QT 10/07/2025 Thu. Jeremiah 50 God remembers the oppressed and the oppressors. 上帝记得受欺压者和欺压者。
QT 10/07/2025 Thu. Jeremiah 50 God remembers the oppressed and the oppressors.
READ http://www.esv.org/jer50
“The word that the LORD spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by Jeremiah the prophet.” — Jeremiah 50:1 (ESV)
Jeremiah 50 opens with a thunderous declaration of judgment against Babylon—the very empire that had conquered Jerusalem and taken God's people into exile. This chapter is not only a prophetic denunciation of a proud and pagan nation but also a powerful reminder of God's justice, His faithfulness to His people, and the ultimate hope of redemption.
Babylon had been used by God as an instrument of discipline against Judah. Yet, Babylon's cruelty, pride, and idolatry would not go unchecked. In verses 2-3, the Lord commands the people to declare Babylon’s downfall: “Bel announce! Declare among the nations and proclaim, set up a banner and proclaim, conceal it not, and say: ‘Babylon is taken.’”
The names Bel and Merodach, Babylonian gods, symbolize the empire’s pride in its false religion. But God declares their impotence. The idols fall, the nation trembles, and a nation from the north—ultimately the Medes and Persians—comes to destroy Babylon.
In this chapter, God not only judges the oppressors but also remembers the oppressed. Verses 4–5 offer a stunning picture of restoration: “In those days and in that time, declares the LORD, the people of Israel and the people of Judah shall come together, weeping as they come, and they shall seek the LORD their God.” Though they were divided kingdoms, Israel and Judah will be reunited in repentance and worship. This is not merely political restoration—it is spiritual revival.
What is striking here is the heart of God. Though His people have strayed, He has not abandoned them. In verse 6, God says, “My people have been lost sheep.” The shepherds who should have cared for them—leaders, priests, and kings—have led them astray. But the Good Shepherd seeks His sheep. Jeremiah 50 is full of promises that God will both rescue and restore His people. He promises to bring them back to their own land (v. 19) and to forgive their iniquity (v. 20): “In those days... they shall seek for the guilt of Judah, but there shall be none, for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.”
As believers today, we see the ultimate fulfillment of this hope in Jesus Christ. He is the One who conquers the powers of darkness, the true Shepherd who gathers His scattered flock, and the Redeemer who brings us out of our personal “Babylons.” Like Israel, we have wandered, followed false shepherds, and suffered the consequences. But God, in His mercy, calls us back. And just as Babylon’s idols fell, so too will every idol that sets itself against Christ.
Jeremiah 50 reminds us that no earthly power can stand forever, and no sin is too great for God’s grace. For the people of God, judgment is never the end of the story. Redemption is coming. Restoration is sure. As we look at the ruins—whether in our world or our own hearts—we cling to the promise that the Lord is our Redeemer, and He will not leave His children forsaken.
Reflection Questions:
(1) What “Babylon” might you be trusting in instead of God?
(2) How does God’s faithfulness to Israel encourage your faith today?
(3) Where do you need restoration—and are you seeking the Lord with weeping and returning?
Let us return to the Lord with all our hearts. His mercy is greater than judgment, and His love never fails.
QT 10/07/2025 星期四. 耶利米书 50 上帝记得受欺压者和欺压者。
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Jer/50/
“以下是耶和华借耶利米先知论到巴比伦，就是迦勒底人的地所说的话。”- 耶利米书 50：1
《耶利米书》第 50 章以对巴比伦的雷鸣般的审判宣告开篇--正是这个帝国征服了耶路撒冷，并将上帝的子民带入流放地。这一章不仅是对一个骄傲的异教国家的预言性谴责，也是对上帝的公义、对祂子民的信实以及最终救赎希望的有力提醒。
巴比伦曾被上帝用作惩戒犹大的工具。然而，巴比伦的残忍、傲慢和偶像崇拜是不会停止的。在第 2-3 节中，耶和华命令百姓宣告巴比伦的灭亡： "你们要在万国中传扬报告，竖立大旗。要报告，不可隐瞒，说，巴比伦被攻取，彼勒蒙羞，米罗达惊惶。巴比伦的神像都蒙羞。她的偶像都惊惶。因有一国从北方上来攻击她，使她的地荒凉，无人居住，连人带牲畜都逃走了。”
巴比伦神贝尔和默罗达的名字象征着帝国对其虚假宗教的骄傲。但上帝宣告了他们的无能。偶像倒下了，国家颤抖了，一个来自北方的国家--最终是玛代人和波斯人--来摧毁巴比伦。
在本章中，上帝不仅审判压迫者，也记念被压迫者。第 4-5 节描绘了一幅令人惊叹的复兴图景：“到那些日子、那时候（这是耶和华的宣告），以色列人必和犹大人一同来，边走边哭，要寻找耶和华他们的 神。他们要询问往锡安的路，又面向锡安，说：‘来吧！我们要以那永不可忘记的约与耶和华连合。’
这里引人注目的是上帝的心。虽然祂的子民迷失了方向，但祂并没有抛弃他们。在第 6 节中，上帝说：“我的子民成了迷失的羊”。本该照顾他们的牧羊人--领袖、祭司和国王--却把他们带入了歧途。但好牧人在寻找祂的羊。《耶利米书》第 50 章充满了上帝将拯救和恢复祂子民的应许。祂应许将他们带回自己的土地（第 19 节），并赦免他们的罪（第 20 节）："那时候，人要寻查以色列的罪孽，却无所发现；要查究犹大的罪恶，却一无所见；因为我必赦免我留下的那些人。”这是耶和华的宣告。”
作为今天的信徒，我们在耶稣基督身上看到了这一盼望的最终实现。祂是战胜黑暗权势的主，是聚集四散羊群的真牧人，是将我们带出个人 “巴比伦 ”的救赎主。与以色列人一样，我们也曾迷失方向，追随假牧人，并承受了后果。但上帝以他的仁慈将我们召回。正如巴比伦的偶像会倒下一样，每一个与基督对抗的偶像也会倒下。
《耶利米书》第 50 章提醒我们，没有任何尘世的力量可以永远屹立不倒，也没有任何罪过对于上帝的恩典来说过于重大。对于上帝的子民来说，审判永远不会是故事的结局。救赎即将到来。恢复是肯定的。当我们看着废墟--无论是我们的世界还是我们自己的心灵，我们紧紧抓住这样的应许：主是我们的救赎主，祂不会撇下祂的儿女不管。
思考题
(1) 你可能信靠了什么 “巴比伦 ”而不是神？
(2) 神对以色列人的信实如何激励你今天的信心？
(3) 你哪里需要復原？你是否以哭泣和回归的心寻求神？
让我們全心归向神。祂的怜悯胜过审判，祂的爱永不止息。
