Jeremiah 50:4-5

DISCOURSE: 1086
REPENTANCE DESCRIBED

Jeremiah 50:4. In those days, and at that time, saith the Lord, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the Lord their God. They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten.

THESE words refer to the Jewish people, and to a period yet future. The junction of Israel with Judah took not place in any great degree at the return of the Jews from Babylon; nor was their return signalized by any such piety as is here described. But, at the time ordained of God for their restoration from their present dispersion, the whole Scriptures attest, that a very extraordinary spirit of piety shall be poured out upon them; and that, in the remembrance of all their past sins, they will be filled with the deepest contrition before God [Note: Jeremiah 31:9.]. But among the Gentiles, also, will the same holy ardour be expressed in returning to the Lord [Note: Isaiah 2:3.]: and therefore we will not confine our attention either to the one or to the other; but rather regard the words before us as expressive of genuine repentance wheresoever it exists; and as consequently declaring,

I. Our duty—

Of the Jews, it is said, “They shall go and seek the Lord their God.”
Now this is a duty,

1. Of universal obligation—

[There is not a man in the universe to whom it does not appertain. There is no man who has not sinned, “in departing from the living God;” and consequently, there is no man who does not need to seek his favour, and to implore mercy at his hands. The king upon the throne is not so elevated, but that he needs to turn to God in this way: nor is the meanest subject in his realm so insignificant, as that this can be dispensed with at his hands.]

2. Of prime and indispensable importance—

[There are many duties binding upon all, and all important in their place: but this is “the one thing needful;” the one thing, without which no man can have peace with God, or peace in his own conscience, or any hope of happiness in the eternal world.]
But in this passage we see also,

II.

The manner in which it should be performed—

We must all seek the Lord,

1. With deep humiliation of soul—

[The Jews will look on Him whom they have pierced, and mourn, and be in bitterness, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born. But if they were the agents in the crucifixion of our Lord, our sins were the procuring cause; yea, and we have even “crucified the Son of God afresh,” by continuing in our sins. And who amongst us has not also “done despite unto the Spirit of grace,” “resisting” his sacred motions, till we have even “quenched” them in our souls? It is not, surely, necessary that we should have committed flagrant acts of immorality, in order to call for humiliation before God: the whole state of our souls, from the first moment of our existence to the present hour, shews how totally we have fallen from God, and what contrition becomes us in our return to him. The man that thinks a less measure of shame and sorrow becomes him, because he has not been guilty of any atrocious crime, has yet to learn the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the desert of every child of man before God. Methinks it is scarcely necessary to remind you, that you must “sow in tears, if you would reap in joy; and that they only who go on their way weeping, bearing precious seed, can ever hope to come again with rejoicing, bringing their sheaves with them [Note: Psalms 126:5.].”]

2. With diligent inquiries after the way of life—

[The Jews, dispersed throughout the world, will have to make many inquiries, when once they have set out towards the promised land. And we also, at this time, need to “ask the way towards Zion,” even after “our faces are directed thitherward,” There is but one way, that is, the Lord Jesus Christ; who says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by me.” But we do not readily find that way: we have many paths which nature points out, and which we greatly prefer: we would come to God in a way of self-righteousness and self-dependence, instead of relying solely and exclusively on the Lord Jesus Christ. Besides, at our first seeking after God, there will arise many doubts respecting the precise path in which it is our duty to proceed, and in relation to which the more experienced Christian may be well qualified to instruct us. To avail ourselves of all possible information, is our wisdom; and especially to seek direction from God in prayer: and it is in answer to such inquiries only that we can hope to “hear a voice behind us, saying, “This is the way; walk ye in it.”]

3. With a fixed determination of heart to give ourselves unreservedly unto God—

[This is implied in entering into covenant with God. A man may make a promise, which yet he has no deliberate determination to keep: but if he enter into a solemn covenant with God, as Josiah did [Note: 2 Chronicles 34:31.], he shews that he is altogether in earnest, and that he is engaged in a transaction which it is his solemn purpose “never to forget.” In this way should every Penitent approach his God; solemnly giving up himself to him in his secret chamber; and openly also, at the table of the Lord; from henceforth renouncing all other lords, and cleaving only to his God and Saviour, in newness of heart and life. In truth, the real penitent will not be content to go to heaven alone. He will propose to those around him to unite in the blessed work in which he has engaged. In perfect accordance with the Church of old, he says, “Draw me; and we will run after thee:” that is, ‘Draw me, O God; and I will never willingly come to thee alone.’]

And now let me ask,
1.

Who amongst you are inclined to make this proposal?

[Verily, there is a sad want of zeal, even in multitudes of whom, in the judgment of charity, we should say, They are in the way to heaven, We do not find that holy boldness for the Lord, which every penitent should feel; nor that compassion for man, which a just sense of our own danger would naturally inspire. We affect prudence; or, in other words, we shun the cross which a more decided conduct would bring upon us. But so did not St. Paul, or any of the saints of old. They imparted to others the light they had received; and sought to introduce others to the Saviour whom they had found [Note: John 1:35.]. Let us go and do likewise: and if this zeal will characterize the piety of the latter day, let it not be found wanting in the religion which we profess.]

2. Who amongst you would accede to it, if made?

[We wish to lower the standard of true repentance. ‘Surely, a less measure of humiliation will suffice for me; nor can such diligence and self-devotion be required of me.’ But that which will be the duty of men in the latter day, must be our duty now: and therefore settle it in your minds, that we must be wholly for God, if we would obtain favour at his hands; and that, “whatsoever our hand findeth to do, we must,” if we would succeed, “engage in it with all our might.”]