直到神眷顧的日子(耶二十七) 中英bilingual

至於你們，不可聽從你們的先知和占卜的、圓夢的、觀兆的，以及行邪術的；他們告訴你們說：你們不至服事巴比倫王。他們向你們說假預言，要叫你們遷移，遠離本地，以致我將你們趕出去，使你們滅亡。但哪一邦肯把頸項放在巴比倫王的軛下服事他，我必使那邦仍在本地存留，得以耕種居住。這是耶和華說的。（耶 27：9-11） 

本章神讓耶利米透過具體的象徵行動與宣告，傳達耶和華的主權以及對列國的管教計畫：當時以東、摩押、亞捫、推羅、西頓的使者正聚集在耶路撒冷，試圖拉攏猶大王結盟抵抗巴比倫。神要耶利米製造繩索與軛，套在自己的頸項上，將這些軛送給各國使者，帶回給他們的君王。這個動作表達了列國都要服膺於巴比倫，順從的就存留生命，反抗的必遭滅絕。接著對著猶大王發出相同的警告。 

當時猶大國夾在兩個大國埃及與巴比倫之間，已經是苟延殘喘；多次被攻打，聖殿的器皿、王宮的財物早早被擄走，許多人被擄去，包含我們熟知的但以理、以西結。前一任國王約雅斤也被擄到巴比倫，西底家王甚至是尼布甲尼撒王所立！有史學家認為這個時候巴比倫國內可能有叛亂，加上埃及的推波助瀾，夾在中間的小國紛紛認為時候到了，可以藉機脫離巴比倫。在各國的國內也有「先知」預言他們會成功：「你們不致服事巴比倫王。」(耶 27：9)、「耶和華殿中的器皿快要從巴比倫帶回來。」(耶 27：16) 

但耶利米傳了神的話，告訴他們：「要接受神的安排，要投降、被擄才可活命。」這是神因著公義所定的懲罰，因為猶大國和耶路撒冷城的人民拒絕聽從神的話，卻追隨偶像與邪惡的事。耶利米的作為與訊息在各國與君王眼中，無異於公開唱衰，極難被接受。從後來的歷史看來，耶利米因著傳這樣災禍的信息，被人誣陷是投靠了巴比倫而抓起來。而西底家王儘管多次請耶利米求問神，最終卻仍選擇背叛巴比倫，以致被巴比倫完全滅絕，城牆與聖殿都被拆毀。 

耶利米的警告，看似沒有轉圜的餘地：難道只能繼續被巴比倫挾制，或者魚死網破嗎？他在同一章的末尾留下了一線盼望： 必被帶到巴比倫存在那裡，直到我眷顧以色列人的日子。那時，我必將這器皿帶回來，交還此地。這是耶和華說的。(耶 27：22) 

儘管先知所傳「接受神的安排、投降才能活命」的信息非常違反直覺，在當時的環境下，甚至會被認為是軟弱、投敵。但神的心意從來不只是懲罰，而是要保全他的百姓。被擄、被毀不代表神不看顧了，反而使以色列人因為這經歷的緣故，信仰變得更加堅定：雖然聖殿被毀，他們卻在巴比倫時反省沉澱、重新堅定起來，因先知信息中這一點點回歸的盼望，更加重視神的話語，立志到了「神眷顧以色列人的日子」，要回去重建城牆、重建聖殿、重建家園。原來神不是只有施行懲罰之事，神終歸是要他的子民回轉向他！ 

我們生活中是否有過神的安排，看似讓人損失或退讓，卻其實是保全、看顧呢？是否在遭遇災禍患難時，不沉溺於失敗痛苦，而是重新省察自己與神的關係？是否在先知的話語中，看到將來的盼望呢？ 

耶和華說：我知道我向你們所懷的意念是賜平安的意念，不是降災禍的意念，要叫你們末後有指望。(耶 29：11) 

by 李亮瑩

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

Until the Day of God’s Visitation (Jeremiah 27)

July 24, 2026

And as for you, do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your soothsayers, or your sorcerers who talk to you, saying, “You will not serve the king of Babylon.” For they are prophesying a lie to you in order to remove you far from your land; and I will drive you away and you will perish. But the nation that will bring its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will let remain on its land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and they will cultivate it and live in it.’ ”

(Jeremiah 27:9-11 NASB2020)

In this chapter, the LORD instructed Jeremiah to deliver a powerful message through both symbolic action and  proclamation, revealing His absolute sovereignty and His plan to discipline the nations.At that time, messengers from Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon had gathered in Jerusalem, seeking to persuade King of Judah to form an alliance against Babylon. God commanded Jeremiah to make straps and yokes, place one upon his own neck, and send the others to these foreign kings through their messengers. This vivid act proclaimed that all these nations would come under Babylon’s rule. Those who submitted would preserve their lives, while those who resisted would face destruction. Jeremiah then delivered the same warning directly to the king of Judah.

kingdom of Judah found itself trapped between two great powers—Egypt and Babylon—and was barely surviving. Babylon had already invaded many times, carrying away the treasures of the temple and the royal palace, along with many captives, including the well-knownDaniel and Ezekiel. The former king, Jehoiachin, had already been exiled to Babylon, and King Zedekiah himself had been established by Nebuchadnezzar.Some historians believe Babylon was experiencing internal unrest at this time. In addition Egypt's push, many smaller nations assumed the opportunity had come to break free from Babylonian control. Meanwhile, “prophets” arose in these nations predicted that they will succeed: “You will not serve the king of Babylon” (Jer. 27:9), and “The vessels of the LORD’s house will soon be brought back from Babylon” (Jer. 27:16).

Yet Jeremiah faithfully proclaimed God’s word: "Accept God’s discipline. Surrender and go into exile, and you will live". This was God’s righteous judgment upon kingdom of Judah and Jerusalem because the people had continually rejected His word and pursued idols and wickedness. To the surrounding nations and even to Judah’s own king, Jeremiah’s actions and message sounded like public defeatism and were nearly impossible to accept. History later confirmed Jeremiah’s warning. Because he proclaimed such a message of judgment, he was falsely accused of defecting to Babylon and was imprisoned. Although King Zedekiah repeatedly sought Jeremiah to inquire of the LORD, he ultimately chose to rebel against Babylon.Jerusalem was completely destroyed, its walls torn down, and the temple reduced to ruins.

At first glance, Jeremiah’s message seems to leave no room for hope. Was there no alternative except continued submission to Babylon or utter destruction? Yet at the end of the chapter, leave a glimmer of hope:

“They will be brought to Babylon and will be there until the day I visit them,” declares the Lord. “Then I will bring them back and restore them to this place.” 

(Jeremiah 27:22 NASB2020)

Although the prophet’s message—“Accept God’s discipline; surrender if you want to live”—was completely contrary to human instinct and could easily be viewed as weakness or even betrayal. Yet God’s purpose was never merely to punish. His desire was to preserve His people.Exile and destruction did not mean that God had abandoned them. On the contrary, through these experiences, faith becomes more firm. During their years in Babylon, the people reflected, repented, and renewed their faith. Even though the temple had been destroyed, the hope contained in the prophetic promise of restoration led them to treasure God’s Word more deeply. They looked forward to the day when God would visit His people, when they would return to rebuild the walls, restore the temple, and reclaim their homeland.God’s work is never limited to judgment alone. His ultimate desire is always to bring His people back to Himself.

Have we experienced times when God’s arrangements seemed to involve loss, surrender, or retreat, yet were actually His way of protecting and preserving us? When trials and suffering come, do we remain trapped in disappointment, or do we examine our relationship with God more deeply? And when we read the words of the prophets, do we recognize the hope that they point us toward?

For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

(Jeremiah 29:11 NASB2020)

By Robin Lee