回來吧！在耶和華立名的地方聚集(耶3章)

耶和華說：「你們在國中生養眾多、當那些日子、人必不再提說、耶和華的約櫃．不追想、不記念、不覺缺少、也不再製造。那時、人必稱耶路撒冷為耶和華的寶座．萬國必到耶路撒冷、在耶和華立名的地方聚集．他們必不再隨從自己頑梗的惡心行事。」(耶 3：16-17)

約櫃曾是神同在的象徵，神要耶利米先知做此段預言的當下，約櫃還存在。但此時似乎在預告約櫃會人間蒸發，但是也不會覺得需要，因為取而代之的是「人必稱耶路撒冷為耶和華的寶座．萬國必到耶路撒冷、在耶和華立名的地方聚集」，這是預言真教會的出現。

歷史上的資料可以發現，西元前586年5月10日南朝猶大國滅亡時(這個日子讓我難以忘記，因為除了年以外，剛好就是我的生日)，從此以後以色列民沒再敬拜偶像，直到耶穌降生時都是如此。約櫃也真的從人類歷史中消失，人心轉向獨一的真神。雖然使徒教會後來因為人意、私心已經消失，但是末後的真教會，末世時卻在聖靈的幫助下，神已為自己賜下那些保守自己、合祂心意的牧者。

我也必將合我心的牧者、賜給你們．他們必以知識和智慧、牧養你們。(耶 3：15)

這些牧者，在神的靈的幫助下，將「以知識和智慧牧養你們」，也就是滿有屬靈的智慧、熟悉聖經中的真理、通曉神救贖的經綸，可以依靠聖靈的力量得以講解聖經神的話，按正意分解聖經，使主的羊得造就。

你去向北方宣告說：「耶和華說：『背道的以色列阿、回來罷！我必不怒目看你們．因為我是慈愛的、我必不永遠存怒。』這是耶和華說的。『只要承認你的罪孽、就是你違背耶和華你的　神、在各青翠樹下、向別神東奔西跑、沒有聽從我的話。』這是耶和華說的。」(耶 3：12-13)

本章中神多次呼喚悖道的民回來，特別是「你去向北方宣告」，當時北方的以色列國已經被亞述帝國滅亡數十年，在北方的土地上只剩零星的人民，他們心中必定認為「神不要我了！」。但是神的意思是「只要承認你的罪孽」，「我必不怒目看你們．因為我是慈愛的、我必不永遠存怒．這是耶和華說的。」讀到這裡，真的很感動........。

沒有做父母的永遠恨著不長進的兒女，總是期盼著他們的回頭。想起路加福音十五章的三個比喻，主旨都是「神永不放棄祂的孩子」，無論是一百隻羊失去了一隻、十塊錢失去了一塊，甚至是浪子的比喻中那迷失的小兒子，通通都要找回來，「一個都不能少」。其中小兒子的「醒悟過來」是回頭的關鍵。

他醒悟過來、就說：「我父親有多少的雇工、口糧有餘、我倒在這裏餓死麼？我要起來、到我父親那裏去、向他說、父親、我得罪了天、又得罪了你．從今以後、我不配稱為你的兒子、把我當作一個雇工罷。」(路 15：17-19)

「承認罪孽」是回轉的關鍵，這時神也必如祂自己所說的「我必不永遠懷怒」。當小兒子承認罪孽，他的父親就毫無責備地完全接納，甚至「相離還遠」就跑過去，迎接、擁抱。我若是那個小兒子，我會說：「爸！您怎麼會在這裡？自從我離家後您都站在家門口等我嗎？我不乖啊！您怎麼可以這麼愛我？」

承認罪孽，要自覺不配。應有的行動，就是一生愛主，向標竿直跑，不敢懈怠。

於是起來往他父親那裏去。相離還遠、他父親看見、就動了慈心、跑去抱着他的頸項、連連與他親嘴。兒子說：「父親、我得罪了天、又得罪了你．從今以後、我不配稱為你的兒子。」父親卻吩咐僕人說：「把那上好的袍子快拿出來給他穿．把戒指戴在他指頭上．把鞋穿在他腳上．」(路 15：20-22)

By Isaiah Kao

Return! 

Be Gathered to It, to Jerusalem, For the Name of The Lord  (Jeremiah 3)

June 30, 2026

"And it shall be in those days when you are multiplied and increased in the land," declares the LORD, "they will no longer say, 'The ark of the covenant of the LORD.' And it will not come to mind, nor will they remember it, nor will they miss it, nor will it be made again. At that time they will call Jerusalem 'The Throne of the LORD,' and all the nations will be gathered to it, to Jerusalem, for the name of the LORD; nor will they walk anymore after the stubbornness of their evil heart." (Jeremiah 3:16–17, NASB 2020)

The ark of the covenant was once the symbol of God's presence. At the time when God gave this prophecy to the prophet Jeremiah, the ark still existed. Yet this passage seems to foretell that the ark would disappear, and no one would feel its absence. In its place would come this promise: "They will call Jerusalem 'The Throne of the LORD,' and all the nations will be gathered to it, to Jerusalem, for the name of the LORD." This is a prophecy of the appearance of the True Church.

Historical records show that when the southern kingdom of Judah fell on the tenth day of the fifth month in 586 B.C. (a date I can never forget because, apart from the year, it is also my birthday), the people of Israel never again returned to idol worship. By the time Jesus was born, they were worshiping the one true God. The ark of the covenant also truly disappeared from human history. Although the apostolic church later disappeared because of human will and selfish ambition, in the last days God has established the True Church. Through the help of the Holy Spirit, He has provided shepherds who remain faithful and are after His own heart.

"Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you knowledge and understanding." (Jeremiah 3:15, NASB 2020)

With the help of God's Spirit, these shepherds "will feed you knowledge and understanding." They possess spiritual wisdom, are well acquainted with the truth of the Bible, understand God's plan of redemption, and, relying on the power of the Holy Spirit, are able to explain God's word and accurately handle the Bible, so that the Lord's flock may be edified.

"Go and proclaim these words toward the north and say, 'Return, faithless Israel,' declares the LORD; 'I will not look upon you in anger. For I am gracious,' declares the LORD; 'I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your wrongdoing, that you have revolted against the LORD your God and have scattered your favors to strangers under every green tree, and you have not obeyed My voice,' declares the LORD." (Jeremiah 3:12–13, NASB 2020)

This chapter, God repeatedly calls His faithless people to return. In particular, He says, "Go and proclaim these words toward the north." At that time, the northern kingdom of Israel had already been destroyed by the Assyrian Empire for decades, and only a scattered remnant remained in the land. They must have thought, "God has abandoned us!"

But God's message was this: "Only acknowledge your wrongdoing." Then, "I will not look upon you in anger. For I am gracious... I will not be angry forever." Every time I read these words, I am deeply moved.

No loving parent hates an unworthy child forever. A parent's heart always longs for the child to come home.

This reminds me of the three parables in Luke 15. They all share one central message: :God never gives up on His children". Whether it is one sheep out of a hundred, one coin out of ten, or the younger son in the parable of the prodigal son, God seeks to bring every one of them back. "Not one should be lost". The key point is the younger son came when "he came to his senses."

"But when he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired laborers have more than enough bread, but I am dying here from hunger! I will set out and go to my father, and will say to him: "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired laborers."'" (Luke 15:17–19, NASB 2020)

"Acknowledging our sins" is the key to turning back. Then God fulfills His own promise: "I will not be angry forever." When the younger son confessed his sin, his father accepted him completely without a  blame. While the son was "still a long way off," his father ran to him, embraced him, and welcomed him home. If I were that younger son, I would say, "Father! Why are You here? Have You been standing at the doorway waiting for me ever since I left home? I have been so rebellious. How could You still love me this much?"

To acknowledge our sins is to realize that we are unworthy. The proper response is to love the Lord for the rest of our lives, press on toward the goal, and never become  careless.

"So he set out and came to his father. But when he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.'" (Luke 15:20–22, NASB 2020)

By Isaiah Kao