God’s answer (神的回答)
12:7 上主說:我拋棄了以色列,棄絕了我揀選的國。
7 "I will forsake my house, abandon my inheritance; I will give the one I love into the hands of her enemies. 8 My inheritance has become to me like a lion in the forest. She roars at me; therefore I hate her. 9 Has not my inheritance become to me like a speckled bird of prey that other birds of prey surround and attack? Go and gather all the wild beasts; bring them to devour. 10 Many shepherds will ruin my vineyard and trample down my field; they will turn my pleasant field into a desolate wasteland. 11 It will be made a wasteland, parched and desolate before me; the whole land will be laid waste because there is no one who cares. 12 Over all the barren heights in the desert destroyers will swarm, for the sword of the LORD will devour from one end of the land to the other; no one will be safe. 13 They will sow wheat but reap thorns; they will wear themselves out but gain nothing. So bear the shame of your harvest because of the LORD's fierce anger." 14 This is what the LORD says: "As for all my wicked neighbors who seize the inheritance I gave my people Israel, I will uproot them from their lands and I will uproot the house of Judah from among them. 15 But after I uproot them, I will again have compassion and will bring each of them back to his own inheritance and his own country. 16 And if they learn well the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying, 'As surely as the LORD lives'-even as they once taught my people to swear by Baal—then they will be established among my people. 17 But if any nation does not listen, I will completely uproot and destroy it," declares the LORD.
一、中心內容:Core Message
內容:Content
1>上帝表明:祂將拋棄以色列百姓,將所愛的子民交給敵人。(v
God said that He will abandon his inheritance; He will give the one He loves into the hands of enemies”. (v7)
2>上帝說明拋棄以色列百姓的原因,
God said the reason why He abandoned his inheritance is because His inheritance has become like a lion in the forest. She roars at Him. (v8)
3>上帝描述祂的子民即將面臨的悲慘遭遇。(v9-13)
God depicts that His people will soon face the tragic experience. (v9-13)
4>上帝表示:欺負以色列百姓的國家將受審判,
God said that whoever seizes the inheritance that He gave his people of Israel, He will uproot them from their lands and their houses. The people of Israel will be saved. (v14)
5>上帝表示:將憐憫欺負以色列百姓的國家,使他們回歸故土。(
God said that after He uproots them, He will again have compassion and will bring each of them back to his own inheritance and his own country. (v15)
6>上帝也給那欺負以色列百姓的國家蒙恩得救的機會。(v16)
God gives the salvational opportunity to the countries who are wicked neighbors to seize the inheritance He gave his people Israel. (v16)
7>上帝表示:那欺負以色列百姓的國家,要是不聽從他,
God said that who seizes the inheritance He gave his people Israel and that do not obey Him will suffer destruction. (v17)
主題:愛怒交織的上帝。Theme: God is in love and anger
二、上帝、耶穌基督、聖靈是誰?Who is God, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit?
1>深愛祂子民的上帝。(v7)God loves His people deeply. (v7)
2>將所愛子民拋棄的上帝。(v7)God will abandon the people that He loves. (v7)
3>遭祂子民背叛的上帝。(v8) God had been betrayed by His inheritance. (v8)
4>大發烈怒的上帝。(v13) God is furious. (v13)
5>掌管國度權柄的上帝。(v14-15)God is in charge of the Kingdom of Heaven.
6>永生的上帝。(v16)God is eternity. (v16)
7>施行拯救的上帝。(v16)God is salvation. (v16)
8>施行審判的上帝。(v17) God is justice. (v17)
三、給我的教訓(命令、應允、榜樣、責備、警告)是什麼?Wha
1>由愛引發的憤怒 Anger by love
上主說:我拋棄了以色列,棄絕了我揀選的國。
上帝對猶大(以色列百姓)的愛,可以用「款款情深」來形容。
God said: "I will forsake my house, abandon my inheritance; I will give the one I love
into the hands of her enemies. (v7)
We may use “Tender Love" to describe God’s love to Judah (Israeli people), because God regarded them as His property, the one He loves, His vineyard, His beautiful people --- and so on. Obviously, they all belong to God, they are God's beloved. The relationship between God and them is extremely close. But, due to Judah (Israeli people) who repeatedly didn’t listen to God’s calling and opposed God’s will, led to God’s complete disappointment and changed His love to anger. God said: “I will forsake my house, abandon my inheritance; I will give the one I love into the hands of her enemies”
反省:上帝愛我,如同愛當時的以色列百姓一樣。
Reflection: God loves me as He loved the people of Israel at that time. Am I in the same situation as the people of Israel, who were against Him and did things made Him angry?
2>上帝憤怒的原因 Why is God angry?
我的選民背叛我;他們像森林中的獅子向我怒吼,因此我厭惡他們。
以色列百姓是上帝的摯愛,但這位對他們用情至深的上帝,
My inheritance has become to me like a lion in the forest. She roars at me; therefore I hate her. (v8)
Israeli people are God's beloved; how come God’s profound love to them became a great anger? The reason is: His people were not only against Him, they were "like a roaring lion in the forest” with a ferocious attitude towards Him. Not only did they contempt God, they were hostile towards God. Therefore, it hurt God's feeling; it brought the wrath of God.
反省:在我的生涯當中,是否曾經作過哪些事,
Reflection: In my life, have I ever done things that make God angry? Am I a lovable child? Or a troublesome child that often irritates God?
3>領袖未善盡職責Leaders did not fulfill the duties
我的選民像鳥兒被老鷹圍攻;老鷹呼喚野獸來分享獵物。
上帝接著責備選民的領袖(牧人),
Has not my inheritance become to me like a speckled bird of prey that other birds of prey surround and attack? Go and gather all the wild beasts; bring them to devour. Many shepherds will ruin my vineyard and trample down my field; they will turn my pleasant field into a desolate wasteland. It will be made a wasteland, parched and desolate before me; the whole land will be laid waste because there is no one who cares. Over all the barren heights in the desert destroyers will swarm, for the sword of the LORD will devour from one end of the land to the other; no one will be safe. (v9-12)
God then blamed the leaders (shepherds), because they did not fulfill their responsibility of guiding the people, and even allowed the people to walk on the wrong path and betray God. It is the cause of the beautiful vineyards becoming the barren wilderness. When the whole land is in ruins, surprisingly, no one was concerned about this matter.
反省:身為領袖(國家、教會、家庭---等)的我,
Reflection: To be the leader (country, church, the family --- and so on), am I fulfilling the mission entrusted by God? Do I fulfill the management and pastoral responsibilities?
4>國度權柄掌管者 The authority of the Kingdom of Heaven
上主這樣說:至於那些鄰國,因侵佔了我賜給我子民以色列的土地,
上帝宣佈:祂也掌管那欺負猶大國(以色列百姓)的鄰邦國家。
This is what the LORD says: "As for all my wicked neighbors who seize the inheritance I gave my people Israel, I will uproot them from their lands and I will uproot the house of Judah from among them. (v14)
God said: He is also in charge of the wicked neighbors who seize the people of Israel. There were countries that looted Judah (Israel people) with God's permission. God used them temporarily to discipline His people, because God is just, those that bullied Judah (Israel, the people) will also be looted, and hurt by the justice trial. God will make them subject to violation by other neighboring countries. God will re-build Judah (the people of Israel) to rescue them.
反省:我是否曾經看不見上帝,甚至企圖憑己力超越上帝?
Reflection: Have I ever not seen God, or even attempted to rely on myself to surpass God? Or do I submit myself completely to Him?
5>相信就蒙恩得救 To believe is to be saved and blessed
但是,我拔除了他們以後,要再憐憫他們,讓他們回歸故土。
針對那些欺負猶大國(以色列百姓)的鄰邦國家,當上帝懲罰他們、
But after I uproot them, I will again have compassion and will bring each of them back to his own inheritance and his own country. And if they learn well the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying, 'As surely as the LORD lives'-even as they once taught my people to swear by Baal—then they will be established among my people.(v15-16)
When God punishes and uproots the neighboring countries who bullied Judah (Israel, the people), God will once again have mercy on them and allow them to return to their homeland. If they sincerely accept to believe in God, swear in the name by Baal, they will be able to coexist with God's people and share prosperity. All people and nations belong to God, The Gospel is for all people and all nations, Just as John 1:12 says “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”
反省:我是否真正接待主耶穌,相信主耶穌的名?
Reflection: Have I really received the Lord Jesus? Do I believe the name of the Lord Jesus? Have I already become a child of God?
6>慈愛公義的上帝 God is full of love and righteousness
要是他們誠心接受我子民的信仰,指著我─永生上主的名發誓,
因為上帝是普天之下,萬國、萬民的上帝。所以,
And if they learn well the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying, 'As surely as the LORD lives'-even as they once taught my people to swear by Baal—then they will be established among my people. But if any nation does not listen, I will completely uproot and destroy it," declares the LORD. (v16-17)
Because God is everywhere, all people and all nations belong to God, including those neighboring countries that have bullied Judah (Israel, the people), even Gentile countries. God also gives them the chance to be saved. As long as they sincerely accept to believe in God, swear to the name of the eternal Lord, they will be able to coexist with God’s people and shared prosperity. Conversely, if they refuse to obey the word of God, God will uproot them, eliminate them. God is full of love, he is also the God of justice; He leaves the opportunity of salvation to everyone.
反省:以上兩種人,我是屬於哪一種?我的選擇是傾向永生?
Reflection: In the two kinds of people mentioned above, which group do I belong to? Does my preference tend to eternal life or to extinction?
Translated into English by Teresa Yang
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