Jeremiah 5:3-8 O LORD, are not your eyes on the truth? you have stricken them, but they have not grieved; you have consumed them… I. Turning to the Lord presupposes A DEEP CONVICTION THAT YOU HAVE GONE ASTRAY, both from way of duty and of safety. That all your highest interests have been neglected. 1. The exceeding sinfulness of sin. 2. The purity and strictness of God's law, the equity and terror of its penalty. 3. Your obligations to Him as Creator, Preserver, Redeemer. II. Turning to God supposes a PULL CONVICTION OF THE NECESSITY OF IMMEDIATE RESPONSE. 1. If you die in your present condition, you will certainly be lost. 2. You have no time for delay. 3. It will wound your heart to think this work has not been done long ago. III. If afflictions should prove the means of turning you to God, they will ROUSE YOU TO MOST EARNEST PERSEVERING ENDEAVOURS that you may truly find Him. 1. Pray without ceasing. 2. Accustom yourself to solemn meditation. 3. Seek the society of those who know the Lord. IV. If afflictions should turn you to God, you will be made DEEPLY SENSIBLE OF YOUR INABILITY AND THE NECESSITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT'S GRACE TO YOUR CONVERSION. 1. Your endeavours avail to avoid hindrances and seek helps. 2. Yet your own heart is against you, and the disease of sin is irrecoverable but by Divine grace. V. If ever you turn to the Lord, you will realise that CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY OF ACCESS TO GOD. You will come as criminals upon the footing of grace, not merit; will renounce all your righteousness; a broken-hearted rebel. Till then, you have nothing to do with Jesus. VI. If you are turned to God, you will experience A GREAT CHANGE IN TEMPER AND CONDUCT. 1. Heart and mind will take a new bias; thoughts and affections towards God; aspirations towards heaven; Jesus dear to you; all things become new. 2. Your practices will follow the inward impulse and principle of religion. VII. If turned to the Lord, your MIND WILL HABITUALLY RETAIN THAT TURN. Your religion not a transient fit, but permanent and persevering. (President Davies.) Parallel Verses KJV: O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return. |
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