Jeremiah 5:14 Why thus said the LORD God of hosts, Because you speak this word, behold, I will make my words in your mouth fire, and this people wood… Three elements of the power of the Gospel are here found. I. The I WILL of the Almighty. That will is an ocean deep and wide as eternity and infinity. In that shoreless deep all the mighty orbs, suns, systems floated first by mere will of Jehovah. To that will every line of inspiration becomes either a ray of light, law, and peace, or a thunderbolt of justice. II. "THE WORDS OF THY MOUTH." The language is human, but Divine in its source. In all the dealings of heaven with our race, created instruments have been used. A long line of prophets and patriots have been guided with the authority and power from the eternal throne. So that whether Jehovah will to rouse all the stormy elements of clouds above, and waters beneath, as by a shepherd's staff, and styled the rod of God, on the kingdom of Egypt, or drive a broad dusty highway through the waves of the sea, — it is the same glorious God that is present in this sacred book. Ten thousand angels of the lifeguard around heaven's throne could not change the heart of the weakest child. But aided by the will of the eternal majestic "I" of the text, a babe in the manger at Bethlehem will awaken a song that shall ring out in anthem heard far up among the golden spheres of heaven, and echo round and round our redeemed and regenerated world. III. A FIRE purifies but consumes the chaff. (W. H. Van Doren, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them. |
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