QT 22/06/2025 Sun. Jeremiah 34 Liberty and Freedom Misunderstood 对解放与自由的误解

QT 22/06/2025 Sun. Jeremiah 34 Liberty and Freedom Misunderstood
READ http://www.esv.org/jer34

Let’s look at the topics of obedience, covenant faithfulness, and God's righteous judgment in order not to misunderstand liberty in the religion.

Focus Scripture:
"[17] “Therefore, thus says the LORD: You have not obeyed me by proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother and to his neighbor; behold, I proclaim to you liberty to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine, declares the LORD. I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. [18] And the men who transgressed my covenant and did not keep the terms of the covenant that they made before me, I will make them like the calf that they cut in two and passed between its parts—[19] the officials of Judah, the officials of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, the priests, and all the people of the land who passed between the parts of the calf. — Jeremiah 34:17–19 (ESV)

Reflection:
God had commanded His people to proclaim liberty—to set free their Hebrew slaves every seventh year as an act of justice and remembrance of God's own deliverance. Initially, the people obeyed, but soon they reversed their decision and re-enslaved their fellow Israelites. They broke a covenant they had made in God’s presence, symbolized by walking between the halves of a sacrificed calf—an ancient sign of invoking God’s judgment upon themselves if they failed to keep their word (See Genesis 15:17–18)

Genesis 15:17–18 [17] When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. [18] On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, (ESV)

God responds with deep seriousness. He says, "You have not obeyed Me," and then turns their proclaimed liberty into a tragic irony: "I proclaim to you liberty—to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine." This is not the freedom they expected; it is a release into judgment, not blessing.

What went wrong? They honoured God with their lips and with religious rituals, but their hearts remained enslaved to greed, power, and self-interest. They made a covenant, but they treated it lightly. And in doing so, they treated God lightly.

Application:
This passage is a sobering call to honour our commitments before the Lord. As believers in Christ, we are under a new covenant—sealed not with the blood of calves but with the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 9:15). That covenant calls us to love our neighbour, walk in humility, and pursue justice.

God takes His Word—and our obedience to it—seriously. Freedom in Christ is not a licence to live however we please, but a calling to serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13).

Are there areas where you've broken covenant—promises made to God, to others, or to yourself? Let the Holy Spirit bring conviction, not condemnation. Christ has made a way back for the repentant heart. Today, let us renew our commitment to walk in integrity, compassion, and faithful obedience.

When you sign the Commitment Form during administration month this year, would you take what you signed seriously?

Prayer:
Lord, forgive me for the times I've taken Your Word lightly. Help me to walk in the freedom You have given—not to serve myself, but to serve others in love. Let my obedience be real, not just ritual. I renew my covenant with You today. Keep my heart faithful, and let justice and mercy flow through my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

QT 22/06/2025 星期日. 耶利米书 34 对解放与自由的误解
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Jer/34/

让我们来看看顺服、对盟约的忠诚和上帝公义的审判等主题，以免误解宗教中的自由。

重点经文：耶利米书 34：17–19
17 “所以，耶和华这样说：‘你们各人没有听从我，向兄弟、同胞宣告自由；看哪！我现在向你们宣告自由，容让你们遭受刀剑、瘟疫和饥荒，使你们成为地上万国所惊惧的。’这是耶和华的宣告。18 ‘我必把那些违犯我的约的人交出去；他们没有履行在我面前和我立约的誓言，就是他们把牛犊劈开两半，并且从两半中间走过去时立下的。19 那些从牛犊两半中间走过去的人，就是犹大的领袖、耶路撒冷的领袖、宫中的臣宰、祭司和这地的众民。

反思：
上帝曾命令祂的子民宣布自由--每隔七年释放希伯来奴隶，以此作为正义之举，并纪念上帝自己的拯救。起初，人们服从了，但很快他们就改变了决定，重新奴役他们的以色列同胞。他们违背了在上帝面前立下的盟约，象征性地在献祭的牛犊的两半之间行走--这是一个古老的标志，表示如果他们不遵守诺言，上帝就会对他们进行审判（见创世记 15:17-18）

创世记 15:17-18 [17] 日落天黑的时候，忽然有冒烟的炉和烧着的火把，从那些肉块中经过。18 就在那时候，耶和华与亚伯兰立约说：“我已经把这地赐给你的后裔了，就是从埃及河直到幼发拉底河之地；

上帝严肃地回应了他们。祂说：“你们没有顺从我”，然后将他们宣称的自由变成了一个悲剧性的讽刺：“我向你们宣告自由--刀剑、瘟疫和饥荒”。这并不是他们所期望的自由；这是对审判的释放，而不是祝福。

出了什么问题？他们用嘴唇和宗教仪式尊崇上帝，但他们的心仍然被贪婪、权力和私利所奴役。他们立了约，却轻率地对待它。这样，他们也就轻视了上帝。

应用：
这段经文警醒我们要履行在主面前的承诺。作为基督的信徒，我们在新约之下，不是用牛犊的血，而是用耶稣的血（希伯来书 9：15）。新约要求我们爱邻舍，谦卑行事，追求公义。

上帝严肃对待祂的话语和我们对的服从。在基督里的自由并不是我们可以随心所欲地生活，而是呼召我们在爱中彼此服侍（加拉太书 5：13）。

你是否在某些方面违背了对神、对他人或对自己的承诺？让圣灵给你定罪，而不是定你的罪。基督为悔改的心开辟了一条回归之路。今天，让我们重申自己的承诺，以正直、怜悯和忠诚顺服的态度前行。

当你在今年的行政月签署会友的委身表时，你会认真对待你所签署的吗？

祷告：主啊，原谅我曾经轻视你的话语。帮助我在你赐予的自由中前行--不是为自己服务，而是在爱中为他人服务。让我的顺服是真实的，而不仅仅是仪式。今天，我与你重新立约。让我的心保持忠诚，让正义和仁慈流淌在我的生命中。奉耶稣的名，阿门。