15:1 耶和華的話臨到我說:
15:2 「人子啊,葡萄樹比別樣樹有甚麼強處?葡萄枝比眾樹枝有甚麼好處?
15:3 其上可以取木料做甚麼工用,可以取來做釘子掛甚麼器皿麼?
15:4 看哪,已經拋在火中當作柴燒,火既燒了兩頭,中間也被燒了,還有益於工用嗎?
15:5 完全的時候尚且不合乎甚麼工用,何況被火燒壞,還能合乎甚麼工用麼?」
15:6 所以,主耶和華如此說:眾樹以內的葡萄樹,我怎樣使它在火中當柴,也必照樣待耶路撒冷的居民。
15:7 我必向他們變臉;他們雖從火中出來,火卻要燒滅他們。我向他們變臉的時候,你們就知道我是耶和華。
15:8 我必使地土荒涼,因為他們行事干犯我。這是主耶和華說的。」
And the word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, how does the wood of the vine
surpass any wood, the vine branch that is among the trees of the forest? Is wood taken from it to make anything? Do
people take a peg from it to hang any vessel on it? Behold, it is given to the fire for fuel.
When the fire has consumed both ends of it, and the middle of it is charred, is
it useful for anything? Behold, when it
was whole, it was used for nothing. How much less, when the fire has consumed
it and it is charred, can it ever be used for anything! Therefore thus says the Lord God: Like the
wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire
for fuel, so have I given up the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And I will set my face against them. Though
they escape from the fire, the fire shall yet consume them, and you will know
that I am the Lord, when I set my face against them. And I will make the land desolate, because
they have acted faithlessly, declares the Lord God.”
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先知以西結這段話提醒我們,我們既是上帝所揀選的,就更應當遵行上帝的命令,不可以繼續悖逆上帝,做上帝順命的兒女,才能發揮上帝賦予我們的使命,讓上帝透過我們來榮耀祂。
當然照我們未領受聖靈時的本性,我們是無法順服與跟隨主耶穌,所以上帝要我們時刻思考耶穌基督在十字架上所完成的大功,相信祂已敗壞罪與死的權勢,我們不必受到惡者的約束,已經自由了,當存感恩的心來宣告,我已經與基督同死了,也必定與基督同復活!
因此,我們當以基督的救贖大功來提醒自己,使自己不要再用自以為是的方式來討主喜悅,單單相信只有靠耶穌基督才能與上帝和好,討上帝喜悅。我們一切所作所為,要本於基督已經救贖了我的信心來行上帝喜悅的事:就是尊主為大,以聖經的教導來行,不要自創任何儀式。