耶利米書1:5

 

我未將你造在腹中，我已曉得你；你未出母胎，我已分別你為聖；我已派你作列國的先知。

 

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

and before you were born I consecrated you;

I appointed you a prophet to the nations."

 

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    通過先知所得的上帝話語，讓我們知道凡事都有上帝的計畫。包括我們個人的生命意義，也在上帝計畫的範圍。正如先知的一生使命，早就為上帝所安排與計畫好。

 

    也因為這樣，我們能夠信主，領受上帝兒女的身分，也是上帝計畫好的。上帝透過自己的計劃來運作萬事，成就美好的事好榮耀祂的名！正如《以弗所書》所說：「就如上帝從創立世界以前，在基督裡揀選了我們，使我們在他面前成為聖潔，無有瑕疵；又因愛我們，就按著自己的意旨所喜悅的，預定我們藉著耶穌基督得兒子的名分，使他榮耀的恩典得著稱讚；這恩典是他在愛子裡所賜給我們的。」(1:4-6)

 

    感謝主！這是何等美好的恩典，使我們從罪惡與死亡的權勢下得釋放，使我們可以享受永生福樂：與主耶穌同享上帝國的榮耀，直到永遠！而這樣美好的應許必定會實現的，我們要存著盼望來領受與等候！

 

 

耶利米書50:17-20

 

50:17 「以色列是打散的羊，是被獅子趕出的。首先是亞述王將他吞滅，末後是巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒將他的骨頭折斷。」
50:18 所以萬軍之耶和華─以色列的上帝如此說：「我必罰巴比倫王和他的地，像我從前罰亞述王一樣。
50:19 我必再領以色列回他的草場，他必在迦密和巴珊吃草，又在以法蓮山上和基列境內得以飽足。」
50:20 耶和華說：「當那日子、那時候，雖尋以色列的罪孽，一無所有；雖尋猶大的罪惡，也無所見；因為我所留下的人，我必赦免。」

¹⁷ Israel is a hunted sheep driven away by lions. First the king of Assyria devoured it, and now at the end King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon has gnawed its bones. ¹⁸Therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: I am going to punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I punished the king of Assyria. ¹⁹I will restore Israel to its pasture, and it shall feed on Carmel and in Bashan, and on the hills of Ephraim and in Gilead its hunger shall be satisfied. ²⁰In those days and at that time, says the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and none shall be found; for I will pardon the remnant that I have spared.

 

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    上帝不只懲罰巴比倫王和他的地，還做一件偉大的事就是赦免以色列和猶大一切的罪，讓他們如同沒有犯罪的人！

 

    而這一切之所以能實現，完全是因為基督耶穌的贖罪之恩！

 

耶利米書50:11-16

 

50:11 搶奪我產業的啊，你們因歡喜快樂，且像踹穀撒歡的母牛犢，又像發嘶聲的壯馬。
50:12 你們的母巴比倫就極其抱愧，生你們的必然蒙羞。她要列在諸國之末，成為曠野、旱地、沙漠。
50:13 因耶和華的忿怒，必無人居住，要全然荒涼。凡經過巴比倫的要受驚駭，又因她所遭的災殃嗤笑。
50:14 所有拉弓的，你們要在巴比倫的四圍擺陣，射箭攻擊她。不要愛惜箭枝，因她得罪了耶和華。
50:15 你們要在她四圍吶喊；她已經投降。外郭坍塌了，城牆拆毀了，因為這是耶和華報仇的事。你們要向巴比倫報仇；她怎樣待人，也要怎樣待她。
50:16 你們要將巴比倫撒種的和收割時拿鐮刀的都剪除了。他們各人因怕欺壓的刀劍，必歸回本族，逃到本土。

¹² “Because you rejoice and are glad,
    you who pillage my inheritance,
because you frolic like a heifer threshing grain
    and neigh like stallions,
¹² your mother will be greatly ashamed;
    she who gave you birth will be disgraced.
She will be the least of the nations—
    a wilderness, a dry land, a desert.
¹³ Because of the Lord’s anger she will not be inhabited
    but will be completely desolate.
All who pass Babylon will be appalled;
    they will scoff because of all her wounds. 

¹⁴“Take up your positions around Babylon,
    all you who draw the bow.
Shoot at her! Spare no arrows,
    for she has sinned against the Lord.
¹⁵ Shout against her on every side!
    She surrenders, her towers fall,
    her walls are torn down.
Since this is the vengeance of the Lord,
    take vengeance on her;
    do to her as she has done to others.
¹⁶ Cut off from Babylon the sower,
    and the reaper with his sickle at harvest.
Because of the sword of the oppressor
    let everyone return to their own people,
    let everyone flee to their own land.

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    巴比倫惡待以色列人，必遭上帝憤怒而滅亡！雖然還沒有發生，但是上帝地定會行這樣的事！

 

    這也提醒我們，上帝的報應必定發生，她必為自己的子民伸冤。