以西結書11:1-13

11:1 靈將我舉起，帶到耶和華殿向東的東門。誰知，在門口有二十五個人，我見其中有民間的首領押朔的兒子雅撒尼亞和比拿雅的兒子毘拉提。

11:2 耶和華對我說：「人子啊，這就是圖謀罪孽的人，在這城中給人設惡謀。

11:3 他們說：『蓋房屋的時候尚未臨近；這城是鍋，我們是肉。』

11:4 人子啊，因此你當說預言，說預言攻擊他們。」

11:5 耶和華的靈降在我身上，對我說：「你當說，耶和華如此說：以色列家啊，你們口中所說的，心裡所想的，我都知道。

11:6 你們在這城中殺人增多，使被殺的人充滿街道。

11:7 所以主耶和華如此說：你們殺在城中的人就是肉，這城就是鍋；你們卻要從其中被帶出去。

11:8 你們怕刀劍，我必使刀劍臨到你們。這是主耶和華說的。

11:9 我必從這城中帶出你們去，交在外邦人的手中，且要在你們中間施行審判。

11:10 你們必倒在刀下；我必在以色列的境界審判你們，你們就知道我是耶和華。

11:11 這城必不作你們的鍋，你們也不作其中的肉。我必在以色列的境界審判你們，

11:12 你們就知道我是耶和華；因為你們沒有遵行我的律例，也沒有順從我的典章，卻隨從你們四圍列國的惡規。」

11:13 我正說預言的時候，比拿雅的兒子毘拉提死了。於是我俯伏在地，大聲呼叫說：「哎！主耶和華啊，你要將以色列剩下的人滅絕淨盡嗎？」

1 The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of the house of the Lord, which faces east. And behold, at the entrance of the gateway there were twenty- five men. And I saw among them Jaazaniah the son of Azzur, and Pelatiah the son of Benaiah, princes of the people. 2 And he said to me, "Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity and who give wicked counsel in this city; 3 who say, 'The time is not near to build houses. This city is the cauldron, and we are the meat. ' 4 Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man."

5 And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and he said to me, "Say, Thus says the Lord:So you think, O house of Israel. For I know the things that come into your mind. 6 You have multiplied your slain in this city and have filled its streets with the slain. 7 Therefore thus says the Lord God: Your slain whom you have laid in the midst of it, they are the meat, and this city is the cauldron, but you shall be brought out of the midst of it. 8 You have feared the sword, and I will bring the sword upon you, declares the Lord God. 9 And I will bring you out of the midst of it, and give you into the hands of foreigners, and execute judgments upon you. 10 You shall fall by the sword. I will judge you at the border of Israel, and you shall know that I am the Lord. 11 This city shall not be your cauldron, nor shall you be the meat in the midst of it. I will judge you at the border of Israel, 12 and you shall know that I am the Lord. For you have not walked in my statutes, nor obeyed my rules, but have acted according to the rules of the nations that are around you."

13 And it came to pass, while I was prophesying, that Pelatiah the son of Benaiah died. Then I fell down on my face and cried out with a loud voice and said, "Ah, Lord God! Will you make a full end of the remnant of Israel?"

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    我們在此看見上帝是及時的審判，因為以西結還在說預言的時候，比拿雅的兒子毘拉提死了。以致俯伏以西結在地，大聲呼叫說：「哎！主耶和華啊，你要將以色列剩下的人滅絕淨盡嗎？」

    這樣的經歷對傳講上帝話語的人是很大的震撼，因為上帝是這麼嚴厲而實在的上帝，我們怎能隨意來對待祂呢？我們豈可不敬畏，豈可不以戰競恐懼的心到上帝面前呢？我們豈可用自己的想像面對上帝呢？甚至怎能隨意對待祂呢？

    基督徒除常常以為上帝是充滿恩典，又賜我們自由，於是就對信仰的事任意而為，這是不對的！上帝對我們是有所要求的，若是我們好好讀聖經，就明白上帝的要求，不會像以西結這裡說到之民間的首領押朔的兒子雅撒尼亞和比拿雅的兒子毘拉提，圖謀罪孽的人，在這城中給人設惡謀，還自以為安全！

    你對上帝的態度如何，你的信仰表現與品質就如何，這是無法欺騙人的，更無法欺騙上帝，豈能不謹慎呢！