2:20 我在古時折斷你的軛,解開你的繩索。你說:我必不事奉耶和華;因為你在各高岡上、各青翠樹下屈身行淫(或譯:我在古時折斷你的軛,解開你的繩索,你就說:我必不事奉別神。誰知你在各高岡上、各青翠樹下仍屈身行淫)。
2:21 然而,我栽你是上等的葡萄樹,全然是真種子;你怎麼向我變為外邦葡萄樹的壞枝子呢?
2:22 你雖用鹼、多用肥皂洗濯,你罪孽的痕跡仍然在我面前顯出。這是主耶和華說的。
2:23 你怎能說:我沒有玷污、沒有隨從眾巴力?你看你谷中的路,就知道你所行的如何。你是快行的獨峰駝,狂奔亂走。
2:24 你是野驢,慣在曠野,慾心發動就吸風;起性的時候誰能使牠轉去呢?凡尋找牠的必不致疲乏;在牠的月份必能尋見。
2:25 我說:你不要使腳上無鞋,喉嚨乾渴。你倒說:這是枉然。我喜愛別神,我必隨從他們。
2:26 賊被捉拿,怎樣羞愧,以色列家和他們的君王、首領、祭司、先知也都照樣羞愧。
2:27 他們向木頭說:你是我的父;向石頭說:你是生我的。他們以背向我,不以面向我;及至遭遇患難的時候卻說:起來拯救我們。
2:28 你為自己做的神在哪裡呢?你遭遇患難的時候,叫他們起來拯救你吧!猶大啊,你神的數目與你城的數目相等。
20 "For long ago I broke your yoke
and burst your bonds;
but you said, 'I will not serve. '
Yes, on every high hill
and under every green tree
you bowed down like a whore.
21 Yet I planted you a choice vine,
wholly of pure seed.
How
then have you turned degenerate
and become a wild vine?
22 Though you wash yourself with lye
and use much soap,
the
stain of your guilt is still before me,
declares the Lord God.
23 How can you say, 'I am not unclean,
I have not gone after the Baals'?
Look at your way in the valley;
know what you have done—
a restless young camel running here and
there,
24 a wild donkey used to the wilderness,
in her heat sniffing the wind!
Who can restrain her lust?
None who seek her need weary themselves;
in her month they will find her.
20 "For long ago I broke your yoke
and burst your bonds;
but you said, 'I will not serve. '
Yes, on every high hill
and under every green tree
you bowed down like a whore.
21 Yet I planted you a choice vine,
wholly of pure seed.
How
then have you turned degenerate
and become a wild vine?
22 Though you wash yourself with lye
and use much soap,
the
stain of your guilt is still before me,
declares the Lord God.
23 How can you say, 'I am not unclean,
I have not gone after the Baals'?
Look at your way in the valley;
know what you have done—
a restless young camel running here and
there,
24 a wild donkey used to the wilderness,
in her heat sniffing the wind!
Who can restrain her lust?
None who seek her need weary themselves;
in her month they will find her.
25 Keep your feet from going unshod
and your throat from thirst.
But you said, 'It is hopeless,
for
I have loved foreigners,
and after them I will go. '
26 "As a thief is shamed when caught,
so the house of Israel shall be shamed:
they, their kings, their officials,
their priests, and their prophets,
27 who say to a tree, 'You are my father,'
and to a stone, 'You gave me birth. '
For they have turned their back to me,
and not their face.
But in the time of their trouble they say,
'Arise and save us! '
28 But where are your gods
that you made for yourself?
Let them arise, if they can save you,
in your time of trouble;
for as many as your cities
are your gods, O Judah.
***********
先知在上帝的帶領下,勇敢發預言來責備由大人拜偶像離棄上帝的事實。甚至於說到這些人造的偶像,在患難中是無法拯救人的!所以先知在此說:「你為自己做的神在哪裡呢?你遭遇患難的時候,叫他們起來拯救你吧!」
但是,耶和華上帝是不同於這些偶像的!祂因為沒有形體,就不受到空間的影響,是無所不在,更是無所不能,是真正有能力拯救人於患難的上帝!但是,人在平時就要與祂有正確合宜的關係,如此在患難中才會存敬畏與謙卑的心來尋求祂!
因此,我們要放下任何影響我們和上帝有正確且合宜的關係之任何勢力,專心仰望上帝在基督裡所賜聖靈,行在上帝的引領下而不偏離,緊緊地跟隨著耶穌基督的腳步而行!