非我民 Not My People

何西書 1-2章

Cathy Chen, 8/27-2025

非我民（何西阿書 1-2章）

在主前732年，亞述帝國併吞了以色列的大片土地，只剩以法蓮山區和首都撒瑪利亞苟延殞地。到了主前721年，撒瑪利亞最終淪陷前的動盪時期，神向先知何西阿發出一個令人震驚的命令。

在聖經中，先知、祭司與君王是三種蒙神膏立的特殊職分，先知作為神發言的出口，其身份聖潔而獨特。然而，何西阿書開篇卻記載了一個令人費解的指示：神竟然命令何西阿娶一個名為歌蔑（Gomer）的淫婦為妻，並為他們的三个孩子取了寓意深遠的名字 一「耶斯列」（Jezreel），象徵神即將到來的審判；「羅·路哈瑪」（Lo-Ruhamah），意為「不再憐憫」；「羅·阿米」（Lo-Ammi），意為「非我子民」。這些名字（何1:4-8）不僅是對以色列背道的控訴，更揭示了神與祂子民關係的破裂，以及祂對罪的審判與救贖的應許。

二十多年前，一部經典電影《大魔域》（The Never Ending Story）講述了一個動人的故事。男主角巴斯蒂安（Bastian Balthazar Bux），一個年輕的男孩，因逃避現實的壓力而躲進書店，偶然翻開一本名為《大魔域》的書。隨著劇情展開，巴斯蒂安被書中奇幻的世界深深吸引，情節扣人心弦，令人無法釋卷。然而，他逐漸發現自己不僅是讀者，更是書中世界的關鍵角色，他的選擇與行動將決定故事的走向。這部電影使我聯想到，當我們沉浸在某個故事中時，可能會發現自己正在其中，承擔著某個角色賦予的責任。

回到何西阿書，歌蔑一次次背叛何西阿，儘管何西阿傾盡心力愛她、贖回她，甚至在她不忠後仍供應她的需要。歌蔑卻毫無感恩之心，繼續用何西阿給她的美好條件去追逐其他男人。街坊百姓看著這對夫妻，很難不禁議論紛紛：「歌蔑如此不配不值，何西阿何苦一再受辱？」何西阿的行為看起來痴傻，人們卻未曾察覺，這段婚姻正是神與以色列關係的縮影。透過先知的順服以實境呈現在他們眼前。百姓們所議論笑話的，恰如他們自身的寫照——他們正是那不忠的歌蔑，背棄了神無條件的愛與救贖。只是有多少人在這齣劇中讀到了天父的心碎，也嗅到了自己的悖逆？

心得：

基督徒是神的見證人，承載著救贖、赦免與憐憫的記號。我們與神立約，祂是我們的主，我們是祂的子民。然而，當我們的心被世俗的慾望牽引，追逐短暫的虛榮，忽略神一次次透過祂的話語與僕人發出的呼喚時，我們便讓這份神聖的關係淪為世人的笑柄。我們的神彷彿失去了公義的威嚴，而我們活得彷彿未曾被救贖，毫無赦免與憐憫的痕跡，身上也看不到與神立約的記號。世人看不出我們是屬神的子民。更可怕的是，當我們失去屬靈的敏銳，便無法辨識神透過祂僕人的順服所顯明的真理，甚至將神的話語視為笑談，卻不明白那不配之人正是我們自己。

祈禱：

親愛的主，謝謝祢在黑暗中救贖了我，一次一次挽回我，謝謝祢的應許永不改變。求祢讓我銘記自己蒙贖的身份——我是祢從絕望與罪惡中救贖的孩子。求祢開啟我屬靈的眼睛與耳朵，使我能看見祢的作為，聽見祢的呼召，永遠保持一顆受教的心，不被世界的誘惑奪去我對祢專一的愛。我所擁有的一切美好，皆出自祢的恩典，我將一切榮耀歸於祢，不歸於世界。感謝祢揀選我，感謝祢不離不棄的愛。祢的公義與憐憫是我一生的保障，願我活出祢兒女的榮耀。奉主耶穌基督的名祈禱，阿們！

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Devotion on Hosea 1–2

By Cathy Chen, 8/27-2025

Not My People

In 732 BC, the Assyrian Empire conquered much of Israel, leaving only the hill country of Ephraim and the capital, Samaria, barely holding on. By 721 BC, during the turbulent period just before Samaria fell, God gave the prophet Hosea a shocking command.

In the Bible, prophets, priests, and kings are three special offices anointed by God. The prophet serves as God’s mouthpiece, with a unique and holy identity. Yet Hosea opens with a perplexing directive: God commanded Hosea to marry a woman named Gomer, a prostitute, and to give their three children symbolic names: Jezreel, symbolizing God’s coming judgment; Lo-Ruhamah, meaning “not loved” or “no mercy”; and Lo-Ammi, meaning “not my people” (Hosea 1:4–8). These names not only indict Israel’s unfaithfulness but also reveal the broken relationship between God and His people, as well as His judgment and promises of redemption.

Over twenty years ago, the classic movie The NeverEnding Story told a captivating story. The protagonist, Bastian Balthazar Bux, a young boy escaping the pressures of reality, stumbles upon a book of the same title. As the plot unfolds, Bastian becomes deeply immersed, realizing he is not only a reader but also a key participant; his choices and actions shape the story. This reminds me that when we engage deeply with a story—or with God—we may find ourselves in it, carrying responsibilities placed upon us.

Returning to Hosea, Gomer repeatedly betrays Hosea. Despite his unwavering love and efforts to redeem her, even after her unfaithfulness, Hosea provides for her needs. Yet she remains ungrateful, using the blessings he gives her to pursue other men. Neighbors likely gossip: “Gomer is unworthy; why does Hosea endure such humiliation?” To the world, Hosea’s actions seem foolish. Yet this marriage is a living portrayal of God’s relationship with Israel. What the people mock in Hosea is their own reflection—they are the unfaithful Gomer, abandoning God’s unconditional love and redemption. How many recognize the Father’s heartbreak, and smell their own rebellion, in this story?

Reflection

Christians are witnesses of God, bearing the marks of redemption, forgiveness, and mercy. We have a covenant with God: He is our Lord, and we are His people. Yet when our hearts are pulled by worldly desires, chasing fleeting vanity and ignoring God’s repeated calls through His Word and servants, we turn this sacred relationship into a laughingstock. To the world, God’s justice seems absent, and we live as if unredeemed, leaving no trace of mercy, forgiveness, or the covenant. People cannot see that we belong to Him. Worse, when we lose spiritual sensitivity, we fail to recognize the truth God reveals through His servants’ obedience, even mocking His words, unaware that the “unworthy” person they speak of is themselves.

Prayer

Dear Lord,

Thank You for redeeming me in darkness, for repeatedly drawing me back, and for Your unchanging promises. Help me to remember my redeemed identity—I am Your child, rescued from despair and sin. Open my spiritual eyes and ears so I may see Your works and hear Your call. May I always maintain a teachable heart, not letting the world’s temptations steal my undivided love for You. Everything good I possess comes from Your grace; I give all glory to You, not the world. Thank You for choosing me, and for Your steadfast love that never leaves. Your justice and mercy are my lifelong safeguard. May I live to reflect the glory of Your children. In Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.