Jeremiah 14:7-9 O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do you it for your name's sake: for our backslidings are many… How many there are who pray after a fashion in times of great distress. When they are brought to death's door, then they say, "Send for someone that will come and pray at our side." What a wretched position is this, that we should only be willing to think of God when we are in our direst need! At the same time, notice what a great mercy it is that God does hear real prayer even if it be presented to Him only because we are in distress. "He giveth liberally, and upbraideth not." I. I SPEAK TO THE CHURCH OF GOD AT LARGE WHEREVER IT HAS BACKSLIDDEN AND TO EACH BELIEVER IN PARTICULAR WHO MAY HAVE DEPARTED FROM THE LIVING GOD IN ANY MEASURE. Note, there are here pleaders guilty. The pleaders seem to say, "Guilty, ay, guilty, for there is no denying it. Our iniquities testify against us." I would that every child of God felt this whenever he has gone astray. In addition to there being no denying it there is no excusing it, for "our backslidings are many." If we could have excused ourselves for our first faults, if possibly we might have offered some extenuation for the fickleness of our youth, yet what are we to say of the transgressions of our riper years? Not only is our guilt past denying and past excusing, but also it is past computation. We cannot measure how great have been our transgressions, and the next sentence may well imply it: "We have sinned against Thee." Well, now, next to this plea of guilty, what do the culprits say? What plea do they make why they should obtain mercy? I observe, first, that they bring no plea whatever which has fallen from themselves in any degree. They do not plead before God, that if He will have mercy they will be better. But still, there is a plea. Oh, blessed plea l the master plea of all: "Though our iniquities testify against us, do Thou it for Thy name's sake." Now, here is a prayer which will avail for us when the night is darkest and not a star is to be seen. The first name which the backsliding Church here gives to God has a blessing — "O the hope of Israel." Next, observe the Church of God pleads His next merit: "The Saviour thereof in time of trouble." God has saved His people, and the name of God is the Saviour in the time of trouble. Then, next, she does not mention the name that is implied in the words. She says, "Why shouldest Thou be as a stranger in the land?" — one, that is, merely travelling through, who takes little notice of the trouble because He is not a citizen of the country; one that merely puts up for a night in the house, and therefore does not enter into the cares and trials of the family. She does as good as call Him the Master of the house, Lord of the house. But, then, she goes a little further than that, and the plea is this: that He was, whatever they might be, their God. "Thou, O Lord, art in the midst of us, and we are called by Thy name." The Church says, "Lord, if Thou dost not help us now, the men of the world will say, 'God could not help them, they were brought into such a condition at last that their faith was of no use to them.' Why shouldest Thou be as a mighty man that cannot help?" II. I WANT TO SPEAK TO POOR TROUBLED HEARTS WHO DO NOT KNOW THE LORD. I cannot take the whole of my text for them, but only a part, and say to them, I am right glad that you want to find peace with God; right glad that you are unhappy and distressed in soul. You say, "I want peace." Well, take heed that you do not get a false peace. So begin by confessing your guilt. When you have done that, I charge you next, do not try to invent any kind of plea; do not sit down and try to make out that the case was not so bad, or that your bringings up might excuse you, or that your constitutional temperament might make some apology for you. No; have done with that and come with this one plea: "Do it for Thy name's sake. Lord, I cannot blot out my sins; I cannot change my nature; do Thou it. I have no reason why I should hope that Thou wilt do it; but for Thy name's sake." This is the master key that unlocks every door. ( C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: O LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name's sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee. |
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