QT 05/06/2025 Thu. Jeremiah 20 Which is better? Wresting with Raw Emotions or Wayang? 哪一个更好？ 在真情与假象中挣扎？
QT 05/06/2025 Thu. Jeremiah 20 Which is better? Wresting with Raw Emotions or Wayang?
READ http://www.esv.org/jer20
We have seen the contemporaries of Jeremiah struggling with following the LORD faithfully. We now see Jeremiah’s personal struggles and, perhaps, yours too.
📖 Scripture Passage:
Jeremiah 20:7–9 [7] O LORD, you have deceived me, and I was deceived; you are stronger than I, and you have prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all the day; everyone mocks me. [8] For whenever I speak, I cry out, I shout, “Violence and destruction!” For the word of the LORD has become for me a reproach and derision all day long. [9] If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot. (ESV)
🔍 Devotional Reflection:
These verses capture one of the most deeply human moments in the life of the prophet Jeremiah. They reveal the tension and the pain that come with faithfully carrying God's message, especially when that message is met with rejection and ridicule.
(1) The Struggle of the Prophet (v. 7-8)
Jeremiah’s words in verse 7 are striking, even unsettling. He says, "O LORD, you deceived me." In a moment of deep frustration and emotional rawness, Jeremiah feels as though God has misled him into this calling. He had been faithful, but the response he received was anything but encouraging. Instead of acceptance, he faced mockery and scorn.
The "deception" is not that God lied to Jeremiah, but that God had called him to a ministry that was laden with suffering, ridicule, and heartache. Jeremiah had hoped for success, for the people's repentance, for revival—but he found only rejection. The way he expresses his feelings reveals a profound honesty that should encourage us.
In the kingdom of God, it’s all right to express our doubts, our frustrations, and our struggles with the Lord. Faking authenticity or “wayang” (acting) would bring us nowhere. God does not expect us to suppress our emotions or pretend that everything is fine. Just as Jeremiah was honest, we are invited to bring our honest complaints and pain before God, trusting that He is big enough to handle them.
(2) The Cost of Obedience (v. 8)
The prophet’s ministry comes with a heavy cost: "the word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long." When we step into the calling God has for us, we can expect it to come with trials. Jesus himself warned His followers of this in John 15:18-20, where He said, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first." The life of obedience is not always glamorous.
The path of righteousness can often feel lonely, and the price of following God’s will might seem too high to bear. Yet, Jeremiah’s life teaches us that the cost of obedience is not something to avoid, but something to embrace.
When we stand firm in God’s Word, the world may reject us, mock us, or even persecute us. But this should not deter us. Like Jeremiah, we are not called to please people but to be faithful to the One who has called us.
(3) The Fire in His Heart (v. 9)
Despite the pain, despite the persecution, Jeremiah cannot stop speaking the word of God. In verse 9, he says, "His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot."
Here, we see the deep internal compulsion that comes with God's call. Despite his exhaustion, Jeremiah finds that the Word of the Lord is so deeply embedded in his heart that he cannot keep it in, even if it costs him everything. The fire of God’s word is not just a passing feeling; it’s a consuming, uncontrollable force that keeps him going.
This fire is the Holy Spirit working within him, driving him forward in obedience. It’s a beautiful paradox—while the message he carries brings him immense suffering, it also gives him life. The Word of God, when it truly takes root in our hearts, becomes a fire that we cannot easily extinguish, no matter how harsh the world’s response may be.
(4) A Call to Faithfulness
What can we take from Jeremiah’s experience? First, it is a reminder that following God’s call often involves struggle, misunderstanding, and even suffering. It’s not always the easy path or the one that garners earthly rewards. Yet, Jeremiah shows us that when we are called by God, His word becomes the source of our life and purpose—even when it feels overwhelming or burdensome.
Second, this passage reminds us of the necessity of God's Word burning in our hearts. If we are to endure the difficulties of life, we need the passion, strength, and conviction that only God’s Word can provide. Jeremiah could not stop speaking because God’s word was like a fire within him, a fire that sustained him. How have you responded whenever your pastor preached, sent you daily devotions, or typed a message to you pointing you to the way forward?
Lastly, it invites us to embrace the tension of obedience. There will be days when the call of God feels like a burden, when the weight of rejection or ridicule is too much to bear. But on those days, let us remember the fire that God ignites in our hearts and trust that it will sustain us, empower us, and ultimately glorify God.
🛐 Closing Prayer:
Lord, we come before You today with hearts that seek Your guidance and strength. Just as Jeremiah faced mockery and rejection for speaking Your word, we too may find ourselves ridiculed or misunderstood for our faithfulness. Help us to be like Jeremiah, faithful in our calling, even when it costs us. Ignite in our hearts a fire for Your Word—one that cannot be extinguished, even by the trials and struggles of life. May we stand firm in our obedience to You, trusting that You will be with us every step of the way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
QT 05/06/2025 星期四. 耶利米书 20 哪一个更好？ 在真情与假象中挣扎？
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Jer/20/
我们已经看到与耶利米同时代的人在忠心跟随耶和华的道路上挣扎。现在我们看到了耶利米个人的挣扎，也许你也一样。
📖 经文：
耶利米书 20：7-9 耶和华阿，你曾劝导我，我也听了你的劝导。你比我有力量，且胜了我。我终日成为笑话，人人都戏弄我。 8 我每逢讲论的时候，就发出哀声，我喊叫说，有强暴和毁灭。因为耶和华的话终日成了我的凌辱，讥刺。 9 我若说，我不再提耶和华，也不再奉他的名讲论，我便心里觉得似乎有烧着的火闭塞在我骨中，我就含忍不住，不能自禁。
🔍灵修反思：
这些经文记录了先知耶利米生命中最深刻的人性时刻之一。它们揭示了忠实地传递神的信息所带来的紧张和痛苦，尤其是当信息遭到拒绝和嘲笑时。
(1) 先知的挣扎（7-8 节）
耶利米在第 7 节中的话令人震惊，甚至不安。他说："耶和华啊，你欺骗了我"。在深深的挫败感和情绪的狂躁中，耶利米觉得似乎是上帝误导他接受了这个呼召。他一直忠心耿耿，但得到的回应却并不令人鼓舞。他面对的不是接纳，而是嘲笑和蔑视。
这种 "欺骗" 并不是说上帝欺骗了耶利米，而是说上帝呼召他从事的事工充满了苦难、嘲笑和心痛。耶利米希望成功，希望百姓悔改，希望复兴，但他发现的只是拒绝。他表达自己感受的方式揭示了一种深刻的诚实，这种诚实应该鼓励我们。
在神的国度里，表达我们的疑虑、挫折和与主的抗争都是正确的。假装真实或 “做戏”（wayang）会让我们一事无成。神并不期望我们压抑自己的情绪或假装一切都很好。正如耶利米的诚实一样，我们也被邀请把我们诚实的抱怨和痛苦带到神面前，相信祂有足够的能力处理它们。
(2) 顺服的代价（第 8 节）
先知的事奉需要付出沉重的代价："因为耶和华的话终日成了我的凌辱，讥刺"。当我们步入神对我们的呼召时，我们可以预料到会伴随着试炼。耶稣自己也在约翰福音 15：18-20 中警告过祂的跟随者，祂说："世人若恨你们，你们知道（或作该知道）恨你们以先，已经恨我了"。顺从的生活并不总是光鲜亮丽的。
公义之路常常让人感到孤独，遵从上帝旨意的代价似乎高得难以承受。然而，耶利米的一生告诉我们，顺服的代价不是逃避，而是拥抱。
当我们坚守上帝的话语时，世界可能会拒绝我们、嘲笑我们，甚至迫害我们。但这不应该阻止我们。就像耶利米一样，我们的使命不是取悦于人，而是忠于那召我们的神。
(3) 他心中的火焰（第 9 节）
尽管有痛苦或迫害，耶利米还是不能停止讲神的话。在第 9 节中，他说："我便心里觉得似乎有烧着的火闭塞在我骨中，我就含忍不住，不能自禁"。
在这里，我们看到了上帝的呼召所带来的深深的内在强迫。尽管耶利米已经精疲力竭，但他发现耶和华的话语已经深深地烙印在他的心中，即使付出一切代价，他也无法将其拒之门外。神的话语之火并不只是一种短暂的感觉，它是一种燃烧的、无法控制的力量，让他坚持下去。
这团火就是圣灵在他体内做工，驱使他顺服前行。这是一个美丽的悖论--虽然他所传递的信息给他带来了巨大的痛苦，但同时也给了他生命。当上帝的话语真正扎根于我们心中时，它就会成为我们无法轻易熄灭的火焰，无论世人的反应有多么严酷。
(4) 忠实的呼召
我们能从耶利米的经历中得到什么？首先，它提醒我们，追随神的呼召往往需要经历挣扎、误解甚至苦难。这并不总是一条容易的路，也不总是一条能获得世俗奖赏的路。然而，耶利米告诉我们，当我们被神呼召时，祂的话语就会成为我们生命和目标的源泉--即使它让我们感到难以承受或负担沉重。
其次，这段经文提醒我们，神的话语必须在我们心中燃烧。如果我们要忍受生活中的困难，我们就需要只有神的话语才能提供的激情、力量和信念。耶利米无法停止说话，因为上帝的话语就像他内心的火焰，支撑着他。每当你的牧者向你讲道、寄给你每日灵修、或给你用文字指明前进方向时，你是如何回应的？
最后，它邀请我们接受顺服的压力。在有些日子里，上帝的呼召会让我们感到负担沉重，拒绝或嘲笑的重压让我们难以承受。但在这些日子里，让我们记住上帝在我们心中点燃的火焰，相信它将支撑我们，赋予我们力量，并最终荣耀上帝。
🛐 结束祷告：
主啊，我们今天带着寻求您的指引和力量的心来到您的面前。就像耶利米因为说出您的话而面临嘲笑和拒绝一样，我们也可能会发现自己因为忠心而被嘲笑或误解。请帮助我们像耶利米一样，忠实于我们的呼召，即使要付出代价。在我们心中点燃对您的话语的火种--即使是生活的考验和挣扎也无法熄灭的火种。愿我们坚定地顺服您，相信您会与我们同在，走好每一步。奉耶稣的名，阿门。
