Jeremiah 33:3 Call to me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not. The text belongs to every afflicted servant of God. It encourages him in a threefold manner. — I. TO CONTINUE IN PRAYER. "Call unto Me!" 1. Pray, though you have prayed (see Jeremiah 32:16, &c.). 2. Pray concerning your present trouble. In Jeremiah 32:24, the prophet mentions "the mounts" which were raised against Jerusalem, and in ver. 4 of this chapter the Lord answers on that very point. 3. Pray though you are still in prison after prayer. If deliverance tarries, make your prayers the more importunate. 4. Pray; for the Word of the Lord comes to you with this command. 5. Pray; for the Holy Spirit prompts you, and helps you. II. To EXPECT ANSWERS TO PRAYER. "I will answer thee, and shew thee." 1. He has appointed prayer, and made arrangements for its presentation and acceptance. He could not have meant it to be a mere farce: that were to treat us as fools. 2. He prompts, encourages, and quickens prayer; and surely He would never mock us by exciting desires which He never meant to gratify. 3. His nature is such that He must hear His children. 4. He has given His promise in the text; and it is often repeated elsewhere: He cannot lie, or deny Himself. 5. He has already answered many of His people, and ourselves also. III. TO EXPECT GREAT THINGS AS ANSWERS TO PRAYER, "I will shew thee great and mighty things" We are to look for things — 1. Great in counsel; full of wisdom and significance 2. Mighty in work; revealing might, and mightily effectual. 3. New things to ourselves, fresh in our experience and therefore surprising. We may expect the unexpected. 4. Divine things: "I will shew thee." (1) Health and cure (ver. 6). (2) Liberation from captivity (ver. 7). (3) Forgiveness of iniquity (ver. 8). ( C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. |
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