Jeremiah 22:29 O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD. We know of persons who rise up early and sit up late, in order that they may accumulate riches, in order that they may follow their trade, or in order that they may enjoy the pleasures of sin; but how few there are who can say they "prevent the night watches" that they may "meditate upon God's Word"! I. In meditating upon God's blessed Word, notice THE AUTHORITY WITH WHICH IT COMES. 1. It has no title, save that which distinguishes it from all common communications, from all uninspired books. It is the Bible, which means emphatically THE BOOK, in distinction from every other book. 2. If you inquire as to its topics, its index, it is impossible to make a catalogue of these. Who can describe the truths, the doctrines, the promises, the precepts, the predictions that it contains? 3. Then you have to inquire respecting its Author. It is God — He that made us, He that sustains us, He that governs us, He alone that can bless us. The Bible is not anonymous, any more than the sun, the moon, the stars, or the sea, for it bears the impressive signature of the Divine name. It is not a fable. "We have not followed cunningly-devised fables" when we testify to you the great things of God's Word. Oh, the riches, oh, the profundity of this inexhaustible Word! Christians have been drawing upon the resources of its wisdom; mighty preachers have been expounding its contents, scholars have been penetrating into its mysteries, the press has been pouring out dissertations and commentaries upon its mighty theme, and it is still unexhausted and inexhaustible; for it is like its infinite Author. II. HOW WE ARE TO RECEIVE THIS COMMUNICATION, "O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord." 1. If we are to hear the Word of the Lord that our souls may live, our ears must be opened. Closed by prejudice, ignorance, and sin, closed by the imperfection and deceitfulness of our nature, the Holy Spirit must open our ears to hear: then we shall hearken diligently, we shall hear believingly, so that this Word will be the life of our souls. 2. As this Word comes to you there must be spiritual participation. Indeed, the reception of the Word of God is described as "eating" that Word; and the Word of God is described as bread which we are to eat, and the manna that came doom from heaven and fell around the camps of the children of Israel was understood to be the type of that living bread upon which we are to feed. It is receiving Christ by faith, it is believing on Him, that is eating the Word. Oh, for this spiritual participation of God's blessed Word! May God give you a spiritual taste, and spiritual desires. 3. The Word of God is to be received or heard with spiritual joy. Come and take of the most precious things God has given in His Word — let your souls delight themselves in fatness. There are precious promises and precious doctrines, precious prophecies and precious precepts; yea, everything is precious; but the nearer you get to the Cross of Christ and the discovery of God's love in the gift of His Son, the more precious, the more nourishing, the more comforting, and the more consoling will Divine truth be to your minds. III. THIS WORD COMES TO DIFFERENT CHARACTERS AND IN VARIOUS WAYS. 1. In the first place, let me address the sceptic — the doubter. There is no discovery in science which does not tend to confirm the inspiration and credibility of God's truth; and there is not an evolution of Providence which does not serve to illustrate some portion of God's prophetic Word. Keep your eyes upon the movements of Providence, and you will find that God is continually unfurling His truth Recollect eternity, with its weal and its woe, stands upon the decision, whether you receive with reverence, or whether you despise or neglect the great salvation which the Word of God brings. 2. This Word comes a warning to the man absorbed in the anxious cares of time; and, says it, "What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" This world cannot make you happy. Why spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which satisfieth not! 3. Then the Word of God speaks to the man who assents to God's Word with his understanding, but denies it with his heart's affection — having the form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. God cannot be deceived by pretences, God cannot be mocked by external service. 4. The Word of God speaks to the sorrowful. It speaks generally to the mourning, "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted." It speaks to the widow in her desolateness, and says, "Thy Maker is thy husband." It speaks to the orphan and the fatherless, and gives them the assurance of protection. It speaks to the soul half-despairing under a consciousness of its sin, and saying, "I am a great sinner, I do not know whether Christ will have compassion upon me and save me." You are a great sinner? Well, then, Christ is a great Saviour. It speaks to the timid believer, who is ready to say, I fear I shall some day fall by the temptations and allurements of the world. Fall! you cannot fall; you walk upon firm ground, and the arms of Almighty grace sustain you whilst you are unreservedly trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ. (H. Dowson.) Parallel Verses KJV: O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD. |
    |