耶利米書30:8-11

 

30:8 萬軍之耶和華說：「到那日，我必從你頸項上折斷仇敵的軛，扭開他的繩索；外邦人不得再使你作他們的奴僕。

30:9 你們卻要事奉耶和華─你們的上帝和我為你們所要興起的王大衛。」

30:10 故此，耶和華說：我的僕人雅各啊，不要懼怕；以色列啊，不要驚惶；因我要從遠方拯救你，從被擄到之地拯救你的後裔；雅各必回來得享平靖安逸，無人使他害怕。

30:11 因我與你同在，要拯救你，也要將所趕散你到的那些國滅絕淨盡，卻不將你滅絕淨盡，倒要從寬懲治你，萬不能不罰你（不罰你：或譯以你為無罪）。這是耶和華說的。

 

⁸ On that day, says the Lord of hosts, I will break the yoke from off his neck, and I will burst his bonds, and strangers shall no more make a servant of him. ⁹But they shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.

 

¹⁰But as for you, have no fear, my servant Jacob, says the Lord,

and do not be dismayed, O Israel;

for I am going to save you from far away,

and your offspring from the land of their captivity.

Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease,

and no one shall make him afraid.

¹¹For I am with you, says the Lord, to save you;

I will make an end of all the nations

among which I scattered you,

but of you I will not make an end.

I will chastise you in just measure,

and I will by no means leave you unpunished.

 

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    雖然是苦難之戰爭的日子，也是上帝拯救的日子，因為「到那日，我必從你頸項上折斷仇敵的軛，扭開他的繩索；外邦人不得再使你作他們的奴僕。」

 

    我們看見先知宣告的拯救就是「上帝公義的彰顯」！上帝的作為使以色列人得自由，使他們不再受外邦的欺壓和捆鎖，正如當年上帝救以色列出埃及一般，得著真正的自由，使上帝的名受到稱讚！

 

    因此，我們面對人生的苦難與挑戰時要勇敢站立，因為最後的勝利是屬於上帝和祂的子民的！祂必帶領我們到平安的境地，好讓祂的名得榮耀！