QT 06/06/2025 Fri. Jeremiah 21 Judgment, divine justice, and the consequences of disobedience 审判、神的公义和不顺服的后果

QT 06/06/2025 Fri. Jeremiah 21 Judgment, divine justice, and the consequences of disobedience
READ http://www.esv.org/jer21

The people of Judah, led by King Zedekiah, were facing imminent destruction by the Babylonians. Zedekiah seeks guidance from Jeremiah, hoping for a word of deliverance, but instead, God offers a message of judgment. This chapter underscores God's sovereignty over the nations and His unyielding holiness in the face of sin.

Scripture Focus:
Jeremiah 21:1–2 Jerusalem Will Fall to Nebuchadnezzar
[1] This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur the son of Malchiah and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, saying, [2] “Inquire of the LORD for us, for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is making war against us. Perhaps the LORD will deal with us according to all his wonderful deeds and will make him withdraw from us.” (ESV)

(1) Theme 1: God’s Sovereignty and Justice

God's answer to Zedekiah in verses 3-7 is a declaration of judgment. Instead of delivering them, God promises to bring disaster upon them because of their persistent sin and idolatry. This serves as a powerful reminder that God is sovereign and that He does not treat sin lightly. Justice will come.

Jeremiah 21:5–6 [5] I myself will fight against you with outstretched hand and strong arm, in anger and in fury and in great wrath. [6] And I will strike down the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast. They shall die of a great pestilence. (ESV)

For us today, this passage reminds us that God is a righteous judge, and He cannot overlook sin. His judgment is always just, even when it feels harsh or difficult to understand. It challenges us to take sin seriously in our own lives, to avoid rationalizing or minimizing it.

(2) Theme 2: The Call to Repentance

God’s warning comes with an opportunity for repentance, yet the people of Judah remain hard-hearted. The key lesson here is that God is not eager to bring judgment but desires to see His people turn from sin. Even in the face of destruction, God offers mercy, and through the prophet Jeremiah, the people of Judah are called to surrender to His will.

Jeremiah 21:8–10 [8] “And to this people you shall say: ‘Thus says the LORD: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. [9] He who stays in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, but he who goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who are besieging you shall live and shall have his life as a prize of war. [10] For I have set my face against this city for harm and not for good, declares the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.’ (ESV)

The invitation to life through surrender to God’s will and ways is still extended to us today. Repentance isn’t merely an outward act; it’s a change of heart that aligns us with God’s holiness. It’s about acknowledging our need for salvation and trusting in Christ for forgiveness and transformation.

(3) Theme 3: The Consequences of Disobedience

Jeremiah 21 teaches us that the consequences of disobedience are real. The people of Judah, by rejecting God’s commands, brought upon themselves the destruction they feared. The Babylonians would indeed conquer them, and no earthly hope or political alliance would save them. They had to face the reality of their actions.

Jeremiah 21:14 emphasises the principle of sowing and reaping. The choices we make—whether to follow God or not—have consequences. While we are saved by grace through faith, our actions in this life still matter. Living in obedience to God is not a means to earn salvation, but it reflects the transformation that grace brings.

Application
(a) God’s Justice and Mercy: We can take comfort in knowing that God is just, and that He does not ignore sin. At the same time, we rejoice in His mercy, because His justice was poured out on Jesus Christ on our behalf. We can come to God with repentance, knowing He forgives.

(b) The Urgency of Repentance: Just as Judah had a limited time to turn from their sin, we too should take seriously the need for repentance. No one knows the number of their days, and God’s call to repentance is a grace that should not be taken lightly.

(c) Living in Obedience: Our obedience to God is not about earning favor, but about reflecting the transformation He has worked in us. Obedience is a response to His love, grace, and mercy.

(4) A Call to Reflect and Respond
We can reflect on the question: "What area of my life am I resisting God’s will or allowing sin to reign?" Jeremiah 21 serves as both a warning and an invitation: a warning of the consequences of sin and an invitation to experience God’s grace through repentance and obedience.

Prayer:
“Lord, we come before You acknowledging Your holiness, Your justice, and Your mercy. We confess the areas of our lives where we have resisted Your will. Help us to turn from sin, to surrender fully to You, and to live in the obedience that reflects Your grace in us. We thank You for the cross, where Your justice and mercy met, and where we find our hope. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

QT 06/06/2025 星期五. 耶利米书 21 审判、神的公义和不顺服的后果
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Jer/21/

以国王西底家为首的犹大人即将面临巴比伦人的毁灭。西底家向耶利米寻求指引，希望得到解救的话语，但神却带来了审判的信息。本章强调了神对万国的主权以及祂面对罪恶时不屈不挠的圣洁。

经文重点：
耶利米书 21：1-2  耶和华有话临到耶利米。那时，西底家王差遣玛基雅的儿子巴施户珥，和玛西雅的儿子西番雅祭司去见耶利米，说：2 “请你替我们求问耶和华，因为巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒来攻击我们；也许耶和华会为我们行奇事，使尼布甲尼撒离开我们回去。”

(1) 主题 1：上帝的主权与正义

在第3-7节中，神给西底家的回答是一个审判的宣告。神非但没有拯救他们，反而应许要因他们持续的罪和偶像崇拜给他们带来灾难。这有力地提醒我们，神是至高无上的，祂不会轻易对待罪恶。正义必将降临

耶利米书 21：5-6 [5]  我必在怒气、烈怒和忿怒中，用伸出来的手和强有力的膀臂，亲自攻击你们。6 
我要击打住在这城的人和牲畜，他们都要因极大的瘟疫而死。

对今天的我们来说，这段经文提醒我们，上帝是公义的审判者，祂不会忽视罪。祂的审判总是公正的，即使是在感觉严厉或难以理解的时候。它挑战我们在自己的生活中认真对待罪，避免将罪合理化或最小化。

(2) 主题 2：悔改的呼召

神的警告提供了悔改的机会，但犹大人仍然铁石心肠。这里的关键教训是，神并不急于带来审判，而是希望看到祂的子民从罪中回转。即使面临毁灭，神也会施以怜悯，并通过先知耶利米呼召犹大人顺服神的旨意。

耶利米书 21：8-10 [8]  耶和华又吩咐耶利米：“你要对这人民说：‘耶和华这样说：看哪！我把生命的路和死亡的路摆在你们面前。9 凡留在这城里的，必因刀剑、饥荒、瘟疫而死；但出去向围困你们的迦勒底人投降的，必可以活着，捡回自己的性命。10 因为我已经决意向这城降祸不降福；这城必交在巴比伦王的手中，他必放火把城烧毁。’”这是耶和华的宣告。

通过顺服上帝的旨意和方式而获得生命的邀请，今天仍在向我们发出。悔改不仅仅是一种外在的行为，更是一种心灵的改变，使我们与上帝的圣洁保持一致。悔改是承认我们需要救赎，并相信基督的宽恕和改变。

(3) 主题 3：不顺服的后果

耶利米书 21 章告诉我们，不顺服的后果是真实的。犹大人拒绝神的命令，给自己带来了他们所担心的毁灭。巴比伦人确实会征服他们，任何尘世的希望或政治联盟都无法拯救他们。他们必须面对自己行为的现实。

耶利米书 21：14 强调了播种和收获的原则。我们所做的选择--跟随上帝与否--都会带来后果。虽然我们因信蒙恩得救，但我们今生的行为仍然很重要。顺服上帝的生活并不是赢得救赎的手段，它反映了恩典所带来的转变。

应用
(a) 上帝的公正与仁慈： 我们知道上帝是公正的，祂不会无视罪恶，这让我们感到安慰。同时，我们也为祂的仁慈而欢欣鼓舞，因为祂的公义倾倒在了代表我们的耶稣基督身上。我们可以带着悔改来到上帝面前，因为我们知道祂会宽恕我们。

(b) 悔改的迫切性： 犹大只有有限的时间来改过自新，我们也应该认真对待悔改的必要性。没有人知道自己的时日有多少，而神对悔改的呼召是一种恩典，不可轻视。

(c) 在顺服中生活： 我们顺服上帝不是为了赢得恩宠，而是为了反映祂在我们身上所做的改变。顺服是对神的爱、恩典和怜悯的回应。

(4) 反思和回应的呼召
我们可以反思一下这个问题： "我在生活中的哪个方面抵挡了神的旨意或让罪掌权？耶利米书第 21 章既是警告也是邀请：警告罪的后果，也邀请我们通过悔改和顺服来经历神的恩典。

祷告：
"主啊，我们来到你面前，承认你的圣洁、公义和怜悯。我们承认在我们的生活中，有哪些地方抵挡了你的旨意。求您帮助我们远离罪恶，完全降服于您，在生活中顺服您，体现您在我们里面的恩典。我们为十字架感谢您，您的公义和怜悯在十字架上相遇，我们在十字架上找到了希望。奉耶稣的名，阿门。