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To be weary of God is to be weary of His worship and service. It is as sad a character as can be given, either of persons or of a people, to say that they are weary of God.

I. THE NATURE OF THE EVIL. Weariness in the body noteth a deficiency of strength, no more mind to work; in the soul, a falling from God, and we have no mind to His service, which is either partial or total.

1. Partial. When the heart is more alienated from God than before, and all our respects to Him grow burdensome and grievous, and the heart begins to repine at everything we do for Him (Malachi 1:13; Amos 8:5).

2. Total when not only the power of religion is abated, but the very profession of it is cast off.

II. IT IS INCIDENT SOMETIMES TO PERSONS CONSIDERED IN THEIR SINGLE CAPACITY; SOMETIMES TO A PEOPLE CONSIDERED IN THEIR COMMUNITY.

1. To persons considered apart, and in their single capacity.

(1)  Partly out of natural adverseness to God.

(2)  Partly because of the fickleness of man.

2. It is incident to a people considered in their community.

(1)  The Church of God in general.

(2)  In every nation.Usually religion is changed in a nation upon two grounds —

(a) Change of persons. When good old zealous men are gone the stage is shifted, and there cometh on a new scene of acts and actors; one generation passeth, and another cometh.

(b) Change of interests. When it is for their own interest to own God, men think they can never bind themselves fast enough to Him; but when the posture of interest is changed, God is laid aside, they grow weary of God; they deal treacherously with the Lord, and walk willingly after the commandment (Hosea 5:7, 11).

III. THE CAUSES WHY A PEOPLE GROW WEARY OF GOD. Besides those general causes, these may be added —

1. Want of love to God.

2. We are too much led by sense; and if we have not present satisfaction, we soon grow weary of religion.

3. It argueth too much love of the world, which by long importunity prevaileth with us to forsake God, and grow dead and cold in religion (2 Timothy 4:10).

4. It comes from indulgence to the ease of the flesh. As bodily weariness is most incident to the lazy, so is spiritual weariness to those who do not rouse up themselves.

5. Impatience of troubles, and the manifold discourage. merits we meet with in the way to heaven.

IV. THE EFFECTS.

1. Boldness in sinning.

2. More coldness in duties of worship. Either it is omitted or performed perfunctorily, and in a careless, stupid manner.

3. Less care and study to please God.

V. What a sad state of soul it is appeareth —

1. By the heinousness of the sin.

(1) It is a horrible contempt of God, after trial, to fall off from God and return to our carnal pleasures and satisfactions again.

(2) It is a very senseless and unreasonable sin. God never gave you cause or occasion to grow weary of Him. He challengeth Israel: "O My people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against Me" (Micah 6:3).

(3) There is much ingratitude in it. He hath given much cause to the contrary.

2. The terribleness of the judgment.

(1) On nations.

(2) On Churches (Revelation 2:5).

(3) For particular persons, it layeth them open to God's severe correction (Hosea 5:15).

(4) For total defection. There is dreadful vengeance appointed for them that prefer the creature before God.

( T. Manton, D. D.)

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KJV: But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.

WEB: Yet you have not called on me, Jacob; but you have been weary of me, Israel.