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耶利米哀歌生命读经 · 第3篇

第四首哀歌－为受惩罚之百姓

The Fourth Lamentation—A Lamentation
哀悼的诗歌，与第五首哀歌－为圣民祷告的哀歌
Over the Punished People and The Fifth Lamentation—A Lamentation as a Prayer for the Holy People
1读经：耶利米哀歌四至五章。在本篇信息中，我们要说到第四与第五首哀歌。整体看过这些哀歌以后，我们要密切留意五章十九至二十二节。
1Scripture Reading: Lam. 4—5 In this message we will cover the fourth and fifth lamentations. After considering these lamentations as a whole, we will pay close attention to 5:19-22
壹 第四首哀歌，
I. THE FOURTH LAMENTATION
为受惩罚之百姓哀悼的诗歌
A LAMENTATION OVER THE PUNISHED PEOPLE
2第四首哀歌－为受惩罚之百姓哀悼的诗歌－记载在四章。
2The fourth lamentation—a lamentation over the punished people—is recorded in chapter four
一 他们被围困时受缺食的困苦
A. Afflicted with the Lack of Food in Their Siege
3以色列人在被围困时受到缺食的困苦。（1～10。）发光的『纯金』与磨亮的『蓝宝石』，因著缺食，变成『黑炭』。（1～5，7～9。）慈心的妇人煮自己的儿女作食物。（10。）神的子民受困苦，因他们的罪孽，比所多玛的罪还大。（6。）二被耶和华所发的烈怒烧毁
3The people of Israel were afflicted with a lack of food in their siege (vv. 1-10). The shining “pure gold” and the glittering “sapphire” became “black coal” because of the lack of food (vv. 1-5, 7-9). The compassionate women boiled and ate their own children (v. 10). God’sp eople were afflicted because their iniquity was greater than the sin of Sodom (v. 6). B. Consumed by the Burning Anger of Jehovah’s Wrath
4以色列人被耶和华所发的烈怒烧毁。（11～20。）这样的烈怒，地上的君王，和世上的居民都不信。（12。）神的子民因她申言者的罪恶，和祭司的罪孽被烧毁。（13～16。）百姓盼望一国的帮助，乃是枉然的。（17～20。）
4The children of Israel were consumed by the burning anger of Jehovah’s wrath (vv. 11-20). Such an anger was not believable to the kings of the earth nor to the inhabitants of the world (v. 12). God’sp eople were consumed because of the sins of her prophets and the iniquities of her priests (vv. 13-16). The people looked in vain for a nation’s help (vv. 17-20
三 他们将来的盼望
C. Their Hope in the Future
5二十一、二十二节说到他们将来的盼望。他们盼望他们罪孽的惩罚受足了，耶和华不使他们再被放逐。（22上。）他们也盼望耶和华惩罚以东的罪孽。（21，22下。）耶利米完全以人性的方式来写这首哀歌。他的同情、他的爱、他的忧伤和他的哀哭，完全是人性的。耶利米在这首哀歌里所说的一切，都是他人性的流出。回想以色列的已往，（2，）他是有人性的；说到以东要来的惩罚，（22，）他更是有人性的。他对以色列的属人感觉，导致他对以东人产生属人的嫉妒。耶利米不高兴以东人在享受平安，而以色列却在神的惩罚之下。所以，照著他属人的感觉，他宣告神要惩罚以东的罪孽，显露他们的罪恶。
5Verses 21 and 22 speak of their hope in the future. They hoped that the punishment for their iniquity had been accomplished and that Jehovah would no longer take them into exile (v. 22a). They hoped also that Jehovah would punish the iniquity of Edom (vv. 21, 22b). Jeremiah wrote this lamentation altogether in a human way. His sympathy, his love, his sorrow, and his weeping were altogether human. Everything uttered by Jeremiah in this lamentation was the issue of his being human. In recalling Israel’s past (v. 2) he was human, and in speaking regarding the coming punishment of Edom (v. 22) he was even more human. His human feeling for Israel led him into human jealousy concerning Edom. Jeremiah was unhappy that Edom was enjoying peace while Israel was under God’s punishment. Therefore, according to his human feeling, he declared that God would punish the iniquity of Edom and uncover their sins.
贰 第五首哀歌－
II. THE FIFTH LAMENTATION
6为圣民祷告的哀歌，作第四首哀歌的结语
6A LAMENTATION AS A PRAYER FOR THE HOLY PEOPLE AS THE CONCLUSION OF THE FOURTH LAMENTATION
7第五首哀歌，就是为圣民祷告的哀歌，作第四首哀歌的结语，记载在五章。一求耶和华记念他们的遭遇这祷告开始于耶利米求耶和华记念他们的遭遇，观看他们所受的凌辱。（1。）
7The fifth lamentation, which is a lamentation as a prayer for the holy people as the conclusion of the fourth lamentation, is recorded in chapter five. A. Asking Jehovah to Remember Their Sufferings This prayer begins with Jeremiah’s asking Jehovah to remember their sufferings and to look and see their reproach (v. 1
二 述说他们的惨况
B. Relating Their Miserable Condition
8耶利米继续祷告，述说他们的惨况。（2～6，8～18。）
8This prayer continues with Jeremiah’s relating their miserable condition (vv. 2-6, 8-18
三 承认他们列祖的罪，以及他们的罪
C. Confessing Their Fathers’ Sin and Their Sin
9在七节和十六节下半，耶利米承认他们列祖的罪，以及他们的罪。
9In verses 7 and 16b Jeremiah confessed their fathers’ sin and their sin
四 结束于代求
D. Concluding with a Petition
10这祷告结束于代求。（19～22。）耶利米在他的代求里，赞美耶和华，（19，）求问祂，（20，22，）并要求祂。（21。）现在让我们来看这些经文里的重点。耶利米书和耶利米哀歌是基于神经纶的永远观点写的。但在哀歌五章末了以前，耶利米写得非常有人性，对以色列人有许多人性的同情和怜恤。虽然耶利米非常有人性，但他也是属神的人。他知道仅仅有人性，无法解决以色列人的问题。所以，到第五首哀歌的末了，在十九至二十二节，他转向耶和华。
10This prayer concludes with a petition (vv. 19-22). In his petition, Jeremiah praises Jehovah (v. 19), questions Him (vv. 20, 22), and makes a request of Him (v. 21). Let us now consider the crucial points in these verses. The books of Jeremiah and Lamentations were written based upon the eternal view of God’secon o my. But in the book of Lamentations until the end of chapter five, Jeremiah wrote in a very human way, with much human sympathy and compassion for the children of Israel. Although Jeremiah was very human, he was also a man of God. He knew that the problems of the children of Israel could not be solved by merely being human. Therefore, at the end of the fifth lamentation, in verses 19 through 22, he turned to Jehovah
11十九节说，『耶和华阿，你存到永远，你的宝座，存到万代。』『耶和华阿，你存到永远，』这话指神永远的所是，指明祂没有改变。在人的范围里，改变随处发生。特别是在以色列人的光景中，许多事都改变了。但神永远的所是并没有改变;祂永远是一样的。
11Verse 19 says, “You, O Jehovah, remain forever; / Your throne is from generation to generation.” The phrase “You, O Jehovah, remain forever” refers to God’s eternal being, and it indicates that there is no change with Him. In the human realm, changes take place in every way. In particular, many things changed in the situation of the children of Israel. But there was no change with God’s eternal being. He remains forever the same.
12『你的宝座，存到万代，』这话是指神永远、不变的行政。神的宝座无始无终；祂的宝座存到万代。这里耶利米所写关于神永远的所是和祂永远、不变的行政，的确是神圣的。虽然耶利米在十九节的发表是神圣的，但他在二十至二十二节却恢复以非常属人的方式说话。在二十节他写著:『你为何永远忘记我们？为何许久离弃我们？』这里耶利米事实上是在向神抱怨，并向神挑战。耶利米在十九节献上很高的赞美以后，在二十节却很强的向神挑战，问祂为何永远忘记他们，离弃他们。事实上，神既没有忘记，也没有离弃祂的百姓。在二十一节，耶利米继续说，『耶和华阿，求你转向我们，我们便得回转；求你复新我们的日子，像古时一样。』这话以命令的语气表达，指明耶利米认为，使以色列人回转的责任在于耶和华。他认为耶和华是主动者，以色列人是被动者。这也表达耶利米属人的感觉。这里耶利米似乎在说，『耶和华，我们无法回转或得以复新。这事的责任在于你。你必须转向我们，然后我们就得以回转。我们无法主动，除非你先主动。』
12The phrase “Your throne is from generation to generation” refers to God’s eternal and unchanging government. God’s throne has no beginning or end; His throne exists from generation to generation. Jeremiah’s writing here concerning God’s eternal being and His eternal and unchanging government surely is divine. Although Jeremiah’sex press i on in verse 19 is divine, he reverts to speaking in a very human way in verses 20 through 22. In verse 20 he writes, “Why do You forget us forever / And forsake us for so long a time?” Here Jeremiah is actually complaining to God and challenging Him. After offering the high praise in verse 19, Jeremiah strongly challenges God in verse 20, asking Him why He had forgotten them and forsaken them. Actually God had neither forgotten nor forsaken His people. In verse 21 Jeremiah continues, “Turn to us, O Jehovah, and we will be turned; / Renew our days as before.” This word, which is expressed as an imperative, indicates that Jeremiah considered that the responsibility for the turning of the children of Israel depended upon Jehovah. He considered that Jehovah was the active one and the children of Israel were the passive ones. This too was an expression of Jeremiah’s human feeling. Here Jeremiah seems to be saying, “Jehovah, we cannot turn or be renewed. The responsibility for this is with You. You have to turn to us, and then we will be turned. We cannot be active unless You are active first
13虽然耶利米以属人的方式说到他们需要耶和华转向他们，但他的思想是正确的。这由撒迦利亚十二章得著证明，这章说到以色列的全家得救。当以色列全家接受主的救恩时，是谁先回转？是以色列还是主？是谁要率先发起？这章启示，那率先发起并回转的是主，不是以色列。耶路撒冷被敌基督围困时，主耶稣要转向以色列人，向他们显现。然后他们要仰望祂，就是他们所扎的一位，并要悔改。（10。）这就是说，他们看见主，就要转向祂，并得著祂对他们全家的救恩。
13Although Jeremiah spoke in a human way about their needing Jehovah to turn to them, his thought was correct. This is proved by Zechariah 12, a chapter which speaks about Israel’sho use hold salvation. When the household of Israel receives the Lord’ss alvation, who will turn first, Israel or the Lord? Who will take the initiative? This chapter reveals that it is the Lord, not Israel, who will take the initiative and turn. When Jerusalem is besieged by Antichrist, the Lord Jesus will turn to the children of Israel and appear to them. They will then look on Him, the One whom they have pierced, and repent (v. 10). This means that when they see the Lord, they will turn to Him and receive His household salvation.
14在二十二节耶利米问耶和华两个问题，藉此结束他的写作：『或是你全然弃绝了我们，向我们大发烈怒？』耶和华没有全然弃绝以色列，也没有向他们大发烈怒。但他们需要等候祂，直到复兴的时候，那时祂要复兴以色列人，使他们在祂的人位里并在祂永远的国里，享受祂向他们列祖所应许的。我们已经指出，在第三首哀歌里，耶利米说到神的慈爱、怜恤和信实；在第五首哀歌末了，他诉诸神的所是和祂永远的宝座，就是祂那不变的行政。你比较珍赏那一个?你认为那一个更高－神的慈爱、怜恤、信实，还是神永远的所是和永远的宝座？神永远的所是和宝座，比祂的慈爱、怜恤、信实更高。照著新约，神的救恩是关乎祂的爱、（约三16、）祂的恩、（弗二8、）和祂的义（罗一17）的事。神的爱和恩可能改变，但神的义不能改变，因为祂的义与祂的行政有关。（诗八九14，美国标准本。）爱和恩都与神的心有关。神的心可能改变，但祂仍然是义的。神的义不能改变，因为祂必须始终是义的。神的慈爱和怜恤能改变，但神的人位和祂的行政却永不改变。
14In verse 22 Jeremiah concluded his writing by asking two questions of Jehovah: “Have You utterly rejected us? / Are You exceedingly angry with us?” Jehovah had not utterly rejected Israel, nor was He exceedingly angry with them. But they needed to wait on Him until the time of restoration, when He will restore the children of Israel to be in His person and in His eternal kingdom to enjoy what He had promised to their forefathers. As we have pointed out, in the third lamentation Jeremiah spoke of God’s lovingkindness, compassions, and faithfulness, and at the end of the fifth lamentation he appealed to God’s eternal being and His eternal throne, His unchanging government. Which do you appreciate more and which do you consider higher — God’s lovingkindness, compassions, and faithfulness or God’s eternal being and eternal throne? God’s eternal being and throne are higher than His lovingkindness, compassions, and faithfulness. According to the New Testament, God’ss alvation is a matter of His love (John 3:16), His grace (Eph. 2:8), and His righteousness (Rom. 1:17). God’s love and grace may change, but God’s righteousness cannot change, because His righteousness is related to His government (Psa. 89:14, ASV). Both love and grace are related to God’she art. God’she art may change, yet He would still be righteous. God’s righteousness cannot change, because He must always be righteous. God’s lovingkindness and compassions can change, but God’s person and His government remain unchanging forever.
15耶利米不是用神的慈爱、怜恤、和信实结束，乃是用神永远的所是和祂的宝座来结束这卷书。这是有力的标记，说出耶利米写哀歌时摸著神的经纶。虽然他的哀歌太在人性的感觉、味道、爱和同情里，但末了他从他的人性里出来，进到神的神性里。在五章十九节那里，他摸著神的身位和神的宝座。在新耶路撒冷里，神要在祂的人位和祂的行政里完全被揭示出来，这二者是祂对付我们时不可摇动的根基。那时，我们要看见神自己这永远的王，同著祂那永远、不能震动的国。（来十二28。）
15Jeremiah ended Lamentations not with God’s lovingkindness, compassions, and faithfulness but with God’s eternal being and His throne. This is a strong sign that in writing Lamentations Jeremiah touched God’secon o my. Although his lamentations were too much in his human feeling, taste, love, and sympathy, at the end he came out of his being human and entered into God’s divinity. There, in 5:19, he touched God’s person and God’s throne. In the New Jerusalem, God will be fully unveiled in His person and in His government, both of which are the unshakable foundation of His dealing with us. At that time, we will see God Himself as the eternal King with His eternal, unshakable kingdom (Heb. 12:28