一、不再顾惜（v1-9）
先知有一个很重要的职责，就是代祷。这里是神第4次跟耶利米说不要再祷告了，而且很坚定的说，就算你把摩西或撒母耳请来为犹大百姓代祷也于事无补的。因为祂已经定意要审判悖逆的百姓，不再顾昔他们了。
二、在绝望中（v10-14）
耶利米知道神审判犹大百姓的心意已决，百姓最终将死的很惨，因此从v10经文开始到接下来长达将近10章的篇幅，他就向神爆发了他心中很多的痛苦、愤怒、哀伤和抱怨。
1. 向神哭诉
先知也是有血有肉的普通人。他一面被同胞误解逼迫，一面3次代求被神拒绝，怎么你呼召我做先知，却又不听我的呼求？似乎两头都不讨好，所以内心伤痕累累、倍感失望。因此他自艾自怜的想神哭诉：我为什么要出生？为什么要我担任先知这样一个受尽对抗逼迫的服事？
弟兄姐妹，你有过这样的经历吗？在陷入极度痛苦的困境，巴不得妈妈没有生下你？
在煎熬难耐的情况下，神是允许我们讲真感觉的。我们可以是可以来到神的面前，把心中负面的话语，甚至苦毒，都真实开口来对神说。
2. 得神安慰（v11-14）
神不但没有责备耶利米发怨言，反而立刻安慰他。神应允会使他所发的预言成就。在祂让巴比伦将百姓掳掠到外邦时，百姓要因为灾祸苦难临到，而转过来央求耶利米为他们求告神。
我们若是为神遭受逼迫，神不但完全明白我们的苦情和挣扎，神还会挺我们，为我们伸冤，使仇敌与我们和好。那我们就能为神得着灵魂。
三、蒙神开路（v15-21）
1. 我是为神而活吗？（v15-18）
耶利米继续表明因自己是属神的人。所以不论是顺境或逆境，哪怕百姓恶待他，他依然还是以神的话为生命的灵粮和指引，也不与那些在大难临头的百姓一样，依旧活在宴乐中。
我们也许不会经历像耶利米那样的苦情，但透过经文，我们依然可以检视自己的生命是否为神而活？如果我们的生命没有经历任何的逼迫或苦难，其实有2个可能性。一是我们真的像耶利米说的，是为神而活，生命没有任何让仇敌可以攻击的破口的人。不然就是，我们的生命对仇敌来说是完全没有任何威胁。
当耶利米把内心一切真实的感觉和心情，毫无保留的向神吐苦水时，神教导他如何对付心中负面的情绪和苦毒。
2. 我要调整归回神（v19-21）
a）调整对焦神（从自哀自怜再次归回到神面前）
b）圣别除杂念（分辨宝贵的和下贱的）
c）不迎合大众（领世人归主而不是归向世界）
d）信靠神保护（坚定依靠神。相信神必同在必搭救）
总结：以马内利的神
•无论遇见任何苦难，纵使在煎熬中感到绝望，要记得以马内利是我们的神。
•效法耶利米到神的面前倾心吐意，向神诉苦。按照神的劝勉，回转归向呼召我们的神，专注聚焦对准神。
•将我们心思意念里宝贵的和下贱的分别出来，好让我们再次成为神手中荣耀的器皿
Jeremiah 15: A way out of despair
GK611 Morning Devotion
12/09/2024
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Ps. Deborah
1. No longer care and cherish (v1-9)
A prophet has a very important duty, which is to intercede. This is the fourth time that God told Jeremiah not to intercede anymore, and he said firmly that even if you invite Moses or Samuel to intercede for the people of Judah, it will not help. Because He has determined to judge the rebellious people and will no longer care and cherish them.
2. In despair (v10-14)
Jeremiah knew that God had decided to judge the people of Judah, and that the people would eventually die miserably. Therefore, from the beginning of verse v10 to the next nearly 10 chapters, he exploded a lot of pain, anger, sadness and complaints in his heart to God.
(1) Cry to God (v10)
Prophets are also ordinary people of flesh and blood. On the one hand, he was misunderstood and persecuted by his compatriots, and on the other hand, his intercession was rejected by God three times. Why did you call me to be a prophet, but didn’t listen to my call? It seemed like couldn’t please both sides, so he was scarred and disappointed inside. Therefore, he cried to God in self-pity: Why was I born? Why should I serve as a prophet, a ministry that involves facing persecution?
Brothers and sisters, have you ever had such an experience? In the midst of extreme pain, wishing your mother had not given birth to you?
In times of suffering, God allows us to speak our true feelings. We can come before God and honestly speak to God the negative words and even bitterness in our hearts.
(2) Be comforted by God (v11-14)
Instead of rebuking Jeremiah for murmuring, God immediately comforted him. God promises that His prophecies will come true. When He allowed Babylon to carry the people into captivity in foreign lands, the people would turn to Jeremiah to pray to God for them because of the disasters and sufferings that befell them.
If we suffer persecution for God’s sake, God not only fully understands our pain and struggle, He will also support us, avenge us, and make our enemies reconcile with us. Then we can gain souls for God.
3. God opens the way (v15-21)
(1) Am I living for God? (v15-18)
Jeremiah continued to show that he was a man of God. Therefore, no matter in good times or bad times, even if the people treat him badly, he still takes God’s words as the spiritual food and guidance of life, and he is not like those people who still live in pleasure when disaster strikes.
We may not experience the suffering like Jeremiah, but through the scriptures, we can still examine whether our lives are living for God? If we have not experienced any persecution or suffering in our lives, there are actually two possibilities. First, we are truly like Jeremiah said, we are people who live for God and have no wrong in our lives for the enemy to attack. Otherwise, our lives pose no threat to the enemy at all.
When Jeremiah unreservedly vented all his true feelings and emotions to God, God taught him how to deal with the negative emotions and bitterness in his heart.
(2) I want to be adjusted and returned to God (v19-21)
a) Adjust focus on God (from self-sorrow and self-pity to return to God again)
b) Be holy and eliminate distracting thoughts (distinguish between precious and despicable things and thoughts)
c) Not catering to the public (we are to lead people from the world to the Lord rather than we ourselves fall into the world)
d) Trust in God for protection (Rely firmly on God. Believe that God will be with you and will save you)
Conclusion: Immanuel God
•No matter what hardships we encounter, even if we feel hopeless in the suffering, remember that Immanuel is our God.
•Follow the example of Jeremiah and pour out your heart before God and complain to Him. According to God’s exhortation, turn back to God who calls us, and focus on Him.
•Separate the precious and despicable in our hearts and minds so that we can once again become glorious vessels in God’s hands.
