QT 14/05/2025 Wed. Jeremiah 4. Return to God for renewed home and reconstruction. 回归上帝，重建家园。
QT 14/05/2025 Wed. Jeremiah 4. Return to God for renewed home and reconstruction.
READ http://www.esv.org/jer4
Jeremiah 4:23–26
[23] I looked on the earth, and behold, it was without form and void; and to the heavens, and they had no light. [24] I looked on the mountains, and behold, they were quaking, and all the hills moved to and fro. [25] I looked, and behold, there was no man, and all the birds of the air had fled. [26] I looked, and behold, the fruitful land was a desert, and all its cities were laid in ruins before the LORD, before his fierce anger. (ESV)
With these verses, we sense the REVERSAL of Creation back to the chaos and formlessness of Genesis 1:2, where the earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. To advert further disaster, Jeremiah 4, focused on the message of repentance, God's judgment, and hope with a "Return to Me" call.
📖 Scripture Focus:
Jeremiah 4:1-2 [1] “If you return, O Israel, declares the LORD, to me you should return. If you remove your detestable things from my presence, and do not waver [2] and if you swear, ‘As the LORD lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.” (ESV)
🪞Reflection:
Jeremiah 4 is a wake-up call—a trumpet blast of warning. God is speaking to His people with urgency: “Return to Me.” He longs for Israel to come back, not just with words, but with hearts stripped of idols and lifestyles shaped by truth, justice, and righteousness.
Israel of Jeremiah’s time had wandered far, worshiping false gods and living in rebellion. And now, God warns of coming judgment: a consuming wind (v.11–12), an army on the march (v.13–17), and a land laid waste (v.23–26). The tone is heavy and points to the DE-CONSTRUCTION of all that is “good” and “very good” in God’s eyes (Genesis 1–2). But even in the midst of this warning, there’s a door left open—a path back through repentance.
This message still resonates today. We live in a world chasing false idols—success, power, pleasure, self. And just like ancient Judah, we’re tempted to mix God with things that pull us away from Him. But Jeremiah reminds us: God's call is always redemptive. He warns because He loves. He disciplines because He wants to restore.
🐾 Application:
(1) Examine your heart. Are there idols—seen or unseen—crowding God out?
(2) Respond with repentance. God doesn’t want empty promises; He wants a real return.
(3) Live distinctively. A repentant life shines with truth, justice, and righteousness. When we live this way, others see God in us and through us.
🏠 Prayer:
Lord, I hear Your call to return. I confess the ways I’ve gone astray. Remove from my heart anything that takes Your place. Make me clean. Let my life reflect Your truth and justice. And may the nations around me see Your greatness through my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
QT 14/05/2025 星期. 耶利米书 4. 回归上帝，重建家园。
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Jer/4/
耶利米书 4:23-26
23 我观看地，地是空虚混沌；我仰视天，天上也全然无光。24 我观看大山，它们尽都震动，小山也都摇来摇去。25 我观看，毫无人迹；空中的飞鸟也逃掉了。26 我观看，肥美田园变为荒野；在耶和华面前，就是在他烈怒之下，所有的城市都被拆毁。
通过这些经文，我们感受到创世的逆转，回到了创世记 1:2 的混沌和无形，大地没有形状，一片虚空，黑暗笼罩着深渊。为了避免进一步的灾难，耶利米书第 4 章通过 “回到我这里来 ”的呼召，重点传达了悔改、上帝的审判和希望的信息。
📖 经文重点：
耶利米书 4:1-2 [1] “以色列啊！你要是回转，就当回转归向我。”这是耶和华的宣告。”如果你从我面前除掉你可憎的偶像，不到处浪荡；2 如果你凭真理、公正、公义，指着永活的耶和华起誓；列国就必因耶和华蒙福，也必以他为荣。”
🪞反思：
耶利米书第 4 章是一个警钟--警告的号角。上帝向祂的子民发出了急切的呼唤：“回到我这里来"。祂渴望以色列人回来，不只是用言语，而是用剔除偶像的心灵和以真理、正义和公义塑造的生活方式。
耶利米时代的以色列人四处漂泊，敬拜假神，过着叛逆的生活。现在，上帝警告说审判即将来临：一阵烈风（第 11-12 节），一支军队正在进军（第 13-17 节），一片荒芜之地（第 23-26 节）。语气沉重，带有对上帝眼中一切 “好的 ”和 “非常好的”（创世纪1-2）进行毁灭的意味。但即使是在这样的警告中，也有一扇门敞开着--一条通过悔改回归的道路。
这一信息在今天仍有共鸣。我们生活在一个追逐虚假偶像的世界--成功、权力、享乐、自我。就像古代犹大一样，我们也会受到诱惑，将上帝与那些让我们远离祂的事物混为一谈。但耶利米提醒我们： 上帝的呼召总是救赎性的。祂警告，因为祂爱。祂管教是因为祂想要恢复。
🐾 应用：
(1) 检查你的内心。是否有看得见或看不见的偶像在排挤神？
(2) 以悔改作为回应。神不要空洞的承诺，祂要的是真实的回报。
(3) 活得与众不同。悔改的生命闪耀着真理、正义和公义的光芒。当我们以这种方式生活时，别人就会在我们里面并通过我们看到神。
🏠祷告：
主啊，我听到了你回归的呼召。我承认我所走的歧途。从我心里除去任何取代你的东西。使我洁净。让我的生命反映出你的真理和正义。愿我周围的国家通过我的生命看到你的伟大。奉耶稣之名，阿门。
