耶利米書43:1-7

43:1 耶利米向眾百姓說完了耶和華─他們上帝的一切話，就是耶和華─他們上帝差遣他去所說的一切話。
43:2 何沙雅的兒子亞撒利雅和加利亞的兒子約哈難，並一切狂傲的人，就對耶利米說：「你說謊言！耶和華─我們的上帝並沒有差遣你來說：『你們不可進入埃及，在那裡寄居。』
43:3 這是尼利亞的兒子巴錄挑唆你害我們，要將我們交在迦勒底人的手中，使我們有被殺的，有被擄到巴比倫去的。」
43:4 於是加利亞的兒子約哈難和一切軍長，並眾百姓，不聽從耶和華的話住在猶大地。
43:5 加利亞的兒子約哈難和一切軍長卻將所剩下的猶大人，就是從被趕到各國回來在猶大地寄居的男人、婦女、孩童，和眾公主，並護衛長尼布撒拉旦所留在沙番的孫子亞希甘的兒子基大利那裡的眾人，與先知耶利米，以及尼利亞的兒子巴錄，
43:6 【併於上節】
43:7 都帶入埃及地，到了答比匿。這是因他們不聽從耶和華的話。

When Jeremiah finished speaking to all the people all these words of the Lord their God, with which the Lord their God had sent him to them, ²Azariah son of Hoshaiah and Johanan son of Kareah and all the other insolent men said to Jeremiah, “You are telling a lie. The Lord our God did not send you to say, ‘Do not go to Egypt to settle there’; ³but Baruch son of Neriah is inciting you against us, to hand us over to the Chaldeans, in order that they may kill us or take us into exile in Babylon.” ⁴So Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces and all the people did not obey the voice of the Lord, to stay in the land of Judah. ⁵But Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces took all the remnant of Judah who had returned to settle in the land of Judah from all the nations to which they had been driven— ⁶the men, the women, the children, the princesses, and everyone whom Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan; also the prophet Jeremiah and Baruch son of Neriah. ⁷And they came into the land of Egypt, for they did not obey the voice of the Lord. And they arrived at Tahpanhes.  

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    當先知耶利米告訴他們上帝的心意以後，他們竟然發怒，對耶利米說：「你說謊言！耶和華─我們的上帝並沒有差遣你來說：『你們不可進入埃及，在那裡寄居。』這是尼利亞的兒子巴錄挑唆你害我們，要將我們交在迦勒底人的手中，使我們有被殺的，有被擄到巴比倫去的。」

    這讓我們看見：先知的工作是多麼的吃力不討好的工作啊！不滿意的答案，就被當成說謊的人，甚至還有可能被殺害呢！這是多麼危險的工作，做到命都會沒有了！若不是上帝的呼召，真是沒有人敢做啊！

    其實今日教會的牧者，也是如此！尤其是在這個個人主義高舉的世代，誰願意聽上帝的話呢？誰願意遵守看為寶貴呢？許多人的心目中，還是自己最大，上帝算甚麼呢？就像這些猶大的首領一樣。這不是教會之福，身為牧者的人要深思：如何讓上帝的話語，在教會是有權柄，讓弟兄姊妹成為順命的兒女！

耶利米書42:7-22

42:7 過了十天，耶和華的話臨到耶利米。

42:8 他就將加利亞的兒子約哈難和同著他的眾軍長，並眾百姓，從最小的到至大的都叫了來，

42:9 對他們說：「耶和華─以色列的上帝，就是你們請我在他面前為你們祈求的主，如此說：

42:10 『你們若仍住在這地，我就建立你們，必不拆毀，栽植你們，並不拔出，因我為降與你們的災禍後悔了。

42:11 不要怕你們所怕的巴比倫王』」。耶和華說：「不要怕他！因為我與你們同在，要拯救你們脫離他的手。

42:12 我也要使他發憐憫，好憐憫你們，叫你們歸回本地。

42:13 倘若你們說：『我們不住在這地』，以致不聽從耶和華─你們上帝的話，

42:14 說：『我們不住這地，卻要進入埃及地，在那裡看不見爭戰，聽不見角聲，也不致無食飢餓。我們必住在那裡。』

42:15 你們所剩下的猶大人哪，現在要聽耶和華的話。萬軍之耶和華─以色列的上帝如此說：『你們若定意要進入埃及，在那裡寄居，

42:16 你們所懼怕的刀劍在埃及地必追上你們！你們所懼怕的饑荒在埃及要緊緊地跟隨你們！你們必死在那裡！

42:17 凡定意要進入埃及在那裡寄居的必遭刀劍、饑荒、瘟疫而死，無一人存留，逃脫我所降與他們的災禍。』

42:18 「萬軍之耶和華─以色列的上帝如此說：『我怎樣將我的怒氣和忿怒傾在耶路撒冷的居民身上，你們進入埃及的時候，我也必照樣將我的忿怒傾在你們身上，以致你們令人辱罵、驚駭、咒詛、羞辱，你們不得再見這地方。』

42:19 所剩下的猶大人哪，耶和華論到你們說：『不要進入埃及去。』你們要確實地知道我今日警教你們了。

42:20 你們行詭詐自害；因為你們請我到耶和華─你們的上帝那裡，說：『求你為我們禱告耶和華─我們上帝，照耶和華─我們的上帝一切所說的告訴我們，我們就必遵行。』

42:21 我今日將這話告訴你們，耶和華─你們的上帝為你們的事差遣我到你們那裡說的，你們卻一樣沒有聽從。

42:22 現在你們要確實地知道，你們在所要去寄居之地必遭刀劍、饑荒、瘟疫而死。」

7 Ten days later the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah. 8 So he called together Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him and all the people from the least to the greatest. 9 He said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition, says: 10 ‘If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you, for I have relented concerning the disaster I have inflicted on you. 11 Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you now fear. Do not be afraid of him, declares the Lord, for I am with you and will save you and deliver you from his hands. 12 I will show you compassion so that he will have compassion on you and restore you to your land.’

13 “However, if you say, ‘We will not stay in this land,’ and so disobey the Lord your God, 14 and if you say, ‘No, we will go and live in Egypt, where we will not see war or hear the trumpet or be hungry for bread,’ 15 then hear the word of the Lord, you remnant of Judah. This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you are determined to go to Egypt and you do go to settle there, 16 then the sword you fear will overtake you there, and the famine you dread will follow you into Egypt, and there you will die. 17 Indeed, all who are determined to go to Egypt to settle there will die by the sword, famine and plague; not one of them will survive or escape the disaster I will bring on them.’ 18 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘As my anger and wrath have been poured out on those who lived in Jerusalem, so will my wrath be poured out on you when you go to Egypt. You will be a curse[b] and an object of horror, a curse[c] and an object of reproach; you will never see this place again.’

19 “Remnant of Judah, the Lord has told you, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Be sure of this: I warn you today 20 that you made a fatal mistake when you sent me to the Lord your God and said, ‘Pray to the Lord our God for us; tell us everything he says and we will do it.’ 21 I have told you today, but you still have not obeyed the Lord your God in all he sent me to tell you. 22 So now, be sure of this: You will die by the sword, famine and plague in the place where you want to go to settle.”

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    上帝在這裡藉由先知耶利米宣告，要他們不要進入埃及地，因為上帝不喜悅它們再入埃及，這是上帝在以色列人設立君王之前就講過的，現在知道這一群人必定會逃往埃及，再一次在這裡禁止他們。

    其實上帝知道人的意念，尤其是人來到上帝面前禱告與祈求的時候，他就知道人要求的是什麼，人心的歸向是無法逃避上帝的眼睛的，我們心裡的意念，在上帝面前都是赤露敞開的！

    也因此，若是將禱告定義為人對上帝說話，人向上帝求自己想要的是正常的。但是聖經中的禱告，不只是如此的，是有來有往，就像這一段文字的記載一般。既然是這樣，禱告更是需要人調整自己，遵行上帝所說的。正如這一群猶大的百姓，真的不可以再回埃及去！

耶利米書42章

      耶利米書42:1-6   ,  耶利米書42:7-22    ,

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  ,