神的異象
神奇怪的困境
經文
耶利米書二十六1-16
1猶大王約西亞的兒子約雅敬登基的時候，有這話從耶和華臨到耶利米說：
2耶和華如此說：你站在耶和華殿的院內，對猶大眾城邑的人，就是到耶和華殿來禮拜的，說我所吩咐你的一切話，一字不可刪減。
3或者他們肯聽從，各人回頭離開惡道，使我後悔不將我因他們所行的惡，想要施行的災禍降與他們。
4你要對他們說，耶和華如此說：你們若不聽從我，不遵行我設立在你們面前的律法，5不聽我從早起來差遣到你們那裡去我僕人眾先知的話（你們還是沒有聽從），
6我就必使這殿如示羅，使這城為地上萬國所咒詛的。
7耶利米在耶和華殿中說的這些話，祭司、先知與眾民都聽見了。
8耶利米說完了耶和華所吩咐他對眾人說的一切話，祭司、先知與眾民都來抓住他，說：你必要死！
9你為何託耶和華的名預言，說這殿必如示羅，這城必變為荒場無人居住呢？於是眾民都在耶和華的殿中聚集到耶利米那裡。
10猶大的首領聽見這事，就從王宮上到耶和華的殿，坐在耶和華殿的新門口。
11祭司、先知對首領和眾民說：這人是該死的；因為他說預言攻擊這城，正如你們親耳所聽見的。
12耶利米就對眾首領和眾民說：耶和華差遣我預言，攻擊這殿和這城，說你們所聽見的這一切話。
13現在要改正你們的行動作為，聽從耶和華你們神的話，他就必後悔，不將所說的災禍降與你們。
14至於我，我在你們手中，你們眼看何為善，何為正，就那樣待我吧！
15但你們要確實地知道，若把我治死，就使無辜人的血歸到你們和這城，並其中的居民了；因為耶和華實在差遣我到你們這裡來，將這一切話傳與你們耳中。
16首領和眾民就對祭司、先知說：這人是不該死的，因為他是奉耶和華我們神的名向我們說話。
信息分享
我們要再來思考神的呼喊：「我可以差遣誰呢？誰肯為我們去呢？」有人形容這是「神奇怪的困境」──全能者要求人類幫助。在基督教的真理中，很可能沒有甚麼比這更難以理解，將世界放在掌中的全能神，竟然嘗試徵召我們支持祂、傳遞祂的真理。
我在想，這樣的呼聲有沒有令以賽亞感到疑惑？他看見神的威嚴的異象，現在這全能的神要求以賽亞與祂合作。為甚麼神會忽然間顯得那樣軟弱無力？不，不是神軟弱無力需要我們的幫助，而是神選擇要這樣做，因為這是祂的方式，祂要我們參與祂救贖的計劃。
但是神為甚麼要這樣束縛自己呢？祂要我們加入祂的隊伍是基於甚麼原因？約翰衛斯理（John Wesley）說：「神在世上所做的救贖工作都是透過禱告完成。」他這句話的意思似乎是，在為宇宙帶來救贖性轉變時，神透過祂百姓的禱告，而且單單透過他們的禱告行動。這是衛斯理令人吃驚的話，但我完全認同他這句話。神沒有我們也可以在地上實行祂的救贖工作，但祂不這麼做，因為祂希望有團隊效應。我在想，這是否意味你和我不讓神使用的話，某些事情就不能完成？
「神要我們參與祂救贖的計劃」
進深研究
該二20-23；彼前二1-10
1. 哈該要告訴所羅巴伯甚麼？
2. 彼得怎樣描述神的百姓？
祈禱
天父，因您要我加入您的隊伍，這令我感到不配。這個邀請令我懾服，我心裡呼喊說「好的，好的，好的！」求您按您所希望的方式使用我，差遣我到您要我到的地方去。主啊，我在這裡，請差遣我！
The Vision of God
"The strange predicament of God"
Bible reading:
Jeremiah 26:1-16
1 Early in the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the Lord:
2 "This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard of the Lord's house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the Lord. Tell them everything I command you; do not omit a word.
3 Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from their evil ways. Then I will relent and not inflict on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done.
4 Say to them, 'This is what the Lord says: If you do not listen to me and follow my law, which I have set before you,
5 and if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you again and again (though you have not listened),
6 then I will make this house like Shiloh and this city a curse[a] among all the nations of the earth.'"
7 The priests, the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the Lord.
8 But as soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the Lord had commanded him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized him and said, "You must die!
9 Why do you prophesy in the Lord's name that this house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted?" And all the people crowded around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.
10 When the officials of Judah heard about these things, they went up from the royal palace to the house of the Lord and took their places at the entrance of the New Gate of the Lord's house.
11 Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, "This man should be sentenced to death because he has prophesied against this city. You have heard it with your own ears!"
12 Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people: "The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the things you have heard.
13 Now reform your ways and your actions and obey the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you.
14 As for me, I am in your hands; do with me whatever you think is good and right.
15 Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing."
16 Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, "This man should not be sentenced to death! He has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God."
Message
We spend another day reflecting on the cry of God: "Whom shall I send. And who will go for us?" Someone has described this as "the strange predicament of God" - the Almighty asking help of human beings. Probably nothing is more difficult to understand as regards Christian truth than this, that the Almighty God, who holds the world in the hollow of His hand, seeks to enlist our support in relaying His truth.
Did this confuse Isaiah, I wonder? He had seen a vision of the majesty of God, and now this Almighty God was asking for Isaiah's co-operation. Why does He suddenly appear to be so powerless? Well, it isn't because God is powerless that He asks our help. He chooses to do so because that is His way. He wants us to be involved with Him in redeeming the world.
But we ask again: Why has God tied His own hands in this way? What is His rationale for wanting us on His team? John Wesley is reported to have said: "God does nothing in the world redemptively except through prayer." He seems to be saying in this statement that in bringing about redemptive changes in the universe, God moves, and only moves, through the prayers of His people. These are staggering words of Wesley's but I am in agreement with them fully and wholeheartedly God could do His redemptive work here on earth without us, but He chooses not to because He wants it to be a team effort. Does that mean that if you and I do not make ourselves available to Him then some things just might not get done? I wonder.
"He wants us to be involved with Him in redeeming the world"
Prayer
Father, it humbles me to think that You want me on Your team. I am overwhelmed by the invitation, but my heart cries out "Yes, Yes, Yes!" Use me in any way you want to and to go anywhere You want me to go. Here I am. Send me!
Further study
Haggai 2:20-23
1 Peter 2:1-10
1. What was Haggai to tell Zerubbabel?
2. How does Peter describe God's people?
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