是要领我们归向神，因为唯有神能医治你的忧患和痛楚。这种哀号是要领你反思神的品性与应许，而神乐意饶恕，使罪人复兴，不愿施行惩罚（22-24，33节）。它也要领你察验自己，叫你认同神对你拜偶像与其他罪行有公义的审判。最后，这样的哀号是要叫你因着信靠神的品性与应许得着盼望。忍耐生老练和盼望（罗5:4）。盼望叫我们渴望神（加5:5），而祂是我们的份，我们的宝藏（24节）。你若认为自己已经等了很久，乃要继续等候仰望神，因为神晓得你还要等待多久。这就是你在这破碎世界中如何以旅客的身份生活（彼前2:11）。


29 Apr 2016, Lamentation 2 耶利米哀歌 2, God’s Anger with His People 神对其子民的愤怒

Posted on May 2, 2016 in Devotions, Lamentation |

Scripture Reading  : Lamentation 2

Theme                      : God’s Anger with His People

 

God had warned the sinful people of Israel to turn away from their idolatry and other filthy sins, but they would not repent. Instead of listening to God’s corrections through His true prophets, they listened to false prophets who tickled their ears and fanned the flame of their sinful passions (v. 14). Therefore, God brings down His righteous justice on them. Even in such harsh judgement, Jeremiah exhorts the suffering remnant to cry out to God for mercy (v.19) and hope for grace from God.


Praying the Scripture

When God’s punishment falls on your sins, the wrong response is to ignore God or to double down on your self-righteous pride, entitlement or anger. If you do that you will continue to be God’s enemy. The right response is to humble yourself, agree with God’s righteous judgment and cry out to God for mercy for He is a God of mercy and His primary delight is to forgive and restore. Pray that this would be your response to God’s punishment.

经文：耶利米哀歌2

主题：神对其子民的愤怒

 

神已经告诫以色列子民要弃绝拜偶像与其他污秽的罪孽，但他们就是不肯悔改。他们不按神借着自己属实先知的劝告改邪归正，只听从挠他们耳朵，又煽动他们罪恶私欲的假先知（14节）。因此，神向他们降下公义的审判。即便在如此严酷的刑罚中，耶利米劝诫受苦的余民向神求告怜悯（19节），盼望神赐下恩典。


用经文祷告

当神对你的罪行施行惩罚时，万不得无视祂，或心中燃起自义的骄傲、愤怒，好像自己配得什么似的。你若那么做，就将继续成为神的敌人。我们要谦卑自己，认同神公义的审判，并求告神怜悯我们，因为祂是满有怜悯的神，并十分乐意饶恕与复兴罪人。祷告在你面临神的惩罚时，这就是你的回应。


28 Apr 2016, Lamentation 1 耶利米哀歌 1, The Desolation and Misery of Jerusalem 耶路撒冷的荒凉与忧患

Posted on May 2, 2016 in Devotions, Lamentation |

Scripture Reading  : Lamentation 1

Theme                      : The Desolation and Misery of Jerusalem

 

The book of Lamentations is made up of five poems expressing grief over the fall of Jerusalem. The book teaches the remnant how to live in pain while in exile, which is also applicable to NT saints who are also in exile, away from the New Heavens and New Earth (cf. 1 Pet. 2:11). Both mourning over suffering and confession of sin are displayed in this book. What holds the two together and gives hope to individuals is the great faithfulness and compassion of God, which is “new every morning.”

Misery of Jerusalem (1-23).

This chapter is a dialogue between the prophet Jeremiah and Jerusalem. The description of the brokenness of Israel is designed to move the remnant to plead God for mercy and to return to God’s lordship. Because Israel failed to obey God, the result was brokenness in numerous ways both to the nation and to individuals. Israel is broken by the betrayal of her “lovers” and “friends,” which are nations and their idols that the Jews trusted for pleasure and salvation. Jeremiah encourages the exiles to agree with God’s judgement on Israel’s sin (v.18) and to return to God.


Praying the Scripture

The world is full of brokenness: broken relationships, crimes, misery, addictions, suffering and death. They are the symptoms of our rebellion against God and His design for us. However, these symptoms are designed to help us to see that we need to return to God through Jesus. If humans try to amend their brokenness with their own ways, nothing will be solved permanently. Only through Jesus can problems be solved at its root. Pray that you will have wisdom to bring the gospel to people who are in their brokenness and help them to see clearly that the solution to their brokenness is only by worshipping the God of peace, righteous and love; and by the forgiveness of their sins through Jesus.

经文：耶利米哀歌1

主题：耶路撒冷的荒凉与忧患

 

耶利米哀歌是由五首诗歌组成的；诗歌内容都是叙述耶路撒冷沦陷后的忧患。这本书教导被逐的余民如何在哀痛中生活，而新约圣徒也能从中受益，因为我们也是客旅和寄居的，未回到新天新地的家园（参：彼前2:11）。这本书同时体现了因受苦的哀恸以及对罪的痛悔；支撑这两者的是神极大的信实和慈爱，且“每早晨这都是新的”。这亦是各人的盼望所在。

耶路撒冷的忧患（1-23）。

这章经文是耶利米先知和耶路撒冷之间的对话。它描绘了以色列的破碎，而其目的是要打动余民转向神求饶，重新归神，认祂为主。由于以色列不愿顺从神，其后果是对以色列国及个人多方的破碎与忧患。以色列是因被她“一切所亲爱的”与“朋友”出卖而忧伤；他们就是犹太人所信靠能救以色列并给予她快乐的国家和偶像。耶利米鼓励这群被放逐之民要认同神对以色列之罪的审判（18节），转而归神。

 

用经文祷告

这个世界是破碎的；人与人的关系破碎，还有罪行、痛苦、毒瘾、患难和死亡。这都是我们悖逆神与祂对我们的规划的种种迹象。然而，这些迹象也有助于我们看到自己需要藉着耶稣归向神的需要。倘若人类试着用自己的方式治疗创伤和痛苦，万事就无法得到永恒的解决。问题唯有藉着耶稣才得以根治。祷告你能有智慧将福音带到哀恸痛悔的人群中，叫他们能清楚看见其哀恸的唯一解决方案是敬拜那位平安、公义和慈爱的神，并借着耶稣，罪得赦免。