Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying, Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love… I. OUR ONCE DESOLATE AND MISERABLE CONDITION BY NATURE. Were we not captives? yea, bond-slaves? All our happiness consisted in forgetting ourselves. Everything marked us as, in the worst sense, slaves. Some of us professed to despise the opinions of men, and yet, what were we but the slaves of men? What did we pursue? Nothing but the applause of men. What were we afraid of? Nothing but their censure. How afraid of singularity, when we first perhaps had some thoughts concerning our souls. What was this but slavery? Look at the lives we led. We lived but for ourselves. Self was our Nebuchadnezzar, who took possession of the city, our walls, and got all for himself. Self, perhaps, in some decent, moral form, but still self; the fleshy, unregenerate, corrupt, carnal self. Was not this the greatest slavery? And who was the master, the grinding tyrant of this slave? To whom had we sold ourselves for nought? Who was it that led us captive at his will? (2 Timothy 2:25, 26.) II. THE LOVE WHICH GOD HAS TOWARDS HIS TRUE ISRAEL. And what is its peculiar character? It is Sovereign and Distinguishing. 1. It is a Love bounded by His Will. His most wise, righteous, and holy Will, (Exodus 33:19). 2. It is" personal and individual. "I have loved thee. Thee, a poor sinner, a prodigal; thee, a poor, unprofitable servant thee, a poor backslider in heart too oft; thee, too much, too frequently ungrateful; — yet have I loved thee — yes, thee, notwithstanding all; thee, singly and alone, as if there were no other; thee, as one of the innumerable family, the many sons whom I will bring to glory. 3. It is effectual and overcoming. "With lovingkindness have I drawn thee." Ah, how gently, how tenderly, how silently, sometimes mysteriously, but ever in love. 4. This love is everlasting. Time never knew its beginning, eternity shall never know its end. Closing remarks: — 1. All religion consists in individuality. Religion is a personal thing. (1) It is so in our confessions (2 Samuel 12:13). (2) It is so in our standing before God (Luke 18:13). (3) So is it in the consolations of the Spirit (Galatians 2:20). 2. All the blessings of present salvation spring from God s everlasting love. (J. H. Evans, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. |
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