Moab will be destroyed as a nation because she defied the Lord

Jeremiah 48:47

Woe to Nebo, for it will be ruined. Kiriathaim will be disgraced and captured; the stronghold[a] will be disgraced and shattered. Moab will be praised no more; in Heshbon people will plot her downfall: ‘Come, let us put an end to that nation.’ You, the people of Madmen,[c] will also be silenced; the sword will pursue you.

Since you trust in your deeds and riches, you too will be taken captive, and Chemosh will go into exile, together with his priests and officials.

A curse on anyone who is lax in doing the Lord’s work! A curse on anyone who keeps their sword from bloodshed!

Moab has been at rest from youth, like wine left on its dregs, not poured from one jar to another— she has not gone into exile. So she tastes as she did, and her aroma is unchanged. But days are coming,”  declares the Lord, “when I will send men who pour from pitchers,   and they will pour her out; they will empty her pitchers and smash her jars.

Make her drunk, for she has defied the Lord. Let Moab wallow in her vomit; let her be an object of ridicule. Was not Israel the object of your ridicule? Was she caught among thieves, that you shake your head in scorn whenever you speak of her?

So my heart laments for Moab like the music of a pipe;  it laments like a pipe for the people of Kir Hareseth. The wealth they acquired is gone.

Moab will be destroyed as a nation because she defied the Lord.

Woe to you, Moab! The people of Chemosh are destroyed; your sons are taken into exile and your daughters into captivity.

Why?

Even Jeremiah felt sad for the Moab falling, the wealth they acquired is gone.

Since Moab trusted in their deeds and riches, so they will be taken captive. And Moab defied the Lord so the land is destroyed.

The judgment of the Lord not only come upon Israelites but also come over to all nations.

摩押的毀滅：使用許多地名，當時應該是很熟悉的地方，就在他們旁邊。

摩押的安逸：酒一直放在原來的地方過濾，一直很安逸，神要將他們倒出來，在安逸中滅亡

為摩押哀哭：地理優勢、水草豐富，連神都為他們哀哭，

神的忿怒與憐憫：摩押人還要再歸回，指的是連摩押這樣的民族(被神丟棄），都讓他們歸回，外邦人得救。

希實本含意是設計謀，他們設計謀害人，奪取人財物，結果反而被奪取。

摩押人倚靠偶像、精銳的部隊，物產豐富，都要被毀去。錯誤的倚靠以致跌倒在所依靠的上面。摩押人驕傲自大，結果在驕傲的地方一無所成！只有神才是我們唯一的倚靠。

How?

Even though I am not so good but the Lord loves me, so I should more diligent to do the right thing and let the light of Jesus may shine out on others.

A Message About the Philistines

Jeremiah 47:1-7

This is the word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines before Pharaoh attacked Gaza: 

See how the waters are rising in the north;   they will become an overflowing torrent. They will overflow the land and everything in it,     the towns and those who live in them. The people will cry out; all who dwell in the land will wail at the sound of the hooves of galloping steeds,  at the noise of enemy chariots and the rumble of their wheels. Parents will not turn to help their children; their hands will hang limp.
4 For the day has come to destroy all the Philistines and to remove all survivors who could help Tyre and Sidon.

Alas, sword of the Lord, how long till you rest? Return to your sheath; cease and be still.’ But how can it rest when the Lord has commanded it, when he has ordered it to attack Ashkelon and the coast?”

Why?

The anger of the Lord is burst and the Lord has commanded it. Who can stand firm in the world? 

The Lord arranged for Babylonia to conquer all the nations in Israel and surrounding nations for their sins.

How?

Acknowledge that only the Lord is the Almighty God, He reigns over the whole world, even we can't see Him, we can know the Lord through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

The message against the army of Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt

Jeremiah 46:1-28

This is the message against the army of Pharaoh Necho king of Egypt, which was defeated at Carchemish on the Euphrates River by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah:

But that day belongs to the Lord, the Lord Almighty—  a day of vengeance, for vengeance on his foes.
The sword will devour till it is satisfied,  till it has quenched its thirst with blood. For the Lord, the Lord Almighty, will offer sacrifice  in the land of the north by the River Euphrates.

This is the message the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about the coming of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to attack Egypt: 

As surely as I live,” declares the King, whose name is the Lord Almighty, “one will come who is like Tabor among the mountains, like Carmel by the sea. Pack your belongings for exile,  you who live in Egypt, for Memphis will be laid waste and lie in ruins without inhabitant.

The Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “I am about to bring punishment on Amon god of Thebes, on Pharaoh, on Egypt and her gods and her kings, and on those who rely on Pharaoh. I will give them into the hands of those who want to kill them—Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his officers. Later, however, Egypt will be inhabited as in times past,” declares the Lord.

“Do not be afraid, Jacob my servant; do not be dismayed, Israel. I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their exile. Jacob will again have peace and security, and no one will make him afraid. 

Why?

The Lord punished Egypt for their pride. The Lord also punished the nations that followed or support Egypt and those who rely on Pharaoh.

And the Lord still loved Jacob and announced there will return from their exile place and save them from a distant place.

How?

Do I rely on this world or rely on anything beyond the Lord? May the Holy Spirit reminds me to trust in the Lord Almighty!

I will overthrow what I have built and uproot what I have planted

Jeremiah 45:1-5

When Baruch son of Neriah wrote on a scroll the words Jeremiah the prophet dictated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, Jeremiah said this to Baruch: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: You said, ‘Woe to me! The Lord has added sorrow to my pain; I am worn out with groaning and find no rest.’ But the Lord has told me to say to you, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will overthrow what I have built and uproot what I have planted, throughout the earth. Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the Lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.

Why?
Baruch recorded what the Lord said through Jeremiah, and he frustrated his recorded and people refused to listen, even thread to his life. So he felt he found no rest.

But the Lord reminds him, God is the authorized Lord, God has built and uprooted what I have planted.

Baruch recorded the word of the Lord, so God would protect his life from disaster for all people.

How?

The Lord is my God, whatever I am doing is under the authority of the Lord. Do what I can to honor the Name of the Lord and be a messenger of the Lord to others around me.

The remnant of Judah who came to live in Egypt will know whose word will stand—mine or theirs

Jeremiah 44:15-30

All the people living in Lower and Upper Egypt, said to Jeremiah, “We will not listen to the message you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord! We will certainly do everything we said we would: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and will pour out drink offerings to her just as we and our ancestors, our kings and our officials did in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. At that time we had plenty of food and were well off and suffered no harm. But ever since we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have had nothing and have been perishing by sword and famine.”

The women added, “When we burned incense to the Queen of Heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, did not our husbands know that we were making cakes impressed with her image and pouring out drink offerings to her?”

Because you have burned incense and have sinned against the Lord and have not obeyed him or followed his law or his decrees or his stipulations, this disaster has come upon you, as you now see.

“Go ahead then, do what you promised! Keep your vows! But hear the word of the Lord, all you Jews living in Egypt: ‘I swear by my great name,’ says the Lord, ‘that no one from Judah living anywhere in Egypt will ever again invoke my name or swear, “As surely as the Sovereign Lord lives.” For I am watching over them for harm, not for good; the Jews in Egypt will perish by sword and famine until they are all destroyed. Those who escape the sword and return to the land of Judah from Egypt will be very few. Then the whole remnant of Judah who came to live in Egypt will know whose word will stand—mine or theirs.

Those who escape the sword and return to the land of Judah from Egypt will be very few. Then the whole remnant of Judah who came to live in Egypt will know whose word will stand—mine or theirs.

This will be the sign to you that I will punish you in this place,’ declares the Lord, ‘so that you will know that my threats of harm against you will surely stand.’ This is what the Lord says: ‘I am going to deliver Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hands of his enemies who want to kill him, just as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the enemy who wanted to kill him.’

Why?

How hard are those men from Judah, they refused to listen to the word of the Lord, and they insisted to do what they would. Even though their hometowns perished and escaped to Egypt, they still burn the incense for other gods.

The Lord was angry with them for they refused to obey the word of the Lord. All of them will perish in Egypt. The Lord gives them a sign that Pharaoh Hophra will be delivered into the hands of his enemies and be killed, like Zedekiah king of Judah.

Do I rely on others instead of the Lord? What decision I should make in my faith?

The remnant of Judah who came to live in Egypt will know whose word will stand—mine or theirs. In BC 568, King Babylonian came to Egypt, and in BC 569 Pharaoh was killed. 

How?

Trust in the Lord, no matter what happens obey the word of the Lord, and witness I belong to the Lord in my daily life.

None of the remnant of Judah who have gone to live in Egypt will escape or survive to return to the land of Judah

Jeremiah 44:1-14

Again and again I sent my servants the prophets, who said, ‘Do not do this detestable thing that I hate!’ But they did not listen or pay attention; they did not turn from their wickedness or stop burning incense to other gods. Therefore, my fierce anger was poured out; it raged against the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem and made them the desolate ruins they are today.

Why arouse my anger with what your hands have made, burning incense to other gods in Egypt, where you have come to live? You will destroy yourselves and make yourselves a curse and an object of reproach among all the nations on earth. 

To this day they have not humbled themselves or shown reverence, nor have they followed my law and the decrees I set before you and your ancestors. 

Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am determined to bring disaster on you and to destroy all Judah. I will take away the remnant of Judah who were determined to go to Egypt to settle there. They will all perish in Egypt; they will fall by the sword or die from famine. From the least to the greatest, they will die by sword or famine. They will become a curse and an object of horror, a curse and an object of reproach. I will punish those who live in Egypt with the sword, famine and plague, as I punished Jerusalem. None of the remnant of Judah who have gone to live in Egypt will escape or survive to return to the land of Judah, to which they long to return and live; none will return except a few fugitives.

Why?

Even remnants of Judah who have gone to live in Egypt do not listen to the word of the Lord or pay attention. So the anger of the Lord will destroy them destroy and become an object of reproach among all the nations on earth.

They thought escaped to Egypt can enjoy a safe life and good property, but all their hope are in vain for they forgot their God, so the curse of the Lord come upon them none of them will return to the land of Judah.

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神透過耶利米說這群人來到埃及居住的猶大人將發生的事。散居在4個城市，一個甚至於在尼羅河上游。他們人住在埃及仍然繼續拜偶像，惹神發怒，所以他們會被滅絕！

"從早起來"出現多次，神已經對人仁至義盡！

巴比倫滅埃及，不是因為埃及拜偶像，而是約哈難這群人拜偶像，以致戰爭臨到埃及！神從來不會因為外邦人拜偶像而懲罰他們。神的兒女因為離開神，以致萬物受到咒詛，四周的人及受受禍害。神因為基督徒敬畏神，而祝福這個地方，也因為基督徒不敬畏神，以致咒詛臨到基督徒所在的地方。

他們不聽神的話，從一開始就不聽，不願留在猶大地，很強烈的「己」已經在心中，放不下也就不順服神，順服自己的想法。

神仍然留一些逃脫的人！這群人讓人知道誰的話可信，以後可以為神做見證。

這次瘟疫出現是末日的審判，我們今天仍然留存，也是神要我們在做見證！

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How?

What I am focused on and rely on more than focus on the Lord? Maybe my job or my health or my property. I know the Lord is my blessing, without the Lord I have nothing.

They entered Egypt in disobedience to the Lord and went as far as Tahpanhes

Jeremiah 43:1-13

When Jeremiah had finished telling the people all the words of the Lord their God—everything the Lord had sent him to tell them— Azariah son of Hoshaiah and Johanan son of Kareah and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, “You are lying! The Lord our God has not sent you to say, ‘You must not go to Egypt to settle there.’ But Baruch son of Neriah is inciting you against us to hand us over to the Babylonians, so they may kill us or carry us into exile to Babylon.”

And they took Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch son of Neriah along with them. So they entered Egypt in disobedience to the Lord and went as far as Tahpanhes.

In Tahpanhes the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: “While the Jews are watching, take some large stones with you and bury them in clay in the brick pavement at the entrance to Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes. Then say to them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I will send for my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I will set his throne over these stones I have buried here; he will spread his royal canopy above them.

He will come and attack Egypt, bringing death to those destined for death, captivity to those destined for captivity, and the sword to those destined for the sword. He will set fire to the temples of the gods of Egypt; he will burn their temples and take their gods captive. As a shepherd picks his garment clean of lice, so he will pick Egypt clean and depart. There in the temple of the sun in Egypt he will demolish the sacred pillars and will burn down the temples of the gods of Egypt.

Why?

Those people didn't listen to the word of the Lord but did what they thought. They don't rely on the Lord but walked in their own way. They don't have to ask the Lord. 

The consequence of men is their choice. 

God let Jeremiah bury them in clay on the brick pavement at the entrance to Pharaoh’s palace in Tahpanhes. To show the army of Nebuchadnezzar will conquer Egypt and destroy all the gods in Egypt and pick Egypt clean and depart.

Don't like fools like those people of Judah, trust in the Lord and obey God's word. 

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如何面對亡國後的生活?

這些人自我矛盾，求耶利米向神禱告，卻不相信耶利米。巴錄在耶利米之下怎麼可能影響耶利米的話。

其實他們在被征服之起，卻可以自由來去，反而要去埃及、神沒有虧待他們。

耶利米和巴錄也一起去了，神要藉著耶利米繼續向他們說話。耶利米甘願放棄自己安逸的生活，為了傳講神的證話語，付代價。

人可以逃到那裏去躲避神的審判，只有十字架可以遮蔽、潔淨我們的罪。求神幫助我們可以走神心意的道路。

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How?

The word of the Lord is salvation and the light in my life, even if it is a hard way to go walk but it is a blessing way. 

If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down

Jeremiah 42:1-22

Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not act in accordance with everything the Lord your God sends you to tell us. Whether it is favorable or unfavorable, we will obey the Lord our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it will go well with us, for we will obey the Lord our God.”

Ten days later the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah. So he called together Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him and all the people from the least to the greatest. He said to them, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition, says:  ‘If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you, for I have relented concerning the disaster I have inflicted on you.  Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you now fear. Do not be afraid of him, declares the Lord, for I am with you and will save you and deliver you from his hands. I will show you compassion so that he will have compassion on you and restore you to your land.’

Remnant of Judah, the Lord has told you, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Be sure of this: I warn you today that you made a fatal mistake when you sent me to the Lord your God and said, ‘Pray to the Lord our God for us; tell us everything he says and we will do it.’ I have told you today, but you still have not obeyed the Lord your God in all he sent me to tell you. So now, be sure of this: You will die by the sword, famine and plague in the place where you want to go to settle.

Why?

The army officers, led by Johanan asked Jeremiah to pray to the Lord about where they should go. And the Lord answered Jeremiah, the Lord will protect them if they stay in their land.

The prayer without the heart of obey is in vain. They has make the decision to go to Egypt, but still asked the Lord where they should go. 

no matter where we go it is under the control of the Lord, in Isreal or in Egypt, the Lord has the authority. 

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約哈難準備進入埃及，來問耶利米，求耶利米為他們禱告。v11不要怕他，我要使他發憐憫.....這個使猶太人不敢相信。約哈拿稱呼耶和華你的神。後來改稱我們的神。是否真的將耶和華視為他們的神。會來求問因為感到危險。他們來求問，找一個支持我決定的正當性，應該我們要支持神！

我們是否也一直禱告，求神支持我的目標。神把人要去埃及的心中盤算也都說出來了！理由那裏沒有戰爭，有東西吃，住在強盛者，征服者的地方比較有保障，但是身份較低，是俘虜的身份。去巴比倫好像去曠野，努力不一定有好成果，要人更多依靠神，依靠神的恩典。

埃及可以自己耕種，自己努力，可以得成果，沒有餓死的問題。有大好的機會，這都是人所看的，重點在是否有神同在。人以為安全的地方，人的判斷反而是危險的。當我們知道神的心意我們是否認同，願意遵行呢?

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How?

Obey the word of the Lord is the foundation of our faith! Pray with the obeying heart.

Flight to Egypt

Jeremiah 41;1-18

Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him got up and struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, killing the one whom the king of Babylon had appointed as governor over the land. Ishmael also killed all the men of Judah who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, as well as the Babylonian[a] soldiers who were there.

Ishmael made captives of all the rest of the people who were in Mizpah—the king’s daughters along with all the others who were left there, over whom Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam. Ishmael son of Nethaniah took them captive and set out to cross over to the Ammonites.

And they went on, stopping at Geruth Kimham near Bethlehem on their way to Egypt to escape the Babylonians. They were afraid of them because Ishmael son of Nethaniah had killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed as governor over the land.

Why?

Where there is no God these people can do any detestable things. Ishmael killed king Gedaliah, and all 80 people came from north Israelite, they were come to worship the Lord with sad hearts.

Gedaliah did not care about the warning and the enemy in his country, sometimes the relatives may become enemies when they try to get their benefit.

People of Judah still don't know to rely on the Lord, but relied on men and foreign countries.

People fear Babylonia instead of the Lord, they didn't listen to the word of the Prophet Jeremiah so they escaped to Egypt.

以實馬利： 代表很有能力的人，用自己的方法、策略。有皇室血統、有武力、有法統、用愛國主義來取代神的心意。看來名正言順，當中卻沒有神的心意在當中，反而是自己的私意、權利燻心。神的心意不同於人的想法。

約哈難：代表另外一生有能力的人，但是靈命不成熟。把人救出來後，也怕迦勒底人，卻不願聽神的指示。想要救人，卻用人的方法。

基大利：照著耶利米吩咐，似乎一切都底定了，可以重新開始。但是過份自信、太相信自己人，在吃飯表示彼此信任，卻對方殺了。過份單純，不要過份自信，認為自己的判斷不會錯誤，沒有做一點的提防。我們要相信是神的話，不是相信自己。不要以為自己的判斷沒有問題。

How?

What I am afraid of? Whom I am fear? The Lord is my fortress and my shield. Do the right thing and give thanks to the Lord in everything I am doing. Don't worry and don't be afraid, but fear the Lord!

Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people

Jeremiah 40:1-16

When the commander of the guard found Jeremiah, he said to him, “The Lord your God decreed this disaster for this place. And now the Lord has brought it about; he has done just as he said he would. All this happened because you people sinned against the Lord and did not obey him. But today I am freeing you from the chains on your wrists. Come with me to Babylon, if you like, and I will look after you; but if you do not want to, then don’t come. Look, the whole country lies before you; go wherever you please.” However, before Jeremiah turned to go,[a] Nebuzaradan added, “Go back to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the towns of Judah, and live with him among the people, or go anywhere else you please.”

Then the commander gave him provisions and a present and let him go. So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who were left behind in the land.

Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, took an oath to reassure them and their men. “Do not be afraid to serve the Babylonians,” he said. “Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you. I myself will stay at Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonians who come to us, but you are to harvest the wine, summer fruit and olive oil, and put them in your storage jars, and live in the towns you have taken over.”

Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers still in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah and said to him, “Don’t you know that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.

Why?

Jeremiah may choose to go to Babylon, but he chose to stay with his people. For he does not pursue his own prophet but stays with his people, for he loves his people.

Gedaliah did not hear the warning of Ishmael will take his life. He gives comfort land and territory to Israelites,  and it wasn't a peaceful generation mixed with truth and false. So Gedaliah did not care the people will assassinate him.

The king of Babylon thought Jeremiah is their friend so let Jeremiah free when they conquered Jerusalem.

How?

Only the Lord is our shepherd, our strong shield, and our protector. Trust in the Lord is our blessing.

I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me **

Jeremiah 39:1-18

In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army and laid siege to it. And on the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city wall was broken through.

When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled; they left the city at night by way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls, and headed toward the Arabah.

But the Babylonian army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They captured him and took him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced sentence on him. There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes and also killed all the nobles of Judah. Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.

Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had given these orders about Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard: “Take him and look after him; don’t harm him but do for him whatever he asks.”

While Jeremiah had been confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him: “Go and tell Ebed-Melek the Cushite, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill my words against this city—words concerning disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes. But I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear. I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord.’

Why?

God's judgment comes upon Jerusalem, and all of the word of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah all come true. The disaster come to the whole city, But the Lord saves the life of Jeremiah and Ebed-Melek the Cushite. Because they trust in the Lord. 

Our God is righteous and full of love. Our God protects those who obey his word and against those who do evil.

The Lord can let the king of Babylon have an order, "don't harm him but do for him whatever he asks."

The blessed Ebed-Melk won't be harmed by sword or others. because he trusts in the Lord.

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耶利米，很謙卑、誠懇，希望西底加王投降，這種言論會被處死的。這裏有三種人

西底加王： 兩面討好，心中沒有定見的人。他在你們手中，我也不能干預，也可能西底加王已經沒有實權。這種性格面對環境、族群的壓力，好像我們想過聖潔的生活，卻被環境，受周圍人看法的影響、家庭的牽絆，因為我們最在乎家人的看法，信仰中也最容易受到家人影響。

約雅斤已經投降，並沒有被羞辱，好像現在我們有許多見證人。

一些官員，在乎自己的權柄、私自的利益，最後擔誤了可以活命的時機，這群首領，以愛國的名義來抵擋神、陷害先知的藉口。他們真的愛國，真的愛百姓嗎？用冠冕堂皇的理由來拒絕先知。西底加想要有面子，結果是完全受辱。

太監本來沒有權力，卻為了救先知反而救先知出來。神卻讚揚古實人以伯‧米勒，太監沒有地位的人突破禁忌，行神喜悅。面對文化、族群、傳統的禁忌壓力。我們是否願意有以伯‧米勒的心。

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How?

Do I trust in the Lord in whatever situation? Yes, I do my best to trust in the Lord. There is nothing too hard for the Lord.

Even if I did give you counsel, you would not listen to me

Jeremiah 38:1-32

“He is in your hands,” King Zedekiah answered. “The king can do nothing to oppose you.”

So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.

But Ebed-Melek, a Cushite, an official in the royal palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. While the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate, Then the king commanded Ebed-Melek the Cushite, “Take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”

they pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.

Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “If I give you an answer, will you not kill me? Even if I did give you counsel, you would not listen to me.”

But King Zedekiah swore this oath secretly to Jeremiah: “As surely as the Lord lives, who has given us breath, I will neither kill you nor hand you over to those who want to kill you.”

“They will not hand you over,” Jeremiah replied. “Obey the Lord by doing what I tell you. Then it will go well with you, and your life will be spared. But if you refuse to surrender, this is what the Lord has revealed to me: All the women left in the palace of the king of Judah will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon. 

Why?

The Judah official like put Jeremiah to death, but Ebed0Melek, a Cushite heard it, he went to ask the Lord to save Jeremiah. Even the Lord was afraid the Jews will kill him if he talk with Jeremiah.

Zedekiah was afraid of men more than fear of the Lord. 

Jeremiah continues to keep his duty to tell the word of the Lord, never changing to keep his life.

Zedekiah doesn't obey the word of the Lord but still keeps listening to the prophet Jeremiah talk. He is like to get the confirming word from the Lord for his decision.

How?

Fear the Lord and obeying God's word is a blessing. Jews are the people of the Lord, but they refuse to listen to the word of the Lord. They rejected the prophet of the Lord, Jeremiah. They have their own idea in their hearts, so they reject the word of Jeremiah.

 

angry with Jeremiah and had him beaten and imprisoned in the house of Jonathan the secretary

Jeremiah 37:1-21

Zedekiah son of Josiah was made king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; he reigned in place of Jehoiachin[a] son of Jehoiakim. Neither he nor his attendants nor the people of the land paid any attention to the words the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet.

Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of me, ‘Pharaoh’s army, which has marched out to support you, will go back to its own land, to Egypt. Then the Babylonians will return and attack this city; they will capture it and burn it down.’

“That’s not true!” Jeremiah said. “I am not deserting to the Babylonians.” But Irijah would not listen to him; instead, he arrested Jeremiah and brought him to the officials. They were angry with Jeremiah and had him beaten and imprisoned in the house of Jonathan the secretary, which they had made into a prison.

Jeremiah was put into a vaulted cell in a dungeon, where he remained a long time. Then King Zedekiah sent for him and had him brought to the palace, where he asked him privately, “Is there any word from the Lord? “Yes,” Jeremiah replied, “you will be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon.”

King Zedekiah then gave orders for Jeremiah to be placed in the courtyard of the guard and given a loaf of bread from the street of the bakers each day until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.

Why?

Zedekiah did not ask for help from the Lord but relied on Egypt. But the Babylonians will return and attack this city. But neither king nor his attendants nor the people of the land paid any attention to the words the Lord has spoken through Jeremiah.

Jeremiah under this situation still said the truth, even though the Irijah did not listen to him. They thought Jeremiah is like the enemy of Babylon. 

Jeremiah is always honest said the word of the Lord. Even he was dangerous.

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百姓都聽耶利米的話，政治情勢迦勒底人圍城，埃及出兵，圍城已經解除。西底加知道神，但是只想從神得好處，不願聽從耶和華所安排的路。

神透過耶利米，讓人看見好像埃及可靠，但是迦勒底人還會再來，依靠耶和華才是永久的依靠。神的旨意必定成就，不要以為埃及出兵，就可以不必聽神的話，想聽耶利米說危機已經解除。西底加來找耶利米想私下聽耶利米的話。這裏耶利米反而來求西底加，他不是妥協，毫不留情面傳話。耶利米忠心說，不為自己說真話，但是不想做無意義的殉道。西底加王，不聽神的話，卻要聽神的話，基督徒也是常常徘徊在神和世界的道路的中間，做決定又希望有神的背書又滿足於自己的想法。亞哈王知道以利亞是先知，又想和世界巴力妥協。我們是否也是想走屬靈的道路，又有世界的好處。

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How?

To be a servant of the Lord, doing the mission to transfer the word of the Lord and not care about his life. For the Lord will protect us.

Jeremiah 36:1-32

Take a scroll and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah and all the other nations from the time I began speaking to you in the reign of Josiah till now. Perhaps when the people of Judah hear about every disaster I plan to inflict on them, they will each turn from their wicked ways; then I will forgive their wickedness and their sin.

Baruch son of Neriah did everything Jeremiah the prophet told him to do; at the Lord’s temple he read the words of the Lord from the scroll. 

Then the officials said to Baruch, “You and Jeremiah, go and hide. Don’t let anyone know where you are.

Whenever Jehudi had read three or four columns of the scroll, the king cut them off with a scribe’s knife and threw them into the firepot, until the entire scroll was burned in the fire. The king and all his attendants who heard all these words showed no fear, nor did they tear their clothes. Even though Elnathan, Delaiah and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them. Instead, the king commanded Jerahmeel, a son of the king, Seraiah son of Azriel and Shelemiah son of Abdeel to arrest Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet. But the Lord had hidden them.

Also tell Jehoiakim king of Judah, ‘This is what the Lord says: You burned that scroll and said, “Why did you write on it that the king of Babylon would certainly come and destroy this land and wipe from it both man and beast?” Therefore this is what the Lord says about Jehoiakim king of Judah: He will have no one to sit on the throne of David; his body will be thrown out and exposed to the heat by day and the frost by night. I will punish him and his children and his attendants for their wickedness; I will bring on them and those living in Jerusalem and the people of Judah every disaster I pronounced against them, because they have not listened.’

So Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to the scribe Baruch son of Neriah, and as Jeremiah dictated, Baruch wrote on it all the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah had burned in the fire. And many similar words were added to them.

Why?

many people heard the word of the Lord they repented and feared, but the king of Judah, Jehoiakim did not fear even cut it and burned it in the fire. The Lord gave them one more chance to repent from their evil, but they rejected it.

Different people who heard the word of the Lord has different reaction. What I will be. I will check myself and fear the warning of the Lord. Many people rejected the word of the Lord as the truth.

The word of the Lord could not be burned so the Lord asked Jeremiah and let Baruch write all the words of the scroll again and many similar words were added to them.

How?

The word of the Lord is my way, my life, and my strength. Careful listen to the word of the Lord.