36:22 「所以,你要對以色列家說,主耶和華如此說:以色列家啊,我行這事不是為你們,乃是為我的聖名,就是在你們到的列國中所褻瀆的。
36:23 我要使我的大名顯為聖;這名在列國中已被褻瀆,就是你們在他們中間所褻瀆的。我在他們眼前,在你們身上顯為聖的時候,他們就知道我是耶和華。這是主耶和華說的。
36:24 我必從各國收取你們,從列邦聚集你們,引導你們歸回本地。
36:25 我必用清水灑在你們身上,你們就潔淨了。我要潔淨你們,使你們脫離一切的污穢,棄掉一切的偶像。
36:26 我也要賜給你們一個新心,將新靈放在你們裡面,又從你們的肉體中除掉石心,賜給你們肉心。
36:27 我必將我的靈放在你們裡面,使你們順從我的律例,謹守遵行我的典章。
36:28 你們必住在我所賜給你們列祖之地。你們要作我的子民,我要作你們的上帝。
36:29 我必救你們脫離一切的污穢,也必命五穀豐登,不使你們遭遇饑荒。
36:30 我必使樹木多結果子,田地多出土產,好叫你們不再因饑荒受外邦人的譏誚。
36:31 那時,你們必追想你們的惡行和你們不善的作為,就因你們的罪孽和可憎的事厭惡自己。
36:32 主耶和華說:你們要知道,我這樣行不是為你們。以色列家啊,當為自己的行為抱愧蒙羞。
“Therefore say to the house of Israel,
Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am
about to act, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among
the nations to which you came. And I
will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the
nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that
I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness
before their eyes. I will take you from
the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own
land. I will sprinkle clean water on you,
and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I
will cleanse you. And I will give you a
new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart
of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and
cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. You shall dwell in the land that I gave to
your fathers, and you shall be my people, and I will be your God. And I will deliver you from all your
uncleannesses. And I will summon the grain and make it abundant and lay no famine
upon you. I will make the fruit of the
tree and the increase of the field abundant, that you may never again suffer
the disgrace of famine among the nations.
Then you will remember your evil ways, and your deeds that were not
good, and you will loathe yourselves for your iniquities and your
abominations. It is not for your sake
that I will act, declares the Lord God; let that be known to you. Be ashamed
and confounded for your ways, O house of Israel.
************
這是一個很大的提醒,尤其是針對領受到上帝的恩惠的人。不要以為自己受了上帝的恩惠,就比別人更好、更優秀,覺得自己很棒、很了不起,就輕視沒有蒙受上帝恩惠的人!
正如先知在這裡所說:「那時,你們必追想你們的惡行和你們不善的作為,就因你們的罪孽和可憎的事厭惡自己。主耶和華說:你們要知道,我這樣行不是為你們。以色列家啊,當為自己的行為抱愧蒙羞。」
所以,基督徒不要以為自己是上帝的兒女而自高自傲,要想想自己是怎樣蒙恩的,周圍的人不見得比我們差,只是他們尚未得到上帝的恩惠,哪一天他們得著上帝的恩惠,比你更熱心、更敬虔,好使你在上帝面前感到羞愧!所以,我們不可以輕看與排斥未信主的人,哪一天反過來他成為主所重用的人呢!