Jeremiah 23:5-6 Behold, the days come, said the LORD, that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper… I. THE LAW HAS SHUT US ALL UP UNDER SIN. 1. This law having been given, and being expressive of God's nature and holiness, He must require that it be perfectly obeyed. He can allow of no deviation from it, no coming short in any one jot or tittle. A lawgiver conniving at the breach of his own laws, though in the smallest particular, would be to make them despicable. 2. Who can declare, that never in thought, word, or deed, he has come short of what he owed to God and his neighbour? Who can say, I am clean, I am pure from sin? Yet the slightest imperfection, though but in thought, exposes us to the curse of God's righteous law. 3. But some perhaps will say, "I have not, it is true, done all I should have done; but I have done my best." The law replies, "Tell me not of your best; have you done all? if not, the curse is upon you." "But I have repented of what has been amiss." "Tell me not of your repentance: you have transgressed; the curse is upon you." "But I will do better." "Tell me not of doing better: you must do all. Could you render full obedience for the-time to come, the past is still against you. That debt is unpaid: you are under condemnation." II. HOW, THEN, SHALL MAN ESCAPE? He has transgressed, and he must die, unless he can find one to answer the utmost rigour of its demands, to bear the fiercest vengeance of its curse. But no creature can do this. What hope, then, unless God Himself should find a substitute? What hope, unless God Himself should obey the law which He had given, and suffer in our stead? But is this probable? nay, is it possible? Yes. God Himself has done it. Jehovah has become "our Righteousness." God has given His only-begotten Son — In Christ, and in Him only, have we righteousness and strength. III. APPLY THESE TRUTHS. 1. Has the law wrought in us its convincing humbling work? Have we seen ourselves lost? 2. Have we, under a deep sense of our own undone condition, betaken ourselves to Christ for help? Have we, without reserve, fixed our hope of salvation upon Him? (E. Blencowe, M.A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. |
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