耶利米書31:15-22

31:15 耶和華如此說：在拉瑪聽見號咷痛哭的聲音，是拉結哭她兒女，不肯受安慰，因為他們都不在了。

31:16 耶和華如此說：你禁止聲音不要哀哭，禁止眼目不要流淚，因你所做之工必有賞賜；他們必從敵國歸回。這是耶和華說的。

31:17 耶和華說：你末後必有指望；你的兒女必回到自己的境界。

31:18 我聽見以法蓮為自己悲歎說：你責罰我，我便受責罰，像不慣負軛的牛犢一樣。求你使我回轉，我便回轉，因為你是耶和華─我的　神。

31:19 我回轉以後就真正懊悔；受教以後就拍腿歎息；我因擔當幼年的凌辱就抱愧蒙羞。

31:20 耶和華說：以法蓮是我的愛子嗎？是可喜悅的孩子嗎？我每逢責備他，仍深顧念他；所以我的心腸戀慕他；我必要憐憫他。

31:21 以色列民（原文是處女）哪，你當為自己設立指路碑，豎起引路柱。你要留心向大路，就是你所去的原路；你當回轉，回轉到你這些城邑。

31:22 背道的民（原文是女子）哪，你反來覆去要到幾時呢？耶和華在地上造了一件新事，就是女子護衛男子。

15 This is what the Lord says:

“A voice is heard in Ramah,

    mourning and great weeping,

Rachel weeping for her children

    and refusing to be comforted,

    because they are no more.”

16 This is what the Lord says:

“Restrain your voice from weeping

    and your eyes from tears,

for your work will be rewarded,”

declares the Lord.

    “They will return from the land of the enemy.

17

So there is hope for your descendants,”

declares the Lord.

    “Your children will return to their own land.

18

“I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning:

    ‘You disciplined me like an unruly calf,

    and I have been disciplined.

Restore me, and I will return,

    because you are the Lord my God.

19

After I strayed,

    I repented;

after I came to understand,

    I beat my breast.

I was ashamed and humiliated

    because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’

20

Is not Ephraim my dear son,

    the child in whom I delight?

Though I often speak against him,

    I still remember him.

Therefore my heart yearns for him;

    I have great compassion for him,”

declares the Lord.

21

“Set up road signs;

    put up guideposts.

Take note of the highway,

    the road that you take.

Return, Virgin Israel,

    return to your towns.

22

How long will you wander,

    unfaithful Daughter Israel?

The Lord will create a new thing on earth—

    the woman will return to[b] the man.”

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    在這段經文中的「女子護衛男子」，在原文中有「女子圍繞男子」的意思。然而這裡的「男子」是指上帝，「女子」是指以色列。也就是說，以色列悔改歸向上帝，這就是上帝要做的新事。

    在永世裡的「男子」和「女子」是：「基督」和「教會」。教會是基督的新婦，是要在上帝國實現的時候，如同婚禮一般，締結永遠的婚約，彼此永不分離，永浴愛河之中！

    基督徒在那一天，就完完全全屬基督，圍繞在基督身邊，與基督享榮耀，到永永遠遠！

耶利米書31:7-14

31:7 耶和華如此說：你們當為雅各歡樂歌唱，因萬國中為首的歡呼。當傳揚頌讚說：耶和華啊，求你拯救你的百姓以色列所剩下的人。

31:8 我必將他們從北方領來，從地極招聚；同著他們來的有瞎子、瘸子、孕婦、產婦；他們必成為大幫回到這裡來。

31:9 他們要哭泣而來。我要照他們懇求的引導他們，使他們在河水旁走正直的路，在其上不致絆跌；因為我是以色列的父，以法蓮是我的長子。

31:10 列國啊，要聽耶和華的話，傳揚在遠處的海島說：趕散以色列的必招聚他，又看守他，好像牧人看守羊群。

31:11 因耶和華救贖了雅各，救贖他脫離比他更強之人的手。

31:12 他們要來到錫安的高處歌唱，又流歸耶和華施恩之地，就是有五穀、新酒，和油，並羊羔、牛犢之地。他們的心必像澆灌的園子；他們也不再有一點愁煩。

31:13 那時，處女必歡樂跳舞；年少的、年老的，也必一同歡樂；因為我要使他們的悲哀變為歡喜，並要安慰他們，使他們的愁煩轉為快樂。

31:14 我必以肥油使祭司的心滿足；我的百姓也要因我的恩惠知足。這是耶和華說的。

7 This is what the Lord says:

“Sing with joy for Jacob;

    shout for the foremost of the nations.

Make your praises heard, and say,

    ‘Lord, save your people,

    the remnant of Israel.’

8

See, I will bring them from the land of the north

    and gather them from the ends of the earth.

Among them will be the blind and the lame,

    expectant mothers and women in labor;

    a great throng will return.

9

They will come with weeping;

    they will pray as I bring them back.

I will lead them beside streams of water

    on a level path where they will not stumble,

because I am Israel’s father,

    and Ephraim is my firstborn son.

10

“Hear the word of the Lord, you nations;

    proclaim it in distant coastlands:

‘He who scattered Israel will gather them

    and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’

11

For the Lord will deliver Jacob

    and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they.

12

They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion;

    they will rejoice in the bounty of the Lord—

the grain, the new wine and the olive oil,

    the young of the flocks and herds.

They will be like a well-watered garden,

    and they will sorrow no more.

13

Then young women will dance and be glad,

    young men and old as well.

I will turn their mourning into gladness;

    I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.

14

I will satisfy the priests with abundance,

    and my people will be filled with my bounty,”

declares the Lord.

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    耶和華在此宣告祂對以色列的拯救，雖然以色列已經被滅，以色列民流落到世界個個角落，但是時候到了，上帝會將他們一一招聚回來，使他們重新回到上帝的應許之地，享受上帝的賜福到世世代代！

    這是以色列的救贖論，基督徒的救贖論已經超越這個了，基督徒的救贖論就是上帝國的實現！這樣的實現，不再是以色列的復興，而是臨到萬族萬民的永恆救贖，我們可以從《啟示錄》看見這樣的救贖實現的狀態。

    也因此，基督徒的盼望是在耶穌基督的再來，上帝國的完全實現！

約翰福音14:23

耶穌回答說：「人若愛我，就必遵守我的道；我父也必愛他，並且我們要到他那裡去，與他同住。

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

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    主耶穌在這裡的談話，讓我們認識到「父」和「子」是兩個不同的位格，也就是說「父」不是「子」，當然「子」也不是「父」。這是，三一上帝很難讓人明白的地方，因為「父」和「子」同為上帝。

    雖然「父」不是「子」，「子」也不是「父」，但是「父」和「子」的意志方向相同，都是要與人有正確合宜的關係，正如主耶穌所說：「人若愛我，就必遵守我的道；我父也必愛他，並且我們要到他那裡去，與他同住。」

    這裡說的「遵守我的道」，就是照聖經的教導來生活。這樣的能力，是因著耶穌基督的拯救，讓我們領受聖靈，聖靈在我們身上動工的結果！

耶利米書31:1-6

31:1 耶和華說：「那時，我必作以色列各家的上帝；他們必作我的子民。」

31:2 耶和華如此說：脫離刀劍的就是以色列人。我使他享安息的時候，他曾在曠野蒙恩。

31:3 古時（或譯：從遠方）耶和華向以色列（原文是我）顯現，說：我以永遠的愛愛你，因此我以慈愛吸引你。

31:4 以色列的民（原文是處女）哪，我要再建立你，你就被建立；你必再以擊鼓為美，與歡樂的人一同跳舞而出；

31:5 又必在撒馬利亞的山上栽種葡萄園，栽種的人要享用所結的果子。

31:6 日子必到，以法蓮山上守望的人必呼叫說：起來吧！我們可以上錫安，到耶和華─我們的上帝那裡去。

“At that time,” declares the Lord, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.”

2 This is what the Lord says:

“The people who survive the sword

    will find favor in the wilderness;

    I will come to give rest to Israel.”

3 The Lord appeared to us in the past,[a] saying:

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;

    I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

4 I will build you up again,

    and you, Virgin Israel, will be rebuilt.

Again you will take up your timbrels

    and go out to dance with the joyful.

5 Again you will plant vineyards

    on the hills of Samaria;

the farmers will plant them

    and enjoy their fruit.

6 There will be a day when watchmen cry out

    on the hills of Ephraim,

‘Come, let us go up to Zion,

    to the Lord our God.’”

************

    上帝這裡再次說道：「我必作以色列各家的上帝；他們必作我的子民！」

    可見上帝是多麼看重這樣的關係，並且還強調：「我以永遠的愛愛你，因此我以慈愛吸引你。」

    上帝既是這樣愛以色列，所以必定讓以色列再次復興！同樣，祂在基督裡，更是這樣愛屬祂的兒女，祂永不離棄我們！

耶利米書30:18-24

30:18 耶和華如此說：我必使雅各被擄去的帳棚歸回，也必顧惜他的住處。城必建造在原舊的山岡；宮殿也照舊有人居住。

30:19 必有感謝和歡樂的聲音從其中發出，我要使他們增多，不致減少；使他們尊榮，不致卑微。

30:20 他們的兒女要如往日；他們的會眾堅立在我面前；凡欺壓他們的，我必刑罰他。

30:21 他們的君王必是屬乎他們的；掌權的必從他們中間而出。我要使他就近我，他也要親近我；不然，誰有膽量親近我呢？這是耶和華說的。

30:22 你們要作我的子民，我要作你們的上帝。

30:23 看哪，耶和華的忿怒好像暴風已經發出；是掃滅的暴風，必轉到惡人的頭上。

30:24 耶和華的烈怒必不轉消，直到他心中所擬定的成就了；末後的日子你們要明白。

18 “This is what the Lord says:

“‘I will restore the fortunes of Jacob’s tents

    and have compassion on his dwellings;

the city will be rebuilt on her ruins,

    and the palace will stand in its proper place.

19 From them will come songs of thanksgiving

    and the sound of rejoicing.

I will add to their numbers,

    and they will not be decreased;

I will bring them honor,

    and they will not be disdained.

20 Their children will be as in days of old,

    and their community will be established before me;

    I will punish all who oppress them.

21 Their leader will be one of their own;

    their ruler will arise from among them.

I will bring him near and he will come close to me—

    for who is he who will devote himself

    to be close to me?’

declares the Lord.

22 “‘So you will be my people,

    and I will be your God.’”

23 See, the storm of the Lord

    will burst out in wrath,

a driving wind swirling down

    on the heads of the wicked.

24 The fierce anger of the Lord will not turn back

    until he fully accomplishes

    the purposes of his heart.

In days to come

    you will understand this.

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    上帝和人之間美好的關係就是：「你們要作我的子民，我要作你們的上帝。」

    這就是說人要順服在上帝的主權之下，讓上帝真正成為我們的上帝，而不是以別的偶像取代上帝。說道偶像，就是人自己選擇自己的上帝，而不是以真正的上帝成為自己的上帝。這是人類自始祖犯罪以來，一直面對道的問題。即使是稱為上帝選民的以色列，還是因為拜偶像而滅國！

    所以，我們必須要靠耶穌基督在十字架上的拯救，我們才能和上帝有正確合宜的關係，才會真正的成就：「你們要作我的子民，我要作你們的上帝。」