為了理解我們今天所讀內容的歷史背景，有必要回顧前一章。
在第 27 章中，我們讀到，由於巴比倫發生軍事叛亂，拿步高的權力受到動搖，一些小國王派遣使節前往耶路撒冷，以檢驗帝國西部地區聯合叛亂的可行性。
對此，耶肋米亞的反應是否定的。上主不要發生這樣的戰爭。
在今天的讀經中，自稱先知的哈納尼雅支持人們的希望，認為兩年後耶路撒冷將獲得解放，被擄的以色列人將返回家園。
這一次，耶肋米亞不僅重申了他的預言，還為哈納尼雅預言了一個死刑，一個月後便會臨到。
特別是在耶穌建立祂的屬靈國度之後，將上主的計劃和旨意與我們可能渴望或恐懼的歷史事件聯繫起來，是不明智的。
歷史是為了救贖我們的靈魂，而不是為了實現我們任何具體的計劃，無論這個計劃多麼精彩。
許多學者認為，《依撒意亞書》第55章是巴比倫之囚時期所寫章節的結尾。
先知向百姓發出最後的呼籲。上主的應許包含許多面向：百姓將重返應許之地，萬物將煥發新生，其他民族將來到耶路撒冷敬拜上主，祂將與達味家立新盟約。
今天的經文一開始就邀請人們來免費領受活水，而不是將時間和資源浪費在毫無價值的事上。
這項呼籲在今天依然適用。
許多人終其一生，甚至可以說是浪費生命，去追求那些無法滿足內心渴望的理想。可惜的是，像今天經文中這樣的呼聲並不常見。
To understand the historical context of what we read today, it is necessary to have a look at the preceding chapter. In the 27th chapter, we read that, because of a military rebellion in Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar power was shaken and some little kings sent ambassadors to Jerusalem to check the feasibility of a concertized rebellion of the West regions of the Empire.
To this, Jeremiah’s reaction had been negative. God did not want such a war.
Today, the self-styled prophet Hananiah supports the hope that in two years Jerusalem will be freed and the exiles will return home.
This time, Jeremiah not only reiterates his oracle, but he also adds an oracle for Hananiah himself, a death sentence that arrived in one month time.
It is not prudent, especially after Jesus has created his spiritual kingdom, to tie God’s plans and intentions to historical events that we perhaps desire or fear. History is for the salvation of our souls, rather than for implementing any specific plan of ours, marvelous as it might be.
