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I. HIS MENTAL POSITION. "If they had stood in My counsel." By God's "counsel" here we understand His written Word. To stand in it implies making His Word the permanent sphere of the mind, the one great subject of study and scene of action. This mental position is —

1. Most necessary. God's thoughts alone and not man's can spiritually and effectively help humanity, and these thoughts are only to be got at by profoundly studying the Scriptures, and thus standing in the counsel of the Lord.

2. Most ennobling. The man who lives in the Scriptures will have an elevation of spirit, a nobility of nature, a dignity of bearing that will give him power over the minds of men.

II. HIS GRAND WORK, "Caused My people to hear My words."

1. This is the most difficult work. Man's spiritual ears are so sealed by carnality, worldliness, and sin, that they will not listen Notwithstanding, this is the preacher's work.

2. This is the most urgent work. The words of the Lord are a man's only light, hope, and salvation.

III. HIS TRUE TEST. "They should have turned" their hearers "from their evil ways," &c.

1. Conversion from evil is the great want of mankind.

2. Conversion from evil is the great tendency of Gods Word.

(Homilist.)

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KJV: I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.

WEB: I sent not these prophets, yet they ran: I didn't speak to them, yet they prophesied.