QT 26/05/2025 Mon. Jeremiah 12. Questioning God in times of doubt. 在怀疑的时候质问上帝
QT 26/05/2025 Mon. Jeremiah 12. Questioning God in times of doubt.
READ http://www.esv.org/jer12
Have we ever questioned God regarding His justice and sovereignty? Jeremiah did.
Jeremiah 12:1 Jeremiah’s Complaint
[1] Righteous are you, O LORD, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive? [2] You plant them, and they take root; they grow and produce fruit; you are near in their mouth and far from their heart. (ESV)
✝️ Devotional Thought:
Jeremiah speaks what many of us have silently thought: “Lord, why do the wicked prosper?” He looks around and sees corruption flourishing, evil people thriving, and yet the faithful are suffering. It doesn't seem fair. And in a moment of raw honesty, Jeremiah brings his questions to God.
What’s beautiful here is that God doesn’t rebuke Jeremiah for his complaint. Instead, God responds by lifting Jeremiah’s perspective:
Jeremiah 12:5 The LORD Answers Jeremiah
[5] “If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses? And if in a safe land you are so trusting, what will you do in the thicket of the Jordan? (ESV)
God is not dismissing Jeremiah’s pain—He’s preparing him for a greater purpose. The challenges Jeremiah faces now are only the beginning. God is strengthening His prophet for the race ahead.
Just like Jeremiah, we may wrestle with injustice. It can shake us when we see evildoers flourish while the righteous are worn down. But God's response invites us to trust His higher plan. His justice may not come in our timing, but it is never absent. He sees. He knows. He is still sovereign.
Connection with NT:
Jeremiah’s questions find their ultimate answer at the Cross. Jesus, the only truly righteous one, was rejected and crucified—while Barabbas, a known criminal, was set free. The Cross shows us that God’s justice and mercy meet perfectly in Christ. The wicked may seem to prosper for a time, but Christ has already triumphed over evil.
Reflection Questions:
(1) Have you ever felt like Jeremiah—wondering why God allows the wicked to prosper?
(2) How can God's response to Jeremiah encourage you to endure and trust in His timing?
(3) What would it look like to shift your focus from fairness to faithfulness?
🛐 Prayer: Lord, I don’t always understand Your ways. I confess that sometimes I doubt Your justice when I see evil flourish. Strengthen my heart like You did Jeremiah’s. Teach me to trust You when the answers don’t come quickly. Thank You for Jesus, who suffered unjustly so that I might be justified by faith. Help me walk faithfully, even when the path is hard. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
QT 26/05/2025 星期一. 耶利米书 12 在怀疑的时候质问上帝
阅读 http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/Jer/12/
我们曾质疑过上帝的公义和主权吗？耶利米就质疑过。
耶利米书 12：1–2 耶利米的抱怨
1 耶和华啊！我跟你争辩的时候，总是你有理；然而我还要跟你讨论有关公正的问题。恶人的道路为什么亨通？所有行诡诈的为什么都得享安逸？2 你栽种了他们，他们也扎了根，并且长大，结出果实；他们的口中有你，心里却没有你（“他们的口中有你，心里却没有你”原文作“你与他们的口很接近，却离他们的心很远”）。
✝️ 灵修思想：
耶利米说出了我们许多人的心声：“主啊，恶人为何兴旺？他环顾四周，看到腐败盛行，恶人兴旺，而忠心的人却在受苦。这似乎不公平。耶利米坦诚地向上帝提出了自己的疑问。
这里的美妙之处在于，上帝并没有因为耶利米的抱怨而责备他。相反，神的回应是提升耶利米的视角：
耶利米书 12：5 耶和华回答耶利米
耶和华说：“如果你与徒步的人同跑，尚且觉得疲倦，怎能跟马赛跑呢？你在平安稳妥之地，尚且跌倒，在约旦河边的丛林怎么办呢？
上帝并没有漠视耶利米的痛苦，而是在为他更伟大的目标做准备。耶利米现在面临的挑战只是一个开始。神正在加强祂的先知，使他能够迎接未来的挑战。
就像耶利米一样，我们可能会与不公正搏斗。当我们看到恶人肆意横行，而正义之士却备受摧残时，我们会感到震撼。但上帝的回应会让我们相信祂更高的计划。祂的公义可能不会在我们的时间到来，但绝不会缺席。祂看见。祂知道。祂仍然是至高无上的。
与新约的联系：
耶利米的问题在十字架上找到了最终的答案。耶稣是唯一真正公义的人，却被弃绝并钉死在十字架上，而众所周知的罪犯巴拉巴却被释放。十字架向我们表明，上帝的公义与怜悯在基督身上完美地结合在一起。恶人看似一时得势，但基督已经战胜了邪恶。
思考题
(1) 你是否曾像耶利米一样，想知道为什么神允许恶人兴旺？
(2) 神对耶利米的回应如何鼓励你忍耐并相信祂的时机？
(3) 将你的焦点从公平转向信实会是什么样子？
祷告： 主啊，我并不总是明白你的方式。我承认，有时当我看到邪恶势力猖獗时，我会怀疑你的公义。求您坚固我的心，就像您坚固耶利米的心一样。当答案来得不快时，教导我相信您。感谢您赐予我耶稣，他不公正地受苦，使我因信称义。帮助我忠实地前行，即使道路艰难。奉耶稣的名祷告。阿门
