16:6 「我從你旁邊經過,見你滾在血中,就對你說:你雖在血中,仍可存活;你雖在血中,仍可存活。
16:7 我使你生長好像田間所長的,你就漸漸長大,以致極其俊美,兩乳成形,頭髮長成,你卻仍然赤身露體。
16:8 我從你旁邊經過,看見你的時候正動愛情,便用衣襟搭在你身上,遮蓋你的赤體;又向你起誓,與你結盟,你就歸於我。這是主耶和華說的。
6 "And when I passed by you and saw
you wallowing in your blood, I said to you in your blood, 'Live! ' I said to
you in your blood, 'Live! ' 7 I made you flourish like a plant of the field.
And you grew up and became tall and arrived at full adornment. Your breasts
were formed, and your hair had grown; yet you were naked and bare.
8"When I passed by you again and saw
you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my
garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered
into a covenant with you, declares the Lord God, and you became mine.
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在這裡先知以西結宣告上帝和以色列的關係。
首先上帝是以色列的拯救者,正如先知在這裡所說:「我從你旁邊經過,見你滾在血中,就對你說:你雖在血中,仍可存活;你雖在血中,仍可存活」。所以,上帝拯救以色列時,是將她從快要滅亡中,拉拔出來。
接著上帝是以色列的餵養者,正如先知在這裡所說:「我使你生長好像田間所長的,你就漸漸長大,以致極其俊美,兩乳成形,頭髮長成,你卻仍然赤身露體」。表是上帝不只是救命,更是維持以色列的生命,還讓她長大成熟。
除了這些生命的基本需要,上帝還賦予以色列身分與地位,正如先知說:「我從你旁邊經過,看見你的時候正動愛情,便用衣襟搭在你身上,遮蓋你的赤體;又向你起誓,與你結盟,你就歸於我」。上帝收納以色列為屬乎自己的配偶,這事何等的恩典!
這也是基督與教會的關係,而上帝更透過基督的死和復活,來拯救教會得以完全,並且歸於基督做永遠的新婦,這更是何等的恩典啊!