QT 03/07/2025 Thu. Jeremiah 44 When Hearts Choose Idols 当人心选择偶像

QT 03/07/2025 Thu. Jeremiah 44 When Hearts Choose Idols
READ http://www.esv.org/jer44

Jeremiah 44 contains sobering passages where the people of Judah reject God’s word and insist on continuing to worship the “Queen of Heaven” despite His warnings.

Scripture Focus: Jeremiah 44:15–19
[15] Then all the men who knew that their wives had made offerings to other gods, and all the women who stood by, a great assembly, all the people who lived in Pathros in the land of Egypt, answered Jeremiah: [16] “As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD, we will not listen to you. [17] But we will do everything that we have vowed, make offerings to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, as we did, both we and our fathers, our kings and our officials, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, and prospered, and saw no disaster. [18] But since we left off making offerings to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine.” [19] And the women said, “When we made offerings to the queen of heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, was it without our husbands’ approval that we made cakes for her bearing her image and poured out drink offerings to her?” (ESV)

💭 Reflection:
In Jeremiah 44, God’s people find themselves in Egypt—refugees of their own rebellion. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God pleads with them to turn from idolatry and return to Him. But instead of repenting, the people double down:

“We will do everything we said we would: we will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven...” (v.17)

Their justification? When they worshiped false gods, life seemed better—more bread, more peace. In their eyes, God had failed them, but the idols “worked.”

This is the deception of idolatry: it promises immediate relief but leads to spiritual ruin. The people confused God’s discipline with abandonment, and instead of trusting His warnings, they trusted their feelings and past experiences.

🕊️ Gospel Connection:
This passage confronts us with a simple truth: our hearts are prone to idolatry. We may not bow to statues or burn incense, but we often turn to other “gods” for peace—money, relationships, success, comfort, or control.

But here’s the good news: Jesus came not only to forgive our idolatry, but to free us from it. On the cross, He took the punishment we deserve for worshiping created things instead of the Creator. In His resurrection, He gives us new hearts that can love Him again.

🙌 Application:
(1) Examine: What idols am I tempted to trust when God seems distant or life is hard?

(2) Repent: Confess where you’ve looked for hope outside of Christ.

(3) Return: Choose today to trust God’s Word, even when it’s hard.

🧎‍♂️ Prayer:
Lord, forgive me for the times I’ve hardened my heart to Your voice. I confess that I’ve often trusted what feels right instead of what You say is right. Thank You for Jesus, who saves idolaters like me. Help me to turn from lesser gods and worship You alone. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

QT 03/07/2025 星期四. 耶利米书 44 当人心选择偶像
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Jer/44/

《耶利米书》第 44 章包含一些令人警醒的经文，犹大人拒绝神的话，不顾神的警告，坚持继续敬拜 “天后”。

经文重点： 耶利米书 44:15-19
15 那些知道自己的妻子曾向别神烧香的众人，和一大群站在那里的妇女，以及住在埃及地巴忒罗的众民，回答耶利米说：16 “你奉耶和华的名对我们所说的话，我们不听从。17 我们口中说过的一切话，我们一定去作，我们要向天后烧香，浇奠祭，好像我们自己和我们的列祖，以及我们的君王和领袖，在犹大的各城和耶路撒冷的街上所行的一样。那时我们吃得饱，得享福乐，不见灾祸。18 但是，自从我们停止向天后烧香和浇奠祭以后，我们就样样都缺乏，又因刀剑和饥荒灭亡。”19 那些妇女又说：“我们不错是向天后烧香和浇奠祭，难道我们的丈夫不知道我们照着天后的形象制饼供奉她，向她浇奠祭吗？”

反思：
在《耶利米书》第 44 章中，上帝的子民发现自己身处埃及--他们自己叛乱的难民。上帝通过先知耶利米恳求他们脱离偶像崇拜，回到祂身边。但是，人们非但没有悔改，反而变本加厉：

“我们口中说过的一切话，我们一定去作，我们要向天后烧香......”（第 17 节）。

他们的理由是什么？当他们崇拜假神时，生活似乎更好了--更多的面包，更多的平安。在他们看来，上帝辜负了他们，但偶像却“起了作用”，“蛮有效”。

这就是偶像崇拜的欺骗性：它承诺立即解脱，却导致灵性的毁坏。人们把上帝的管教和抛弃混为一谈，他们不相信上帝的警告，而是相信自己的感觉和过去的经验。

🕊️ 福音联系：
这段经文让我们面对一个简单的事实：我们的心容易拜偶像。我们可能不会向雕像鞠躬或焚香，但我们常常向其他 “神 ”寻求平安--金钱、人际关系、成功、舒适或控制。

但好消息是耶稣的到来不仅是为了宽恕我们的偶像崇拜，更是为了把我们从偶像崇拜中解救出来。在十字架上，祂接受了我们因崇拜被造物而非造物主而应得的惩罚。在祂的复活中，祂给了我们新的心，让我们能够再次爱祂。

🙌应用：
(1) 检查： 当神似乎遥远或生活艰难时，我容易相信哪些偶像？

(2) 悔改： 承认你在基督之外寻找希望的地方。

(3) 回归： 今天选择相信神的话语，即使是在困难的时候。

🧎‍♂️ 祷告：
主啊，原谅我曾经对你的声音刚硬心肠。我承认我常常相信感觉正确的事，而不是你所说的正确的事。感谢耶稣拯救了像我这样的偶像崇拜者。求您帮助我远离低等的神，只敬拜您。奉耶稣的名祷告。阿门。