是沙漠的杜松、還是神前栽於水旁的樹？（耶17章）

耶和華如此說：「倚靠人血肉的膀臂、心中離棄耶和華的、那人有禍了．因他必像沙漠的杜松、不見福樂來到、卻要住曠野乾旱之處、無人居住的鹼地。倚靠耶和華、以耶和華為可靠的、那人有福了。他必像樹栽於水旁、在河邊扎根、炎熱來到、並不懼怕、葉子仍必青翠、在乾旱之年毫無掛慮、而且結果不止。」（耶 17：5-8）

人生是一場大冒險。沒有任何人事先走過自己的人生，在每個人的生命時間流中，每條人生的路都是陌生、充滿冒險的。走對了，一生享福；走錯了，一生悲苦。這條路唯一的解方，就是讓走過的人來引路。知道每個人一生的路的人，就是創造宇宙萬物的真神，也就是耶穌基督。

當時猶太人，原本是蒙神所揀選的選民，因為有神的律法指引人生方向，所以比世上一切的民族都還有智慧，因為經上說：

所以你們要謹守遵行、這就是你們在萬民眼前的智慧、聰明．他們聽見這一切律例、必說：「這大國的人真是有智慧、有聰明。那一大國的人有神與他們相近、像耶和華我們的神、在我們求告他的時候與我們相近呢？又那一大國有這樣公義的律例、典章、像我今日在你們面前所陳明的這一切律法呢？」（申 4：6-8）

原本是人人所稱羨的有智慧、有聰明的大國，卻因為情慾之故，去敬拜可以滿足情慾的偶像，成為被咒詛的國度，因為所有偶像的發明，都離不開人的情慾，是慾望下之產物。選民之所以能被人稱羨有智慧、有聰明，正是因神所賜下的話，當時的「一切律例」，也就是今日聖經中的真理。一旦離棄了，就不聰明了，不管你的智商有多高、或是有什麼顯赫的學位。

沙漠的杜松，是一種長青的樹，生長在沙漠之中。看似不死，卻無能改變所處環境的惡劣。它們的環境，永遠是沙漠曠野的乾旱之地，每天要面對的問題永遠在「找不到水」，在為生命找出路，總是生活在痛苦之中。這正像世人，總是追求著不能解渴的情慾，看似追求到了：財產很多、兒女很有成就、有身份有地位，但是卻沒有滿足的喜樂。

常聽到身邊一些人，雖然有世人所稱羨的財富與地位，卻可能家人或自己罹患治不好的病、有解決不了的家庭問題，或其他為外人所不知的痛苦。就如杜松，今日看似堅挺存活，卻因身處沙漠曠野，隨時有生命的威脅，隨時可以死亡，明日不見得可以再看見它。

至於樹栽在溪水旁，首先就是要先被「栽」，是被動的。這栽種的人，就是天父真神。植物不能選擇自己的環境，就如人被神揀選是神給的恩典一樣。「得救是本乎恩，也因著信」（參 弗 2：8），能認識神，藉由每日讀到聖經真理，來滿足我們每日乾渴的生命，是神的恩典，不是我們聰明。既然得到了，就要堅守下去，天天禱告、讀聖經，藉由如同活水泉源的聖靈，使我們如同「樹栽於水旁、在河邊扎根、炎熱來到、並不懼怕、葉子仍必青翠、在乾旱之年毫無掛慮、而且結果不止。」

根扎在水中，表示對神的話、神的力量是「時時飲用」，不間斷之意。

所以，我們還在靠自己的力氣面對惡劣環境，如同「沙漠杜松」嗎？還是蒙神揀選，且願意天天追求，一生一世不輕易離開生命的河邊，讓根永遠扎在水中，成為葉子永遠清翠、且結果永遠不止的屬神的樹木呢？沙漠的杜松，今日看似在沙漠中堅挺，但是活過今天，不保證明天還在。死亡總是在一瞬之間；而屬神的樹，因為水分充足，雖然也會經歷生命的乾旱之年，炎熱來到，卻不受影響仍結果不止（結果子就是有好行為）。保持自己在基督裡（受洗歸入基督），就有基督耶穌所賜的平安，與生命力，將不懼怕環境的炎熱與乾旱！

（耶穌說：）我將這些事告訴你們、是要叫你們在我裏面有平安。在世上你們有苦難．但你們可以放心、我已經勝了世界。（約 16：33)

By Isaiah Kao

Am I a Desert Bush, or a Tree Planted by the Water? (Jeremiah 17)

July 14, 2026

This is what the LORD says:

'Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind

And makes flesh his strength,

And whose heart turns away from the LORD.

For he will be like a bush in the desert

And will not see when prosperity comes,

But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness,

A land of salt without inhabitant.

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD

And whose trust is the LORD.

For he will be like a tree planted by the water,

That extends its roots by a stream,

And will not fear when the heat comes;

But its leaves will be green,

And it will not be anxious in a year of drought,

Nor cease to yield fruit.'" (Jeremiah 17:5–8, NASB 2020)

Life is a great adventure. No one has ever lived your life before. Every person's journey is new, and full of adventure. If we choose the right path, we receive blessing. If we choose the wrong one, we bring sorrow upon ourselves. The only way to find the right path is to let Someone who has already seen the whole journey lead us.The One True God who knows every person's life from beginning to end, who also created everything in universe, and that is Jesus Christ.

The Jews were originally God's chosen people. Because they had God's Law to guide them, they were wiser than all the other nations. As Scripture says:

"So keep and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.' For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is the LORD our God whenever we call on Him? Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole Law which I am setting before you today?" 

(Deuteronomy 4:6–8, NASB 2020)

This great nation, once admired for its wisdom and understanding,  because it followed its sinful desires and worshiped idols that satisfied human lusts. Every idol is a product of human desires. The reason God's people were considered wise was because they possessed God's Word. The "all these statutes" mentioned here are the same truth that we now have in the Bible. Once people abandon God's truth, they lose true wisdom, no matter how intelligent they are or how many impressive degrees they possess.

The desert bush is an evergreen plant that grows in the wilderness. It may appear to survive, but it cannot change the harsh environment around it. It remains in a dry desert where water is always scarce. Every day it struggles simply to stay alive, constantly searching for water. This is much like the people of the world. They keep chasing desires that can never truly satisfy. They may gain wealth, successful children, social status, or power, yet they still cannot find lasting joy.

We often hear about people who seem to have everything the world admires, yet they or their family members suffer from incurable diseases, broken relationships, or hidden sorrows that others never see. Like the desert bush, they may look strong today, but because they remain in the wilderness, death and disaster are never far away. It  may not be able to see it again tomorrow.

A tree planted by the water, however, is first planted there. This is something done for the tree, not by the tree itself. The One who plants it is our heavenly Father- True God. Just as a plant cannot choose where it grows, we did not choose God by our own ability. Being chosen by God is His grace. "For by grace you have been saved through faith" (cf. Ephesians 2:8). Knowing God and being able to drink daily from the truth of His Word is God's gift, not our own wisdom.

Since we have received this grace, we should hold firmly to it. We should pray every day, read the Bible every day, and continually receive strength from the Holy Spirit, the fountain of living water. Then we will become like "a tree planted by the water That extends its roots by a stream, And does not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in a year of drought, Nor cease to yield fruit."

Rooted in the water,  it means to drink God's word and God's power all the time without interruption.

So, are we still trying to face life's harsh circumstances by our own strength, like a desert shrub? Or have we been chosen by God and are willing to remain beside the river of life every day, allowing our roots to stay deep in His living water, so that our leaves remain green and our lives continue to bear fruit? A desert bush may appear strong today, but surviving today does not guarantee tomorrow. Death can come in an instant. But the tree that belongs to God has an abundant supply of water. Although it also experiences years of drought and seasons of intense heat, it continues to bear fruit (Bearing fruit means living a life filled with good works). If we remain in Christ (through baptism into Him), we will receive the peace and life that Jesus Christ gives, and we will not fear the heat or drought around us.

"(Jesus said,) 'These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.'" (John 16:33, NASB 2020)

By Isaiah Kao