闭塞在骨中的烈火

“我若说，我不再提耶和华，也不再奉祂的名讲论，我便心里觉得似乎有烧着的火闭塞在我骨中，我就含忍不住，不能自禁。”（耶20:9）

“But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.”（Jer 20:9）

耶20:9这节经文，浓缩了耶利米书的信息：前半句讲到先知耶利米所经受的艰难、所遭受的逼迫，使他无力走下去几乎要放弃；后半句讲到神的话在他的里面如同烈火，闭塞在骨中不能自禁，于是便继续砥砺前行。

Jeremiah 20:9 summarizes the message of the Book of Jeremiah: The first half describes the hardships and persecution endured by the prophet Jeremiah, which nearly overwhelmed him and led him to the brink of giving up; the second half speaks of God's word burning within him like a fire, shut up in his bones, compelling him to press forward despite the challenges.

先知耶利米遭遇哪些艰难？

先知的患难随处可见: 被威胁 (11:21); 被人设计谋害 (18:18); 被带上木枷 (20:2); 被判为死罪 (26:8-9); 被假先知戏弄 (28:10-11); 被囚在护卫兵院内 (32:2); 被污蔑为叛徒, 被殴打并被囚于监牢 (37:11-16); 被投于枯井, 两腿陷于淤泥中 (38:1-8)…

在所有这些艰难之外，还有神加给他的，“不可娶妻，生儿养女，”（16:2）没有家庭伦常，孤独痛苦无人分担和安慰。

What hardships did the prophet Jeremiah face?

The prophet’s sufferings were many and can be found throughout the book:

He was threatened (Jeremiah 11:21)

Plotted against (18:18)

Put in stocks (20:2)

Sentenced to death (26:8–9)

Mocked by false prophets (28:10–11)

Imprisoned in the courtyard of the guard (32:2)

Falsely accused of being a traitor, beaten, and thrown into prison (37:11–16)

Lowered into a cistern, where he sank into the mud (38:1–8)

Beyond all these physical and emotional afflictions, Jeremiah also bore a personal burden given by God: He was commanded, “You shall not take a wife or have sons or daughters” (16:2).

This meant he had no family ties—no spouse or children to share his grief or bring him comfort. He lived a life of isolation, sorrow, and profound loneliness.

These trials form the backdrop for the many laments and cries of anguish that fill the book, giving voice to Jeremiah's inner torment as he carried out his prophetic mission.

先知耶利米的痛苦与哀告：

The Pain and Lamentations of the Prophet Jeremiah:

耶利米被称为泪眼先知：“但愿我的头为水，我的眼为泪的泉源，我好为我百姓中被杀的人昼夜哭泣。”（耶9:1）

Jeremiah is known as the "weeping prophet":

"Oh, that my head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night for the slain of my people." (Jeremiah 9:1)

耶利米呼天怆地的呼喊无人听从、痛心疾首：“我的肺腑阿，我的肺腑阿，我心疼痛。我心在我里面烦躁不安。我不能静默不言，因为我已经听见角声和打仗的喊声。”（耶4：19）

Jeremiah’s desperate and anguished cry went unheard, and in deep sorrow he lamented: "Oh, my anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain. Oh, the agony of my heart! My heart pounds within me, I cannot keep silent. For I have heard the sound of the trumpet; I have heard the battle cry." — Jeremiah 4:19 (NIV)

“地阿，地阿，地阿，当听耶和华的话。”（耶22:29）

“O land, land, land, hear the word of the LORD!” （Jer 22:29）

“我的母亲哪，我有祸了。因你生我作为遍地相争相竞的人。我素来没有借贷与人，人也没有借贷与我，人人却都咒骂我。…耶和华阿，你是知道的。求你记念我，眷顾我，向逼迫我的人为我报仇。不要向他们忍怒取我的命，要知道我为你的缘故受了凌辱。…我的痛苦为何长久不止呢？我的伤痕为何无法医治、不能痊愈呢？难道你待我有诡诈，像流干的河道吗？”（耶15:10-18）

“Alas, my mother, that you gave me birth, a man with whom the whole land strives and contends! I have neither lent nor borrowed, yet everyone curses me… You understand, O LORD; remember me and care for me. Avenge me on my persecutors. You are long-suffering--do not take me away; think of how I suffer reproach for your sake… Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? Will you be to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails?”（Jer 15:10-18）

耶利米咒诅自己的生日：“愿我生的那日受咒诅，愿我母亲产我的那日不蒙福。给我父亲报信说你得了儿子，使我父亲甚欢喜的，愿那人受咒诅。愿那人像耶和华所倾覆而不后悔的城邑。愿他早晨听见哀声，晌午听见呐喊。因他在我未出胎的时候不杀我，使我母亲成了我的坟墓，胎就时常重大。我为何出胎见劳碌愁苦，使我的年日因羞愧消灭呢？”（耶20:14-18）

Jeremiah Curses the Day of His Birth: “Cursed be the day I was born! May the day my mother bore me not be blessed! Cursed be the man who brought my father the news, who made him very glad, saying, "A child is born to you--a son!" May that man be like the towns the LORD overthrew without pity. May he hear wailing in the morning, a battle cry at noon. For he did not kill me in the womb, with my mother as my grave, her womb enlarged forever. Why did I ever come out of the womb to see trouble and sorrow and to end my days in shame?” （Jer 20:14-18）

难怪有人将主耶稣与耶利米对比：

“耶稣到了该撒利亚腓立比的境内，就问门徒说，‘人说我人子是谁？”他们说，‘有人说是施洗的约翰。有人说是以利亚。又有人说是耶利米，或是先知里的一位。’”（太16:13-14）

耶利米与主耶稣的对比

1．       同处亡国的时代；

2．       同作万国的先知；

3．       同为本乡所迫害；

4．       生平多痛苦忧患；

5．       为众人戏弄侮辱；

6．       为耶路撒冷哀哭；

7．       直斥假宗教之恶；

8．       事奉艰难不妥协；

9．       孤独患难与神交；

10          如同羔羊就死地。

No wonder some compared the Lord Jesus to Jeremiah:

“When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, ‘Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?’ So they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’” (Matthew 16:13-14)

Comparison Between Jeremiah and the Lord Jesus:

1.       Both lived in an era of national downfall.

2.       Both served as prophets to all nations.

3.       Both were persecuted by their own people.

4.       Both experienced a life filled with pain and sorrow.

5.       Both were mocked and insulted by the crowds.

6.       Both wept over Jerusalem.

7.       Both boldly condemned the evils of false religion.

8.       Both served faithfully without compromise despite great difficulties.

9.       Both endured loneliness and suffering in communion with God.

10.  Both were like lambs led to the slaughter.

然而，当耶利米刚想要不再奉耶和华的名讲论时，他便觉得心里有烧着的火闭塞在他的骨中，他就含忍不住、不能自禁。因此，耶利米书的 岂不像火，又像能打碎磐石的大锤吗？”（耶23:29）

“The Lord says, ‘Is not My word like fire, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?’” (Jeremiah 23:29)

在犹大国面临被审判、被毁灭的惨景中，耶利米仍然发出“大卫公义苗裔”的应许。“耶和华说，‘日子将到，我要给大卫兴起一个公义的苗裔。祂必掌王权，行事有智慧，在地上施行公平和公义。在祂的日子，犹大必得救，以色列也安然居住。祂的名必称为耶和华我们的义。”（耶23:5-6）

In the midst of Judah facing judgment and destruction, Jeremiah still proclaimed the promise of the “Righteous Branch of David.” “The Lord says, ‘Behold, the days are coming when I will raise up for David a Righteous Branch, and He shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is His name by which He will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.’” (Jeremiah 23:5-6)

在以色列违背神的律法，悖逆神的话语，以至公义的审判无可避免时，耶利米仍然写出新约伟大应许的篇章。““耶和华说，‘日子将到，我要与以色列家和犹大家另立新约，…耶和华说，‘那些日子以后，我与以色列家所立的约乃是这样，我要将我的律法放在他们里面，写在他们心上。我要作他们的神，他们要作我的子民。他们各人不再教导自己的邻舍和自己的弟兄说，你该认识耶和华，因为他们从最小的到至大的都必认识我。我要赦免他们的罪孽，不再记念他们的罪恶。’这是耶和华说的。”（耶31:31-34）

When Israel violated God's law and rebelled against His word, making righteous judgment inevitable, Jeremiah still wrote a profound chapter on the great promise of the New Covenant.

“The Lord says, ‘Behold, the days are coming when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. … This is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,’ declares the Lord: ‘I will put My law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest,’ declares the Lord. ‘For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.’” (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

目睹耶路撒冷被毁、百姓被杀、生灵涂炭之悲惨，先知耶利米犹如万箭穿心，而正在此时先知耶利米发出神的信实及其广大的宣告：“我们不至消灭，是出于耶和华诸般的慈爱，是因祂的怜悯不至断绝。每早晨，这都是新的。你的诚实极其广大。”（哀3:22-23）

Witnessing the destruction of Jerusalem, the slaughter of its people, and the devastation of life, the prophet Jeremiah’s heart was pierced as if by countless arrows. Yet, in this moment of anguish, he proclaimed God’s faithfulness and boundless mercy: “It is because of the Lord’s great love that we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

耶利米记述神对祂子民以色列的怜悯和慈爱：“我知道我向你们所怀的意念是赐平安的意念，不是降灾祸的意念，要叫你们末后有指望。”（耶29:11）

Jeremiah records God’s mercy and love for His people Israel: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.’” (Jeremiah 29:11)

“古时耶和华向以色列显现，说，‘我以永远的爱爱你，因此我以慈爱吸引你。’”（耶31:3）

“The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” (Jer 31:3)

然后，先知耶利米向世人发出呼召：“倚靠耶和华，以耶和华为可靠的，那人有福了。他必像树栽于水旁，在河边扎根，炎热来到，并不惧怕，叶子仍必青翠，在干旱之年毫无挂虑，而且结果不止。”（耶17:7-8）

Then, the prophet Jeremiah issues a call to the world: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

除此之外，耶利米书中有关耶和华神一段壮丽的神学宣告：“耶和华如此说，智慧人不要因他的智慧夸口，勇士不要因他的勇力夸口，财主不要因他的财物夸口。夸口的却因他有聪明，认识我是耶和华，又知道我喜悦在世上施行慈爱，公平，和公义，以此夸口。这是耶和华说的。”（耶9：23-24）

In addition, the Book of Jeremiah contains a majestic theological declaration about the Lord God: “This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.”（Jer 9:23-24）

这些有力的话语看起来不像是从懦弱、哭泣的先知耶利米之口所说出来的，但所有这些的确出自耶利米之口。

These powerful words do not seem like they would come from the mouth of a timid, weeping prophet like Jeremiah, yet they indeed came from him.

何以如此？神的呼召和同在贯穿始终， 耶利米坚持走下去的原因：

Why is this so? God’s calling and presence were with him throughout, and the reason Jeremiah persevered:

“看哪，我今日使你成为坚城，铁柱，铜墙，与全地和犹大的君王，首领，祭司，并地上的众民反对。他们要攻击你，却不能胜你。因为我与你同在，要拯救你。这是耶和华说的。”（耶1:18-19）

“Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land--against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD.”（Jer 1:18-19）

“我是耶和华，是凡有血气者的神，岂有我难成的事吗？”（耶32:27）

“I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for Me?”（Jer 32:27）

今天，我们这一群蒙主呼召的传道人，我们也时常遭遇象耶利米那样的艰难、痛苦、贫困、逼迫、反对、误解、孤独、软弱、退后、黑暗、低落、试探等，尤其时常遭受仇敌魔鬼撒旦的恶意攻击，我们也曾多次想要退却、想要放弃…

Today, as a group of preachers called by the Lord, we often face hardships, pain, poverty, persecution, opposition, misunderstanding, loneliness, weakness, retreat, darkness, discouragement, and temptation, just like Jeremiah. Especially, we frequently endure malicious attacks from the enemy, Satan. We, too, have often wanted to shrink back and give up…

然而，神的呼召、信实、慈爱、怜悯、恩典、同在的应许、基督之爱的激励，神保守我们不会放弃，在软弱失败中仍然可以站起来，继续前行，直到见主面的日子。阿们！

However, God’s calling, faithfulness, love, mercy, grace, the promise of His presence, and the encouragement of Christ’s love sustain us so that we do not give up. Even in weakness and failure, we can rise again and continue moving forward until the day we see the Lord face to face. Amen!

感谢主

任运生牧师

主后二零二五年六月二十一日