耶利米書35:12-19

35:12 耶和華的話臨到耶利米說：
35:13 「萬軍之耶和華─以色列的上帝如此說：你去對猶大人和耶路撒冷的居民說，耶和華說：你們不受教訓，不聽從我的話嗎？
35:14 利甲的兒子約拿達所吩咐他子孫不可喝酒的話，他們已經遵守，直到今日也不喝酒，因為他們聽從先祖的吩咐。我從早起來警戒你們，你們卻不聽從我。
35:15 我從早起來，差遣我的僕人眾先知去，說：『你們各人當回頭，離開惡道，改正行為，不隨從事奉別神，就必住在我所賜給你們和你們列祖的地上。』只是你們沒有聽從我，也沒有側耳而聽。
35:16 利甲的兒子約拿達的子孫能遵守先人所吩咐他們的命，這百姓卻沒有聽從我！
35:17 因此，耶和華─萬軍之上帝、以色列的上帝如此說：我要使我所說的一切災禍臨到猶大人和耶路撒冷的一切居民。因為我對他們說話，他們沒有聽從；我呼喚他們，他們沒有答應。」
35:18 耶利米對利甲族的人說：「萬軍之耶和華─以色列的上帝如此說：因你們聽從你們先祖約拿達的吩咐，謹守他的一切誡命，照他所吩咐你們的去行，
35:19 所以萬軍之耶和華─以色列的上帝如此說：利甲的兒子約拿達必永不缺人侍立在我面前。」

¹² Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: ¹³Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Go and say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Can you not learn a lesson and obey my words? says the Lord. ¹⁴The command has been carried out that Jonadab son of Rechab gave to his descendants to drink no wine; and they drink none to this day, for they have obeyed their ancestor’s command. But I myself have spoken to you persistently, and you have not obeyed me. ¹⁵I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, sending them persistently, saying, “Turn now every one of you from your evil way, and amend your doings, and do not go after other gods to serve them, and then you shall live in the land that I gave to you and your ancestors.” But you did not incline your ear or obey me. ¹⁶The descendants of Jonadab son of Rechab have carried out the command that their ancestor gave them, but this people has not obeyed me. ¹⁷Therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: I am going to bring on Judah and on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem every disaster that I have pronounced against them; because I have spoken to them and they have not listened, I have called to them and they have not answered.

¹⁸ But to the house of the Rechabites Jeremiah said: Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Because you have obeyed the command of your ancestor Jonadab, and kept all his precepts, and done all that he commanded you, ¹⁹therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab son of Rechab shall not lack a descendant to stand before me for all time.

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    上帝拿利甲族人遵守祖先的命令而不違反，對比於猶大人不聽上帝時常差遣眾先知

去傳達的命令。因此上帝要刑罰猶大人，使他們失去土地；讓利甲族的人永遠有人在上

帝面前服事祂，得永遠的土地。

        同樣今日，我們要抓住上帝在基督裡的應許，享受上帝永遠的福樂，成為上帝家中

的人，如同利甲族的人永遠有人在上帝面前服事祂，得永遠的土地。正如猶太人的口傳

經卷「米示拿」，提及利甲族人在被擄歸回的聖殿中承擔一些特殊職務。

        基督徒今日也要像利甲族人一般，是不同化於世界的一群上帝的子民，讓我們為永

遠的地土來持守上帝在基督的應許！