QT 18/06/2025 Wed. Jeremiah 31. From Scattered to Gathered: God's Restorative Grace 从分散到聚集 上帝的恢复性恩典
QT 18/06/2025 Wed. Jeremiah 31. From Scattered to Gathered: God's Restorative Grace
READ http://www.esv.org/jer31
Today’s devotion focuses on hope, restoration, and God's tender mercy.
Scripture:
Jeremiah 31:8–9 [8] Behold, I will bring them from the north country and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, among them the blind and the lame,the pregnant woman and she who is in labor, together; a great company, they shall return here. [9] With weeping they shall come, and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back, I will make them walk by brooks of water, in a straight path in which they shall not stumble, for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. (ESV)
Devotion:
Jeremiah 31 is a chapter of incredible hope in the midst of despair. Israel had sinned. Judgment had fallen. Exile was real. And yet—God spoke through Jeremiah not just of punishment, but of promise. These verses give us a glimpse into the heart of our heavenly Father: one who gathers, restores, and leads His people with mercy.
Notice who is included in this gathering: the blind, the lame, pregnant women, and even those in labor. In other words, those who are weak, vulnerable, and seemingly unable to make the journey are not left out. This is no elite parade of the strong—it’s a procession of grace. God Himself is the one doing the gathering.
This is the gospel: God doesn’t wait for us to get strong enough to come to Him. He comes for us—in our brokenness, in our blindness, in our weeping. And as verse 9 says, “I will lead them beside streams of water on a level path where they will not stumble.” Sound familiar? It echoes Psalm 23 and Jesus’ promise in John 7:38 that rivers of living water would flow from those who believe.
And how does this restoration happen? “They will come with weeping; they will pray as I bring them back.” There’s repentance and humility. But it’s God who carries them back, God who makes the way smooth, and God who calls Himself their Father.
For believers today, these verses aren’t just a national promise to Israel—they reflect the heart of God toward anyone who’s been far off. Through Jesus Christ, the Father continues to gather a people from every corner of the earth, including the weak and weary. The Good Shepherd still leads beside quiet waters and restores souls.
Reflection Questions:
(1) Are there places in your life where you feel too weak to come to God?
(2) How do these verses encourage you about God's heart for the vulnerable?
(3) Who in your life might feel left behind—and how can you be part of God’s gathering work?
Prayer:
Father, thank You for being the One who gathers and restores. Thank You that You come for us in our weakness and lead us with compassion. Help me walk in humility and hope, trusting in Your steady hand and tender heart. And make me a part of Your gathering grace—reaching out to the lost and leading them to Jesus, the source of living water. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
QT 18/06/2025 星期三. 耶利米书 31 从分散到聚集 上帝的恢复性恩典
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Jer/31/
今天的灵修重点是希望、恢复和上帝温柔的怜悯。
经文
耶利米书 31：8-9 [8] 看哪！我必把他们从北方之地领回来，把他们从地极招集起来；在他们中间有瞎眼的、瘸腿的、孕妇、产妇，都在一起；他们成群结队返回这里。 9 我引导他们的时候，他们必哭着而来，并且向我乞恩恳求。我要使他们走在溪水旁，行在平直的路上，他们必不会绊跌；因为我是以色列的父亲，以法莲是我的长子。
反省：
耶利米书第 31 章是绝望中充满希望的一章。以色列犯了罪。审判已经降临。被虏到外邦已是事实。然而，神通过耶利米所说的不仅仅是惩罚，还有应许。这几节经文让我们窥见了我们天父的心：一位以怜悯聚集、恢复和引领祂子民的天父。
请注意，这个聚集包括哪些人：瞎子、瘸子、孕妇，甚至是产妇。换句话说，那些软弱的、易受伤害的、似乎无法完成长途回归旅程的人并没有被排除在外。这不是强者的精英游行，而是恩典的游行。上帝自己就是进行聚集的那一位。
这就是福音： 上帝不会等我们变得足够强大才来找祂。祂为我们而来，在我们的破碎中，在我们的盲目中，在我们的哭泣中。正如第 9 节所说，“我要使他们走在溪水旁，行在平直的路上，他们必不会绊跌”。听起来熟悉吗？这与《诗篇》第 23 篇和耶稣在《约翰福音》7：38 中的应许相呼应，即活水的江河将从信的人那里流出。
那么这种恢复是如何发生的呢？“他们必带着哭泣而来；我带他们回去的时候，他们必祷告”。有悔改和谦卑。但带他们回来的是神，使道路平坦的是神，称自己为父的也是神。
对于今天的信徒来说，这些经文不仅仅是对以色列的民族应许--它们反映了上帝对任何远离的人的心。通过耶稣基督，天父继续从地球的每一个角落聚集子民，包括软弱和疲惫的人。好牧人仍在宁静的水边引领，使灵魂得以恢复。
思考题
(1) 在你的生命中，是否有一些地方让你感到太软弱而无法来到神面前？
(2) 这些经文如何鼓励你认识到神对脆弱者的心肠？
(3) 在你的生命中，誰會感到被遺忘？
祷告：天父，感谢您，因为您是聚集和恢复的那一位。感谢你在我们软弱时为我们而来，用怜悯引领我们。帮助我在谦卑和希望中前行，相信你稳定的手和温柔的心。让我成为您聚集恩典的一部分--向迷失的人伸出援手，引领他们走向耶稣--活水的源头。奉耶稣的名祷告。阿门。
