我們所誇的是什麼？（耶九）中英bilingual

耶和華如此說：智慧人不要因他的智慧誇口，勇士不要因他的勇力誇口，財主不要因他的財物誇口。誇口的卻因他有聰明，認識我是耶和華，又知道我喜悅在世上施行慈愛、公平，和公義，以此誇口。這是耶和華說的。（耶 9：23-24） 

耶利米書第九章的背景發生在南朝猶大末期，當時百姓內心早已遠離神，充滿拜偶像、隨從巴力、貪婪不義與各樣罪惡。承接第八章的信息，因百姓不願悔改、靈命敗壞，先知耶利米為即將臨到的審判深深憂傷。  從第一節開始：「但願我的頭為水，我的眼為淚的泉源」，我們看見耶利米被稱為「流淚的先知」，因他親眼看見百姓離棄神，並知道他們將面臨神公義的審判，因此為他們痛哭流淚。  

當時的百姓行姦淫、說謊話、彼此欺騙、謀害他人，離棄神的律法，隨從自己頑梗的心，敬拜巴力，持續犯罪卻不願悔改。因此神宣告審判，要使耶路撒冷成為荒場，使百姓分散列邦，刀劍與災禍臨到他們，並吩咐哀哭的婦女前來為百姓舉哀。 

然而，在如此沉重的審判信息中，本章23至24節留下了最寶貴的信息：「智慧人不要因他的智慧誇口，勇士不要因他的勇力誇口，財主不要因他的財物誇口；誇口的卻因他有聰明，認識我是耶和華。」我們在世上，經常以能力、財富作為人生勝利的評判標準。為了進入所謂的人生勝利組，我們無所不用其極，甚至捨棄聚會與親近神的時間，去追求世上的成功。然而神提醒我們，這一切都會過去，唯有認識神才是真正永恆的福氣。  

讀到這段經文時，我不禁思考：要如何避免自己重蹈當年猶大百姓的覆轍呢？ 世間的榮耀富貴十分迷人，它讓我們看得見它的美好，也能真實地享受它所帶來的快感、便利與權力。然而，當我們逐漸沉溺其中時，內心的慾望也可能隨之膨脹，變得愈發貪婪，甚至為了得到更多而不擇手段。  

相較之下，認識神、與神同行，其中的美好並非立竿見影，甚至常常需要付出許多汗水與淚水。我們不但要遵守神的誡命，更要在生活中不斷栽種並結出屬靈的果子。這條道路並不輕鬆，比起眼前看得見的榮華富貴，那看不見的天上財寶，往往更容易使人失去耐心，甚至半途而廢。

面對如此多的誘惑，我們該如何持守信仰、不偏離神的道路呢？感謝神，祂了解我們的軟弱，因此賜下寶貴的聖靈，作為我們人生道路上最好的引導者。當我們願意順服聖靈的帶領，將神的話存記在心裡，就能在迷惘與試探中得到提醒與力量，不致偏離真道，並能持續朝著神所喜悅的方向前行。  

願我們都能不重蹈覆轍，將前人的所犯下的惡引以為鑑，別讓世界的價值觀、宴樂取代神的教導、同在，持守內心，不忘初心。 

不要愛世界和世界上的事。人若愛世界，愛父的心就不在他裡面了。因為凡世界上的事，就像肉體的情慾，眼目的情慾，並今生的驕傲，都不是從父來的，乃是從世界來的。這世界和其上的情慾都要過去，惟獨遵行神旨意的，是永遠常存。(約壹 2：15-17) 

By王馨妤

真耶穌教會石牌教會、天母教會線上講道

石牌教會https://www.youtube.com/@TJChurchShipai

天母教會https://www.youtube.com/c/TJC_Tianmu/featured

What do we boast about？（Jeremiah 9）

July 6, 2026

This is what the LORD says: “Let no wise man boast of his wisdom, nor let the mighty man boast of his might, nor a rich man boast of his riches; but let the one who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises mercy, justice, and righteousness on the earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. (Jeremiah 9:23-24, NASB)

Chapter 9 of Jeremiah happened in the context of the end times of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. The peoples at the time have already departed from God in their hearts, and filled with idolatry, following Baal, greedy for injustice and all sorts of evil sins. Following the message of chapter 8, because the peoples were unwilling to repent, their spirituality was corrupted, and the prophet Jeremiah is deeply grieved by the upcoming judgment. From the first verse: “Oh, that my head were waters And my eyes a fountain of tears,”, we see that Jeremiah has been deemed “the tearful prophet”, because he saw the peoples abandon God,  and know that they will face God’s righteous judgment, and so he wept bitterly for them. 

The peoples were committing sexual immorality, lying, lying to each other, plotting to harm others, and abandoning God’s commandments, following their own hearts to worship Baal, and continuously sinning without repentance. Therefore, God pronounced judgment: He will make Jerusalem a devastation and cause the people to be separated into different nations. Swords and calamity befalls them, and he instructed the wailing women to mourn for the people. However, amidst the heavy judgment and message, this phrases of 23 and 24 of this chapter left a very precious message: This is what the LORD says: “Let no wise man boast of his wisdom, nor let the mighty man boast of his might, nor a rich man boast of his riches; but let the one who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me,”. We, on earth, are often lacking in abilities, money becoming the standard of success in life. In order to become successful in life, we stop at nothing, even forsaking the time to come near God to chase after the success of the world. Yet, God reminds us, this will all pass away, only knowing God is the true and eternal blessing.  

When reading this passage, I thought to myself: how do I let myself not become like the Israelites? Earthly riches are incredibly alluring, it lets us see its good, and it can truly bring about pleasure, convenience, and power. Yet, when we slowly become immersed in it, the desires within our hearts will become inflated, becoming increasingly greedy, and even stopping at nothing to get more. 

In contrast, knowing God, following God, the beauty within does not manifest overnight; it often demands a great deal of sweat and tears. We must keep God’s commandments, living out our lives and continuously bearing spiritual fruits. This road is not easy, compared to the visions of the lavish splendors seen in front of us, we cannot see the treasures in heaven, and sometimes we lose patience, even giving up halfway. 

In facing these kinds of temptation, how do we maintain our faith and not go astray from God’s path? Thank God, He understands our weaknesses and has gifted us the more precious Holy Spirit, becoming the guide to our lives. When we are willing to submit to the Holy Spirit, and keep God’s word within our hearts, then we will receive strength when we are lost or in trouble, not leaving the Truth, and continuously going toward a direction that God is happy with. 

May we avoid repeating the same mistakes, taking heed to the wrongs committed by those before us, not letting worldly values and pleasures displace God’s teachings, abidance. Guard one’s heart and not forgetting original aspirations. 

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17, NASB)

By Xin Yu Wang