路過的人，當定睛看（哀一）中英bilingual

先前滿有人民的城，現在何竟獨坐！耶路撒冷大大犯罪，所以成為不潔之物；他不思想自己的結局，所以非常地敗落，無人安慰他。（參哀 1：1、8、9） 

本章是先知耶利米對聖城耶路撒冷被巴比倫摧毀、荒涼的哀嘆，前半部採取旁觀者的角度敘述，後半以聖城「擬人化」的第一人稱描繪、反思，將現下艱困與歷史定局的緣由，再以屬靈的角度，給予讀者答案！以解經的角度，本章22 節採用離合體（Acrostic）結構，22 個經節分以 22 個希伯來字母順序為每節的開頭，更讓本章在靈性反思的高度之外，更添一分文學的欣賞價值。 

過往繁華是因神同在；如今國破家亡、眾叛親離，也在8-9節「大大的犯罪」、「不思想自己的結局」，看到從尊榮聖城落得卑賤、終日淒涼發昏的原因。神是掌管歷史的主，選民如今的悽慘，放眼千年後的今日，不也是一個深刻的教訓嗎？當我們今日明白世上有一位真神，我們應當信真神；然選擇相信以後，是否有徹頭徹尾痛改前非，修正自己的過錯，過「分別為聖」的生活呢？還是安於輕省、體貼情慾，不思想結局，只縱情於當下呢？ 

錫安舉手，無人安慰。耶和華是公義的！他這樣待我，是因我違背他的命令。眾民哪，請聽我的話，看我的痛苦；耶和華啊，求你觀看，因為我在急難中。（參哀 1：17、18、20） 

本章的後段，卻能夠看到宛如「擦亮屬靈眼睛」般的深刻反省，先知用聖城為第一人稱，表述懇切的反省，且不將這樣的結局和難堪隱藏，盼往後的所有人「引以為鑒」，用自己活生生血淋淋的教訓，示警萬民、莫要重蹈覆轍。字裡行間，滿有痛徹心扉的懊悔，也不時向神發出哀求、期盼神的憐憫。 

或許後世讀者，會說那時候「隕落的城、被擄的民」是最壞榜樣與最差下場，然而筆者回想過去在軍中的日子，許多時候，從自己與他人的過犯中記取教訓，就是自己的重要課題，也是讓團體更為完整、和諧的過程；當自己或路過體罰現場、看到同袍因不得宜的表現，遭到學長、長官責難，在那個當下，「睜大眼睛看清楚、用心記清楚，不要因為同樣的事情再讓責罵臨到自己」，就是最重要的學習，在還是菜鳥的時候，天天被罰被罵是家常便飯，然而一群菜鳥聚在一起並不能對抗體制，卻可以在相互提醒、分享過程中，知道很多人事物的紅線，可以避免犯相同錯誤，免得個人受罰或者連坐罰。 

信仰的路雖然與筆者軍中生活經歷不同，但也諸多相似！人難免軟弱，但應當在不斷的跌倒中，學會站立穩妥、學會避開令人跌倒的路，學會找到可攙扶的力量；人難免孤獨，但應當效法聖經彼此相愛，成為同靈信仰路上的力量，成為禱告的手；你們一切過路的人哪，這事你們不介意嗎？你們要觀看：有像這臨到我的痛苦沒有，就是耶和華在他發烈怒的日子使我所受的苦？（哀 1：12）我們一群人，因為信同一位真神，認識彼此，路過彼此的人生，當我們看到苦痛、教訓，我們要從聖經、屬靈角度反思自己的行止，因為「人對人」的批評、指責，可能天天發生，讓我們可以常常借鑒、反思，然而神再臨的日子，卻沒有重來的可能，因此，我們都應當從先知、選民，甚至今日信仰過程中的種種，明白神的道，認罪、悔改、「不貳過」，不要在神發烈怒的日子後悔莫及！ 

弟兄們，若有人偶然被過犯所勝，你們屬靈的人就當用溫柔的心把他挽回過來；又當自己小心，恐怕也被引誘。你們各人的重擔要互相擔當，如此，就完全了基督的律法。（加 6：1-2） 

by 曾睦恩

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

You Who Pass by, Look Closely (Lamentations 1)

August 19, 2026

“How lonely sits the city that was full of people! ... Jerusalem sinned greatly, therefore she has become an unclean thing... She did not consider her future, so she fell astonishingly; she has no comforter.” (cf. Lamentations 1:1, 8, 9 NASB2020)

This chapter is the prophet Jeremiah's lamentation over the destruction and desolation of the holy city of Jerusalem by Babylon. The first half is narrated from an onlooker's perspective, while the second half uses a "personified" first-person perspective of the holy city to portray and reflect, providing readers with a spiritual answer to the present hardships and historical outcomes! From an exegetical standpoint, the 22 verses of this chapter utilize an “acrostic” structure, with each verse starting with a letter of the 22 Hebrew letters in order. This adds literary appreciation value beyond its spiritual reflection height.

Past prosperity was due to God's presence; today's national ruin, shattered homes, and abandonment by friends stem from verse 8–9 "sinned greatly" and "did not consider her future." Here we see the reasons why the glorious holy city sank into lowliness and daily desolation. God is the Lord who reigns over history. Is not the tragic state of the chosen people—viewed today, thousands of years later—also a profound lesson? Today, when we understand thatu there is a true God in the world, we should believe in Him. Yet after choosing to believe, have we thoroughly repented, corrected our mistakes, and lived a "sanctified" life? Or do we settle for ease, indulge the flesh, ignore the final outcome, and merely indulge in the present?

“Zion stretches out her hands; there is no one to comfort her... The LORD is righteous; for I have rebelled against His command. Hear now, all peoples, and behold my pain... Look, LORD, for I am in distress.” (cf. Lamentations 1:17, 18, 20 NASB2020) In the latter part of this chapter, however, we can see a profound reflection as if "polish the spiritual eyes." Using the holy city as the first person, the prophet expresses earnest reflection and does not hide this tragic ending and embarrassment. He hopes all future generations will "take it as a warning," using his own living, bloody lesson to warn all peoples not to repeat the same mistakes. Between the lines, there is heart-wrenching regret, alongside frequent pleas to God, hoping for His mercy.

Perhaps future 

readers might say that the "fallen city and captive people" at that time were the worst examples and the worst endings. However, reflecting on my past days in the military, learning lessons from my own and others' fault was often an important task, as well as a process that made the group more complete and harmonious. When passing by a site of physical punishment or seeing comrades being reprimanded by seniors or officers due to improper conduct, the most important learning at that moment was: "keep your eyes wide open to see clearly, remember it in your heart, and do not let rebuke fall on yourself for the  same thing." As a rookie soldier, being punished and scolding daily was common occurrence. Yet a group of rookies gathered together could not fight the system; instead, through mutual reminders and sharing, we learned the red lines of various matters and could avoid making the same mistakes, to avoid individuals from punishment or collective discipline.

Although the path of faith differs from my military life experiences, there are many similarities! People are inevitably weak, but amid continuous stumbles, we should learn to stand firm, learn to avoid paths that cause us to stumble, and learn to find strength to hold on to. People inevitably feel lonely, but we should imitate the Bible in loving one another, becoming a source of strength for brothers and sisters on the journey of faith, and becoming hands lifted in prayer.“Is it nothing to all of you who pass by? Look and see if there is any pain like my pain which was severely dealt to me, which the LORD has inflicted on the day of His fierce anger.” (Lamentations 1:12 NASB2020)As a group of people who know one another and pass by each other's lives because we believe in the same true God, when we see suffering and lessons, we must reflect on our own conduct from a biblical and spiritual perspective. Human criticism and accusations against one another may happen every day, allowing us to frequently learn and reflect; however, on the day of God's return, there is no second chance. Therefore, all of us should understand God's way through the prophets, the chosen people, and various experiences in today's faith journey—confessing, repenting, and "not repeating mistakes"—so that we do not regret too late after the day of God's fierce anger!

Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:1–2 NASB2020) 

By  Mu-En Tseng