祂都記得 (卓爾君牧師)
耶利米書2:1-8
我們每個人都有記憶，所以我們可以記得人生當中的酸甜苦辣，若失去記憶，我們的生活就會出現混亂。許多人誤解了保羅所說的「忘記背後，努力面前」當中的「忘記」，其實這裡說的忘記，指的是追求基督的態度，一種定睛專注在主耶穌、不被無關的事物所分散注意力的決心。
耶利米那個年代與當年在曠野相比已經有很大的不同，出埃及之後的以色列人已經忘記對神的愛，變成隨從虛無的神，成為虛妄，但是耶和華仍然都記得以色列人早年時跟隨祂、歸耶和華為聖的情況。先知耶利米的話是要提醒以色列人，祂仍然記得他們之間那段約定。
今天的經文是要提醒以色列人，祂與他們有立約的關係，但是我們也要問自己，與初信時相比，我們對神的愛是減少還是增加了呢？我們在教會日子久了，知識必然會增加，也有更多的服事，但是在華麗的禱告背後，我們是否還維持著起初的愛心，對神的愛是否更深呢？
耶利米書2:1-8 (和合本)
- 耶和華的話臨到我說：
- “你去向耶路撒冷人的耳中喊叫說，耶和華如此說：‘你幼年的恩愛，婚姻的愛情，你怎樣在曠野，在未曾耕種之地跟隨我，我都記得。
- 那時以色列歸耶和華為聖，作為土產初熟的果子，凡吞吃它的必算為有罪，災禍必臨到他們。’”這是耶和華說的。
- 雅各家、以色列家的各族啊，你們當聽耶和華的話。
- 耶和華如此說：“你們的列祖見我有甚麼不義，竟遠離我，隨從虛無的神，自己成為虛妄的呢？
- 他們也不說，那領我們從埃及地上來，引導我們經過曠野、沙漠有深坑之地，和乾旱死蔭、無人經過、無人居住之地的耶和華在哪裡呢？
- 我領你們進入肥美之地，使你們得吃其中的果子和美物。但你們進入的時候，就玷污我的地，使我的產業成為可憎的。
- 祭司都不說：‘耶和華在哪裡呢？’傳講律法的都不認識我，官長違背我，先知藉巴力說預言，隨從無益的神。”
Jeremiah 2:1-8 (NIV)
- The word of the Lord came to me:
- “Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: “This is what the Lord says: ” ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown.
- Israel was holy to the Lord, the firstfruits of his harvest; all who devoured her were held guilty, and disaster overtook them,’ ” declares the Lord.
- Hear the word of the Lord, you descendants of Jacob, all you clans of Israel.
- This is what the Lord says: “What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.
- They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord, who brought us up out of Egypt and led us through the barren wilderness, through a land of deserts and ravines, a land of drought and utter darkness, a land where no one travels and no one lives?’
- I brought you into a fertile land to eat its fruit and rich produce. But you came and defiled my land and made my inheritance detestable.
- The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols.