想一想当你看到你所爱的人拒绝接受有助于使他们康复的药物或治疗的时刻。这真的很痛苦,虽然有时除了向神呼求外,也没有别的办法。
这就是耶利米在这段经文中所做的。耶利米是神差遣的先知,叫他的百姓接受只有神才能提供的医治。但百姓不愿意回转向神求告。
作为哀伤的一部份,耶利米问了一个充满悲伤的问题。“基列没有乳香吗?在那里岂没有医生呢?” 尽管耶利米问了这个问题,但他知道答案:医治之道是有的。
古代以色列的基列地区以当地树上的医治乳香而闻名。我们今天使用的许多药物也是从树叶和树皮中提取的。例如,阿司匹林就来自柳树中的水杨酸。但耶利米也在说,即使基列到处都是医治的树,但真正的医治者是神自己。
在一首古老的属灵赞美诗《基列有乳香》中,作者将耶利米的问题反转为陈述,这首歌的结论是:不仅有医治的乳香,而且这乳香就是神的灵,他使我们的灵魂再次复苏。
主我们的神,有时候我们不知道该怎么做才能帮助我们所爱的人。我们看到他们的错误,这让我们心碎。请帮助他们转向你,使他们能够接受你医治的爱。我们知道你是一切和每个人的医治者。奉你的名祷告。阿们。
耶利米书 8:4-22
4“你要对他们说:‘耶和华如此说:人跌倒,不再起来吗?人转去,不再转来吗?
5这耶路撒冷的民为何恒久背道呢?他们守定诡诈,不肯回头。
6我留心听,听见他们说不正直的话,无人悔改恶行说:“我做的是什么呢?”他们各人转奔己路,如马直闯战场。
7空中的鹳鸟知道来去的定期,斑鸠燕子与白鹤也守候当来的时令,我的百姓却不知道耶和华的法则。
8‘你们怎么说“我们有智慧,耶和华的律法在我们这里”?看哪,文士的假笔舞弄虚假。
9智慧人惭愧,惊惶,被擒拿,他们弃掉耶和华的话,心里还有什么智慧呢?
10所以我必将他们的妻子给别人,将他们的田地给别人为业。因为他们从最小的到至大的都一味地贪婪,从先知到祭司都行事虚谎。
11他们轻轻忽忽地医治我百姓的损伤,说“平安了!平安了!”,其实没有平安。
12他们行可憎的事知道惭愧吗?不然!他们毫不惭愧,也不知羞耻。因此,他们必在仆倒的人中仆倒,我向他们讨罪的时候,他们必致跌倒。’”这是耶和华说的。
13耶和华说:“我必使他们全然灭绝。葡萄树上必没有葡萄,无花果树上必没有果子,叶子也必枯干。我所赐给他们的,必离开他们过去。”
14“我们为何静坐不动呢?我们当聚集,进入坚固城,在那里静默不言。因为耶和华我们的神使我们静默不言,又将苦胆水给我们喝,都因我们得罪了耶和华。
15我们指望平安,却得不着好处;指望痊愈的时候,不料受了惊惶!
16听见从但那里敌人的马喷鼻气,他的壮马发嘶声,全地就都震动。因为他们来吞灭这地和其上所有的,吞灭这城与其中的居民。”
17“看哪,我必使毒蛇到你们中间,是不服法术的,必咬你们。”这是耶和华说的。
18我有忧愁,愿能自慰,我心在我里面发昏。
19听啊,是我百姓的哀声从极远之地而来,说:“耶和华不在锡安吗?锡安的王不在其中吗?”耶和华说:“他们为什么以雕刻的偶像和外邦虚无的神惹我发怒呢?”
20“麦秋已过,夏令已完,我们还未得救!”
21先知说:因我百姓的损伤,我也受了损伤;我哀痛,惊惶将我抓住。
22在基列岂没有乳香呢?在那里岂没有医生呢?我百姓为何不得痊愈呢?
"Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then is there no healing for the wound of my people?" - Jeremiah 8:22
Think of a time when you have seen someone you love reject the medicine or treatment that would help to make them well. It's really painful to watch, though sometimes not much can be done except to cry out to God.
That is what Jeremiah is doing in this passage. Jeremiah was a prophet sent by God to call his people to receive the healing that only God could provide. But the people would not turn back to God.
As part of the lament, Jeremiah asks a question full of sadness: "Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?" Even though Jeremiah asks this question, he knows the answer: there is a cure.
The area of Gilead in ancient Israel was famous for its healing balm that came from the local trees. Much of the medicine we use today is also derived from leaves and bark. For example, aspirin comes from salicylic acid, which is found in willow trees. But Jeremiah is also saying that even though Gilead is full of healing trees, the real healer is God himself.
In an old spiritual hymn, "There Is a Balm in Gilead," the writer reverses Jeremiah's question into a statement, and the conclusion of the song is that not only is there a healing balm, but the balm is the Spirit of God, who revives our souls again.
Lord our God, sometimes we don't know what to do to help the people we love. We see their mistakes, and it breaks our hearts. Help them to turn to you so that they can receive your healing love. We know you are the healer of everything and everyone. In your name we pray. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳