“风向指示图”是航海图中一个重要的特色,这是一个气象学家所采用的图象指标,是用来显示在某个地点的风速和风向通常是怎样分布的。这件工具对海员避开海上隐患的地点有很大帮助。
从某个角度来看,耶利米书30章这段经文就像一个“风向指示图”。它帮助神的子民看到耶和华将会以怎样的作为来复兴他们。你看,在这段历史中,神的子民因为背叛神而被掳。他们跟从其他神祉却拒绝尊崇那位使他们兴起为大国的耶和华。所以神便藉着他们被掳来惩罚他们。
更可悲的是,在他们的国土被摧毁之后,征服者更加残酷地奴役百姓并把他们掳去。当神的子民在痛苦中呼求神时,耶和华便垂听他们。
那么,神会怎样复兴祂的子民呢?“耶和华的 … 暴风”将要发出,像就“扫灭的暴风,必转到恶人的头上。”神的大能足以摧毁邪恶。百姓需要神来拯救他们脱离苦待他们之人的重轭。
神向他们宣告,衪应许再赐给他们尊荣,祂如此说:“你们要作我的子民,我要作你们的神。”
主神啊,你的能力高过一切,我们为你的怜悯和公义感谢你。求你帮助我们尊你为万有之上的主宰并忠心事奉你。阿们。
耶利米书 30:18-24
18耶和华如此说:“我必使雅各被掳去的帐篷归回,也必顾惜他的住处,城必建造在原旧的山冈,宫殿也照旧有人居住。
19必有感谢和欢乐的声音从其中发出。我要使他们增多,不致减少;使他们尊荣,不致卑微。
20“他们的儿女要如往日,他们的会众坚立在我面前,凡欺压他们的,我必刑罚他。
21他们的君王必是属乎他们的,掌权的必从他们中间而出。我要使他就近我,他也要亲近我,不然谁有胆量亲近我呢?”这是耶和华说的。
22“你们要做我的子民,我要做你们的神。”
23看哪,耶和华的愤怒好像暴风,已经发出,是扫灭的暴风,必转到恶人的头上。
24耶和华的烈怒必不转消,直到他心中所拟定的成就了,末后的日子你们要明白。
"The storm of the Lord will burst out in wrath, a driving wind swirling down on the heads of the wicked." - Jeremiah 30:23
On nautical maps, an important feature is the “wind rose,” a graphic image used by meteorologists to show how wind speed and direction are typically distributed in a certain place. This tool can be very useful to mariners for avoiding trouble spots at sea.
In some ways, this passage in Jeremiah 30 is like a “wind rose.” It helps God’s people see how the Lord was going to act in order to restore them. You see, at this time in history, God’s people were in exile for rebelling against God. They had followed after other gods and had refused to honor the Lord, who had made them into a great nation. So God had disciplined them by sending them into exile.
Sadly, though, their conquerors had brutally enslaved them and carried them away after destroying their land. And when God’s people cried out in their distress, the Lord heard them.
So how would God act to restore his people? “The storm of the Lord” would burst out like “a driving wind swirling down on the heads of the wicked.” God is powerful enough to overwhelm evil. The people needed God to save them from this enemy that had exploited them.
Explaining all this, God promised to bring them honor again, saying, “So you will be my people, and I will be your God.”
Lord and God, your power is greater than any other. Thank you for being merciful and just. Help us to honor you above all and to serve you faithfully. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳