8:11 以法蓮增添祭壇取罪;因此,祭壇使他犯罪。
8:12 我為他寫了律法萬條,他卻以為與他毫無關涉。
8:13 至於獻給我的祭物,他們自食其肉,耶和華卻不悅納他們。現在必記念他們的罪孽,追討他們的罪惡;他們必歸回埃及。
8:14 以色列忘記造他的主,建造宮殿;猶大多造堅固城,我卻要降火焚燒他的城邑,燒滅其中的宮殿。
11 Because Ephraim has multiplied altars
for sinning,
they have become to him altars for sinning.
12 Were I to write for him my laws by the
ten thousands,
they would be regarded as a strange thing.
13 As for my sacrificial offerings,
they
sacrifice meat and eat it,
but the Lord does not accept them.
Now
he will remember their iniquity
and punish their sins;
they
shall return to Egypt.
14 For Israel has forgotten his Maker
and built palaces,
and Judah has multiplied fortified cities;
so I will send a fire upon his cities,
and it shall devour her strongholds.
**********
以色列與猶大不理會上帝的律法、忘記耶和華,依靠自己的堅固城池,上帝要追討他們的罪孽。而之所以會如此,是因為祭司失職。當時一般平民百姓並不懂文字,也不可能有書籍,都必須靠祭司來教導律法。要是祭司一失職,百姓自然以為律法與自己無關。
這也告訴我們傳道人,要注意自己所傳講的信息,是不是遵照按正意分解真理的原則,讓弟兄姊妹真正認識上帝的話語,明白上帝的心意,然後願意遵行聖經的教訓。
若是傳道人只是討好弟兄姊妹,說他們喜歡聽的,或是自己喜歡講的,沒有傳講上帝要我們傳講的信息,造成弟兄姊妹在信仰上迷失,上帝一定會追討我們這樣的罪!豈可以輕看自己的責任,豈可不保護基督用寶血所贖回的教會呢!