耶利米書30:18-24

30:18 耶和華如此說：我必使雅各被擄去的帳棚歸回，也必顧惜他的住處。城必建造在原舊的山岡；宮殿也照舊有人居住。

30:19 必有感謝和歡樂的聲音從其中發出，我要使他們增多，不致減少；使他們尊榮，不致卑微。

30:20 他們的兒女要如往日；他們的會眾堅立在我面前；凡欺壓他們的，我必刑罰他。

30:21 他們的君王必是屬乎他們的；掌權的必從他們中間而出。我要使他就近我，他也要親近我；不然，誰有膽量親近我呢？這是耶和華說的。

30:22 你們要作我的子民，我要作你們的上帝。

30:23 看哪，耶和華的忿怒好像暴風已經發出；是掃滅的暴風，必轉到惡人的頭上。

30:24 耶和華的烈怒必不轉消，直到他心中所擬定的成就了；末後的日子你們要明白。

18 “This is what the Lord says:

“‘I will restore the fortunes of Jacob’s tents

    and have compassion on his dwellings;

the city will be rebuilt on her ruins,

    and the palace will stand in its proper place.

19 From them will come songs of thanksgiving

    and the sound of rejoicing.

I will add to their numbers,

    and they will not be decreased;

I will bring them honor,

    and they will not be disdained.

20 Their children will be as in days of old,

    and their community will be established before me;

    I will punish all who oppress them.

21 Their leader will be one of their own;

    their ruler will arise from among them.

I will bring him near and he will come close to me—

    for who is he who will devote himself

    to be close to me?’

declares the Lord.

22 “‘So you will be my people,

    and I will be your God.’”

23 See, the storm of the Lord

    will burst out in wrath,

a driving wind swirling down

    on the heads of the wicked.

24 The fierce anger of the Lord will not turn back

    until he fully accomplishes

    the purposes of his heart.

In days to come

    you will understand this.

*******************

    上帝和人之間美好的關係就是：「你們要作我的子民，我要作你們的上帝。」

    這就是說人要順服在上帝的主權之下，讓上帝真正成為我們的上帝，而不是以別的偶像取代上帝。說道偶像，就是人自己選擇自己的上帝，而不是以真正的上帝成為自己的上帝。這是人類自始祖犯罪以來，一直面對道的問題。即使是稱為上帝選民的以色列，還是因為拜偶像而滅國！

    所以，我們必須要靠耶穌基督在十字架上的拯救，我們才能和上帝有正確合宜的關係，才會真正的成就：「你們要作我的子民，我要作你們的上帝。」