耶利米書42:1-6

42:1 眾軍長和加利亞的兒子約哈難，並何沙雅的兒子耶撒尼亞（又名亞撒利雅，見四十三章二節）以及眾百姓，從最小的到至大的都進前來，

42:2 對先知耶利米說：「求你准我們在你面前祈求，為我們這剩下的人禱告耶和華─你的上帝。我們本來眾多，現在剩下的極少，這是你親眼所見的。

42:3 願耶和華─你的上帝指示我們所當走的路，所當做的事。」

42:4 先知耶利米對他們說：「我已經聽見你們了，我必照著你們的話禱告耶和華─你們的上帝。耶和華無論回答甚麼，我必都告訴你們，毫不隱瞞。」

42:5 於是他們對耶利米說：「我們若不照耶和華─你的上帝差遣你來說的一切話行，願耶和華在我們中間作真實誠信的見證。

42:6 我們現在請你到耶和華─我們的上帝面前，他說的無論是好是歹，我們都必聽從；我們聽從耶和華─我們上帝的話，就可以得福。」

Then all the army officers, including Johanan son of Kareah and Jezaniah[a] son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest approached 2 Jeremiah the prophet and said to him, “Please hear our petition and pray to the Lord your God for this entire remnant. For as you now see, though we were once many, now only a few are left. 3 Pray that the Lord your God will tell us where we should go and what we should do.”

4 “I have heard you,” replied Jeremiah the prophet. “I will certainly pray to the Lord your God as you have requested; I will tell you everything the Lord says and will keep nothing back from you.”

5 Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the Lord your God sends you to tell us. 6 Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the Lord our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the Lord our God.”

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    耶利米面對這一群前途茫茫的人的請求，相信心中有上帝的指示給他了。但是從這一群人的話語中，可以看見他們的信仰程度，因為他們一直強調耶和華上帝是耶利米的上帝，並沒有當祂是自己的上帝！並且他們不是自己禱告上帝，還要請先知來禱告。

    這樣的信仰很像天主教式的信仰，不敢自己向上帝禱告，要神職人員來幫忙禱告。好像人和上帝之間要有媒介一般，甚至這個媒介不一定是活人。但是在聖經的信仰是，耶穌基督是上帝與人之間惟一的中保。人只要奉耶穌基督的名，就可以和上帝禱告。也因此，上帝要成為我們真正的上帝！

    在舊約的時代，也是強調人可以直接向上帝禱告，不需要透過先知或祭司，雖然有獻祭的儀式。但是，上帝是隨時垂聽人的禱告，要將恩惠賜給人的上帝，使人信靠上帝得拯救。

耶利米書41:11-18

41:11 加利亞的兒子約哈難和同著他的眾軍長聽見尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利所行的一切惡，
41:12 就帶領眾人前往，要和尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利爭戰，在基遍的大水旁（或譯：大水池旁）遇見他。
41:13 以實瑪利那裡的眾人看見加利亞的兒子約哈難和同著他的眾軍長，就都歡喜。
41:14 這樣，以實瑪利從米斯巴所擄去的眾人都轉身歸加利亞的兒子約哈難去了。
41:15 尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利和八個人脫離約哈難的手，逃往亞捫人那裡去了。
41:16 尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利殺了亞希甘的兒子基大利，從米斯巴將剩下的一切百姓、兵丁、婦女、孩童、太監擄到基遍之後，加利亞的兒子約哈難和同著他的眾軍長將他們都奪回來，
41:17 帶到靠近伯利恆的金罕寓（或譯：基羅特金罕）住下，要進入埃及去；
41:18 因為尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利殺了巴比倫王所立為省長的亞希甘的兒子基大利，約哈難懼怕迦勒底人。

¹¹ But when Johanan son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces with him heard of all the crimes that Ishmael son of Nethaniah had done, ¹²they took all their men and went to fight against Ishmael son of Nethaniah. They came upon him at the great pool that is in Gibeon. ¹³And when all the people who were with Ishmael saw Johanan son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces with him, they were glad. ¹⁴So all the people whom Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah turned around and came back, and went to Johanan son of Kareah. ¹⁵But Ishmael son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the Ammonites. ¹⁶Then Johanan son of Kareah and all the leaders of the forces with him took all the rest of the people whom Ishmael son of Nethaniah had carried away captive from Mizpah after he had slain Gedaliah son of Ahikam—soldiers, women, children, and eunuchs, whom Johanan brought back from Gibeon. ¹⁷And they set out, and stopped at Geruth Chimham near Bethlehem, intending to go to Egypt ¹⁸because of the Chaldeans; for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael son of Nethaniah had killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.

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    加利亞的兒子約哈難將眾百姓從以實瑪利的手中拯救出來，似乎是打了勝仗，卻因為懼怕強權，就是懼怕迦勒底人，怕以實瑪利的罪會歸在他身上，所以感到前途茫茫！

    其實我們心中若沒有上帝，就會被懼怕所充滿，因為人的受造是為了倚靠上帝，若沒有上帝的同在，就會覺得無所支持，就會軟弱無力！不僅人如此，人的組織也是如此。

    今日的教會被鼓勵要求神蹟，求上帝來滿足人的需要，弄到弟兄姊妹只有享受沒有付出，只有求、沒有行動！教會顯得十分軟弱，是因為心中不是充滿上帝，是充滿自己的需要！

    也因為如此，今日要談復興，就是要人回轉到上帝面前，求聖靈充滿在心中，讓基督真正在心中坐著為王，讓基督的王權彰顯！

耶利米書41章

     耶利米書41:1-10  , 耶利米書41:11-18  ,

耶利米書41:1-10

41:1 七月間，王的大臣宗室以利沙瑪的孫子、尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利帶著十個人，來到米斯巴見亞希甘的兒子基大利。他們在米斯巴一同吃飯。
41:2 尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利和同他來的那十個人起來，用刀殺了沙番的孫子亞希甘的兒子基大利，就是巴比倫王所立為全地省長的。
41:3 以實瑪利又殺了在米斯巴、基大利那裡的一切猶大人和所遇見的迦勒底兵丁。
41:4 他殺了基大利，無人知道。
41:5 第二天，有八十人從示劍和示羅，並撒馬利亞來，鬍鬚剃去，衣服撕裂，身體劃破，手拿素祭和乳香，要奉到耶和華的殿。
41:6 尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利出米斯巴迎接他們，隨走隨哭。遇見了他們，就對他們說：「你們可以來見亞希甘的兒子基大利。」
41:7 他們到了城中，尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利和同著他的人就將他們殺了，拋在坑中。
41:8 只是他們中間有十個人對以實瑪利說：「不要殺我們，因為我們有許多大麥、小麥、油、蜜藏在田間。」於是他住了手，沒有將他們殺在弟兄中間。
41:9 以實瑪利將所殺之人的屍首都拋在坑裡基大利的旁邊；這坑是從前亞撒王因怕以色列王巴沙所挖的。尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利將那些被殺的人填滿了坑。
41:10 以實瑪利將米斯巴剩下的人，就是眾公主和仍住在米斯巴所有的百姓，原是護衛長尼布撒拉旦交給亞希甘的兒子基大利的，都擄去了。尼探雅的兒子以實瑪利擄了他們，要往亞捫人那裡去。

In the seventh month, Ishmael son of Nethaniah son of Elishama, of the royal family, one of the chief officers of the king, came with ten men to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, at Mizpah. As they ate bread together there at Mizpah, ²Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men with him got up and struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan with the sword and killed him, because the king of Babylon had appointed him governor in the land. ³Ishmael also killed all the Judeans who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, and the Chaldean soldiers who happened to be there.

⁴ On the day after the murder of Gedaliah, before anyone knew of it, ⁵eighty men arrived from Shechem and Shiloh and Samaria, with their beards shaved and their clothes torn, and their bodies gashed, bringing grain offerings and incense to present at the temple of the Lord. ⁶And Ishmael son of Nethaniah came out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he came. As he met them, he said to them, “Come to Gedaliah son of Ahikam.” ⁷When they reached the middle of the city, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the men with him slaughtered them, and threw them into a cistern. ⁸But there were ten men among them who said to Ishmael, “Do not kill us, for we have stores of wheat, barley, oil, and honey hidden in the fields.” So he refrained, and did not kill them along with their companions.

⁹ Now the cistern into which Ishmael had thrown all the bodies of the men whom he had struck down was the large cistern that King Asa had made for defense against King Baasha of Israel; Ishmael son of Nethaniah filled that cistern with those whom he had killed. ¹⁰Then Ishmael took captive all the rest of the people who were in Mizpah, the king’s daughters and all the people who were left at Mizpah, whom Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had committed to Gedaliah son of Ahikam. Ishmael son of Nethaniah took them captive and set out to cross over to the Ammonites.

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    以實瑪利的惡行在這裡被先知耶利米記載的清清楚楚，讓我們看見在那樣的亂世中，人心真的是充滿貪婪和邪惡，想到的就是自己的利益和權力，沒有尊重人，因為不敬畏耶和華！

    今日的教會不要走到這種地步，不然許多人會輕看教會，不願意來教會！因為教會中也是充滿了許多的人性的問題，不以聖經的原則來治理教會，連牧者都會覺得有心無力，無法改變！

    我們要教會復興，就要棄絕那些好掌權的人，千萬不可姑息，不然牧者就會退縮不願在教會好好服事，寧可在外流浪！在外流浪的牧者多，表是教會的問題也多！大家要正是這樣的問題，才是教會之福！

撒母耳記上22:11-23

22:11 王就打發人將祭司亞希突的兒子亞希米勒和他父親的全家，就是住挪伯的祭司都召了來；他們就來見王。
22:12 掃羅說：「亞希突的兒子，要聽我的話！」他回答說：「主啊，我在這裡。」
22:13 掃羅對他說：「你為甚麼與耶西的兒子結黨害我，將食物和刀給他，又為他求問上帝，使他起來謀害我，就如今日的光景？」
22:14 亞希米勒回答王說：「王的臣僕中有誰比大衛忠心呢？他是王的女婿，又是王的參謀，並且在王家中是尊貴的。
22:15 我豈是從今日才為他求問上帝呢？斷不是這樣！王不要將罪歸我和我父的全家；因為這事，無論大小，僕人都不知道。」
22:16 王說：「亞希米勒啊，你和你父的全家都是該死的！」
22:17 王就吩咐左右的侍衛說：「你們去殺耶和華的祭司；因為他們幫助大衛，又知道大衛逃跑，竟沒有告訴我。」掃羅的臣子卻不肯伸手殺耶和華的祭司。
22:18 王吩咐多益說：「你去殺祭司吧！」以東人多益就去殺祭司，那日殺了穿細麻布以弗得的八十五人；
22:19 又用刀將祭司城挪伯中的男女、孩童、吃奶的，和牛、羊、驢盡都殺滅。
22:20 亞希突的兒子亞希米勒有一個兒子，名叫亞比亞他，逃到大衛那裡。
22:21 亞比亞他將掃羅殺耶和華祭司的事告訴大衛。
22:22 大衛對亞比亞他說：「那日我見以東人多益在那裡，就知道他必告訴掃羅。你父的全家喪命，都是因我的緣故。
22:23 你可以住在我這裡，不要懼怕。因為尋索你命的就是尋索我的命；你在我這裡可得保全。」

11 King Saul immediately sent for Ahimelech and all his family, who served as priests at Nob.12 When they arrived, Saul shouted at him, "Listen to me, you son of Ahitub!"
  "What is it, my king?" Ahimelech asked.
  13 "Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me?" Saul demanded. "Why did you give him food and a sword? Why have you consulted God for him? Why have you encouraged him to kill me, as he is trying to do this very day?"
  14 "But sir," Ahimelech replied, "is anyone among all your servants as faithful as David, your son-in-law? Why, he is the captain of your bodyguard and a highly honored member of your household!15 This was certainly not the first time I had consulted God for him! May the king not accuse me and my family in this matter, for I knew nothing at all of any plot against you."
  16 "You will surely die, Ahimelech, along with your entire family!" the king shouted.17 And he ordered his bodyguards, "Kill these priests of the LORD, for they are allies and conspirators with David! They knew he was running away from me, but they didn't tell me!" But Saul's men refused to kill the LORD's priests.
  18 Then the king said to Doeg, "You do it." So Doeg the Edomite turned on them and killed them that day, eighty-five priests in all, still wearing their priestly garments.19 Then he went to Nob, the town of the priests, and killed the priests' families—men and women, children and babies—and all the cattle, donkeys, sheep, and goats.
  20 Only Abiathar, one of the sons of Ahimelech, escaped and fled to David.21 When he told David that Saul had killed the priests of the LORD,22 David exclaimed, "I knew it! When I saw Doeg the Edomite there that day, I knew he was sure to tell Saul. Now I have caused the death of all your father's family.23 Stay here with me, and don't be afraid. I will protect you with my own life, for the same person wants to kill us both."

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    外邦人有好的，也有壞的，就像這個以東人多益就是壞蛋，他不僅密告掃羅王祭司幫大衛的事情，也做掃羅的殺手殺死祭司家族的人們！以色列人不敢做的事，他竟然做了，可見他不敬畏上帝。

    然而大衛為這事祂事負起責任的，正如成語說的：「我不殺伯仁，伯仁卻為我而死！」他覺得既斯家族會遭此禍害是自己的緣故，他就收留了逃出來的亞比亞他，並且保證：「你可以住在我這裡，不要懼怕。因為尋索你命的就是尋索我的命；你在我這裡可得保全。」

    相信上帝也藉由他收留亞比亞他就施恩惠給他，人生在世，我們要厚道一點，要善待人，上帝才會善待我們！