耶利米書33:1-13

33:1 耶利米還囚在護衛兵的院內，耶和華的話第二次臨到他說：
33:2 「成就的是耶和華，造作、為要建立的也是耶和華；耶和華是他的名。他如此說：
33:3 你求告我，我就應允你，並將你所不知道、又大又難的事指示你。
33:4 論到這城中的房屋和猶大王的宮室，就是拆毀為擋敵人高壘和刀劍的，耶和華─以色列的上帝如此說：
33:5 人要與迦勒底人爭戰，正是拿死屍充滿這房屋，就是我在怒氣和忿怒中所殺的人，因他們的一切惡，我就掩面不顧這城。
33:6 看哪，我要使這城得以痊癒安舒，使城中的人得醫治，又將豐盛的平安和誠實顯明與他們。
33:7 我也要使猶大被擄的和以色列被擄的歸回，並建立他們和起初一樣。
33:8 我要除淨他們的一切罪，就是向我所犯的罪；又要赦免他們的一切罪，就是干犯我、違背我的罪。
33:9 這城要在地上萬國人面前使我得頌讚，得榮耀，名為可喜可樂之城。萬國人因聽見我向這城所賜的福樂、所施的恩惠平安，就懼怕戰兢。」
33:10 耶和華如此說：「你們論這地方，說是荒廢無人民無牲畜之地，但在這荒涼無人民無牲畜的猶大城邑和耶路撒冷的街上，
33:11 必再聽見有歡喜和快樂的聲音、新郎和新婦的聲音，並聽見有人說：要稱謝萬軍之耶和華，因耶和華本為善；他的慈愛永遠長存！又有奉感謝祭到耶和華殿中之人的聲音；因為我必使這地被擄的人歸回，和起初一樣。這是耶和華說的。」
33:12 萬軍之耶和華如此說：「在這荒廢無人民無牲畜之地，並其中所有的城邑，必再有牧人的住處；他們要使羊群躺臥在那裡。
33:13 在山地的城邑、高原的城邑、南地的城邑、便雅憫地、耶路撒冷四圍的各處，和猶大的城邑必再有羊群從數點的人手下經過。這是耶和華說的。」

The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still confined in the court of the guard: ²Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is his name: ³Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known. ⁴For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city and the houses of the kings of Judah that were torn down to make a defense against the siege ramps and before the sword: ⁵The Chaldeans are coming in to fight and to fill them with the dead bodies of those whom I shall strike down in my anger and my wrath, for I have hidden my face from this city because of all their wickedness. ⁶I am going to bring it recovery and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security. ⁷I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first. ⁸I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me. ⁹And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them; they shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it.

¹⁰ Thus says the Lord: In this place of which you say, “It is a waste without human beings or animals,” in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without inhabitants, human or animal, there shall once more be heard ¹¹the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord:

“Give thanks to the Lord of hosts,

for the Lord is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever!”

For I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the Lord.

¹² Thus says the Lord of hosts: In this place that is waste, without human beings or animals, and in all its towns there shall again be pasture for shepherds resting their flocks. ¹³In the towns of the hill country, of the Shephelah, and of the Negeb, in the land of Benjamin, the places around Jerusalem, and in the towns of Judah, flocks shall again pass under the hands of the one who counts them, says the Lord.

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    上帝一再的將被擄歸回的信息臨到耶利米，表是上帝不放棄這件事，上帝一定讓這是成就！而我們從舊約的記載中，我們確確實實看見上帝成就這讓人認為不可能的事情！

    而這樣的事情成就，更是為著將來耶穌基督的降生、被釘十字架、復活、升天與再來做了保證。因為，上帝所應許的事情，沒有一件會落空的，必定會成就的！這就是上帝要賜給我們的信心，憑著這樣的信心，我們要經歷上帝奇妙的作為！

    親愛的弟兄姊妹，我們看見耶利米在當時的處境是被囚的，肉身雖然不自由，但是心中有上帝的應許，卻是全然自由的！同樣，我們相信上帝在基督裡的應許，永遠是「是」，我們必定也是自由的！