A true and incomparable God

March 3^rd , 2010

Jeremiah10:1-16 (NIV)

God and Idols

¹ Hear what the LORD says to you, O house of Israel. ² This is what the LORD says:
"Do not learn the ways of the nations
or be terrified by signs in the sky,
though the nations are terrified by them.

³ For the customs of the peoples are worthless;
they cut a tree out of the forest,
and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.

⁴ They adorn it with silver and gold;
they fasten it with hammer and nails
so it will not totter.

⁵ Like a scarecrow in a melon patch,
their idols cannot speak;
they must be carried
because they cannot walk.
Do not fear them;
they can do no harm
nor can they do any good."

⁶ No one is like you, O LORD;
you are great,
and your name is mighty in power.

⁷ Who should not revere you,
O King of the nations?
This is your due.
Among all the wise men of the nations
and in all their kingdoms,
there is no one like you.

⁸ They are all senseless and foolish;
they are taught by worthless wooden idols.

⁹ Hammered silver is brought from Tarshish
and gold from Uphaz.
What the craftsman and goldsmith have made
is then dressed in blue and purple—
all made by skilled workers.

¹⁰ But the LORD is the true God;
he is the living God, the eternal King.
When he is angry, the earth trembles;
the nations cannot endure his wrath.

¹¹ "Tell them this: 'These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.' "

¹² But God made the earth by his power;
he founded the world by his wisdom
and stretched out the heavens by his understanding.

¹³ When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar;
he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth.
He sends lightning with the rain
and brings out the wind from his storehouses.

¹⁴ Everyone is senseless and without knowledge;
every goldsmith is shamed by his idols.
His images are a fraud;
they have no breath in them.

¹⁵ They are worthless, the objects of mockery;
when their judgment comes, they will perish.

¹⁶ He who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these,
for he is the Maker of all things,
including Israel, the tribe of his inheritance—
the LORD Almighty is his name.

10:1 以色列人哪，你們要聽耶和華對你們所說的話。10:2 他這樣說：你們不要隨從異國的風俗習慣。雖然他們被天空奇異的景象騷擾，你們不要像他們那樣驚恐。10:3 他們所信奉的毫無價值，不過是林中砍下的木頭，由匠人所雕刻，10:4 用金銀修飾，用釘釘牢，使它們不至於跌倒。10:5 他們的偶像好像瓜田裏的稻草人：它們不能說話，不能走路，要人抬著走。所以不要怕它們！它們不能加害你們，也不能幫助你們。10:6 上主啊，沒有人能跟你相比；你真偉大，你的聖名大有能力。10:7 你是萬國的君王，誰不敬畏？你應受尊崇。列國的智者和君王沒有一個比得上你。10:8 他們都愚蠢無知；他們能從木頭偶像學到甚麼呢？10:9 他們的偶像鑲著從他施進口的銀，從烏法輸入的金。它們穿著藍色、紫色的衣服，都是木匠、銀匠的創作。10:10 上主啊，惟有你是真神，是永生的上帝，永恆的君王。你一震怒，大地震動；你的怒氣使萬國站立不住。10:11 我的子民哪，你們要向他們宣告，偶像不是創造天地的神。它們一定要被消滅，從天地間消失。10:12 上主以大能創造大地；他以智慧建立世界，以聰明展開天空。10:13 他一發令，天空上的水澎湃；他使雲朵從地平線浮現。他使閃電在雨中發光；他使風從自己的倉庫吹出。10:14 這景象使人自覺愚蠢無知；金匠對自己造的偶像失望，因為他們造的神明虛假，沒有生命。10:15 偶像毫無價值，荒謬可笑；上主對付它們，它們都要消滅。10:16 雅各的上帝不像這些偶像：他創造萬物，選召以色列作自己的子民。他的名是耶和華─萬軍的統帥。

一、中心內容：

內容：
1>先知耶利米呼籲以色列百姓，不要隨從外邦風俗。（v1-2）Jeremiah called the people not to follow the pagan’s customs. (v1-2)
2>先知耶利米指出：神明偶像完全沒有用處、一點也不能幫助人。（v3-5）Jeremiah pointed out that idols were neither of use nor of help. (v3-5)
3>先知耶利米頌讚上帝的偉大，是無人能夠相比的。（v6-9、v10）Jeremiah praised the incomparable greatness of God. (v6-9, 10)
4>先知耶利米頌讚上帝是大有能力永活的真神。（v10）Jeremiah praised the Almighty God who is forever living. (v10)
5>先知耶利米呼籲以色列百姓要宣告上帝才是真神，偶像是該滅亡的。（v11）Jeremiah called for the Israelites’ proclamation that God is the true God and that idols should be destroyed. (v11)
6>先知耶利米述說上帝奇妙的作為。（v12-16）Jeremiah described the wonderful work of God. (v12-16)

主題：
1>無可比擬的真神。A true and incomparable God
2>上帝與偶像。God VS idols

二、上帝、耶穌基督、聖靈是誰？

1>啟示（向人類說話）的上帝。（v1）God reveals ( speaks) to mankind.(v1)
2>忌邪（怨恨選民祭拜偶像）的上帝。（v2）God abhors and resents evil deeds (idol worshiping). (v2)
3>無人能比、至高偉大的上帝。（v6、v7）The incomparable and great God. (v6-7)
4>聖名帶著極大能力的上帝。（v6）God’s name is mighty in power. (v6)
5>萬國的君王上帝。（v7）The God of nations.( v7)
6>配得敬畏尊崇的上帝。（v7）God is worthy of reverence. (V7)
7>永活的真神上帝。（v10）The Living God. (V10)
8>創造天地萬物的上帝。（v11-12、v16）God created the heavens and the earth. (v11-12, 16)

三、給我的教訓（命令、應允、榜樣、責備、警告）是什麼？

1>「無能的」與「全能的」（v2-7）The incapable VS the Omnipotent
他 這樣說：你們不要隨從異國的風俗習慣。雖然他們被天空奇異的景象騷擾，你們不要像他們那樣驚恐。他們所信奉的毫無價值，不過是林中砍下的木頭，由匠人所雕 刻，用金銀修飾，用釘釘牢，使它們不至於跌倒。他們的偶像好像瓜田裏的稻草人：它們不能說話，不能走路，要人抬著走。所以不要怕它們！它們不能加害你們， 也不能幫助你們。（v2-5）上主啊，沒有人能跟你相比；你真偉大，你的聖名大有能力。你是萬國的君王，誰不敬畏？你應受尊崇。列國的智者和君王沒有一個 比得上你。（v6-7）

In verses 2-7, ² This is what the LORD says: "Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them. ³ For the customs of the peoples are worthless; they cut a tree out of the forest, and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel. ⁴ They adorn it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it will not totter. ⁵ Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them;
they can do no harm nor can they do any good." ⁶ No one is like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power. ⁷ Who should not revere you, O King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise men of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you.

先知耶利米解釋：因為人類對大自然奇異的景象不了解，導致產生驚慌的心，進一步憑著想像製造偶像來祭拜，以期使自己安心。 然而，因為偶像是人手所造的，所以需要靠人的方法固定它，需要有人抬著它才能行走動。它就像稻草人一樣，不能說話、不能行動、不能降災、不能賜福。然而， 上帝卻完全不一樣。因為上帝是大有能力的真神，萬國的君王都要懼怕祂，列國的智慧人也都比不上祂。祂是全能的真神！
Jeremiah explained that in order to make peace between themselves and nature, human beings crafted idols to worship. Because they did not have any knowledge about natural phenomena, they were afraid. However, idols were crafted by humans; they were to be secured and carried around by human beings. They were like scarecrows which could not talk nor walk; they could do no harm nor could they bless. God is different from them. Only He, mighty in power, is to be revered by kings of nations and no wise man of the nations can compare with Him. He is the omnipotent and true God.

2>「死的」與「活的」（v8-10）The Dead VS the Living
他們都愚蠢無知；他們能從木頭偶像學到甚麼呢？他們的偶像鑲著從他施進口的銀，從烏法輸入的金。它們穿著藍色、紫色的衣服，都是木匠、銀匠的創作。（v8-9）上主啊，惟有你是真神，是永生的上帝，永恆的君王。你一震怒，大地震動；你的怒氣使萬國站立不住。（v10）

¹⁰ But the LORD is the true God; he is the living God, the eternal King. When he is angry, the earth trembles; the nations cannot endure his wrath. (v10)
先知耶利米表示：偶像無論用多麼貴重的材料製造，無論塗裝上多麼美麗的外表，也不過是木頭、是死的物品而已。然而，上帝卻是真神，是永生的上帝，是永恆的君王、是充滿大能大力的真神！
Jeremiah said that in spite of their precious materials and beautiful adornments, the idols were merely made of wood and were lifeless things. God is true and forever living, He is the eternal King who is mighty in power.

3>「被造者」與「創造者」（v11-12）The created VS the Creator (v11-12)
我的子民哪，你們要向他們宣告，偶像不是創造天地的神。它們一定要被消滅，從天地間消失。（v11）上主以大能創造大地；他以智慧建立世界，以聰明展開天空。他一發令，天空上的水澎湃；他使雲朵從地平線浮現。他使閃電在雨中發光；他使風從自己的倉庫吹出。（v12-13）

¹¹ "Tell them this: 'These gods, who did not make the heavens and the earth, will perish from the earth and from under the heavens.' " ^{[a] 12} But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. ¹³ When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses. (v11-13)
偶像既然是人手所造的，所以就不是永恆的，遲早一定要被消滅，要從天地之間消失。但是，上帝卻完全不一樣。祂以大能創造大地，以智慧建立世界，祂一發令，天空上的水澎湃；祂使雲朵從地平線浮現。總而言之，祂不僅創造這世界，而且掌管這世界。
Idols are made by human beings; they are not eternal and will perish sooner or later. They will be wiped out from the face of the earth. God is not like that. He made the earth by His power; founded the world by His wisdom; when He thunders, the waters of the heavens roar; He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. To sum it all up, He not only created the world; He also governs it.
4>「虛假的」與「真實的」（v14-16）the fraud VS the real
這景象使人自覺愚蠢無知；金匠對自己造的偶像失望，因為他們造的神明虛假，沒有生命。偶像毫無價值，荒謬可笑；上主對付它們，它們都要消滅。（v14-15）雅各的上帝不像這些偶像：他創造萬物，選召以色列作自己的子民。他的名是耶和華─萬軍的統帥。（v16）

¹⁴ Everyone is senseless and without knowledge; every goldsmith is shamed by his idols. His images are a fraud; they have no breath in them. ¹⁵ They are worthless, the objects of mockery; when their judgment comes, they will perish. ¹⁶ He who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these, for he is the Maker of all things, including Israel, the tribe of his inheritance— the LORD Almighty is his name. (V14-16)

先知耶利米表示：金匠對自己造的偶像失望，因為他們造的神明虛假，沒有生命。偶像毫無價值，荒謬可笑；上主對付它們，它們都要消滅-----因為它們都是假的。
但是雅各（以色列）的上帝，卻不像這些偶像，因為祂創造了萬物，而且選召以色列作自己的子民。祂的名是上主---萬軍的統帥-----因此，惟有祂才是真神。
Jeremiah mentioned the goldsmiths’ disappointment with the idols they made which were counterfeit and lifeless. The idols they made were objects of mockery and were worthless. God would destroy them, because they were false gods. The God of Jacob is not like those idols, because He created everything and chose Israel to be His people. His name is God the Almighty, the true God.
反省：針對偶像與上帝的比較，就是：「無能的」與「全能的」、「死的」與「活的」、「被造者」與「創造者」、「虛假的」與「真實的」---等，我是否具備分辨的智慧？
Reflection: Do I have the wisdom to discern the comparisons between God and idols, such as “the incapable VS the Omnipotent”; “the Dead VS the Living”; “the created VS the Creator”; “the fraud VS the real”, etc. …?



四、我的禱告 / 實際應用