_Return again to Me, saith the Lord._ THE BACKSLIDER INVITED TO RETURN We have here a wonderful display of God’s character: forbearance, pity, and love. I. What is inferred. A departure from God. 1. The life of an ungodly man is one long departure from God. Every step he takes leads him farther... [ Continue Reading ]
_Writ thou not from this time cry unto Me, My Father, Thou art the guide of my youth?_ THE DIVINE GUIDE We are all travellers, but are not all travelling in the tame direction. We need a guide. There is only One to be relied upon. I. Why we need a guide. 1. Because of our ignorance of the way.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou hast spoken and done evil things as thou couldest._ THE LIMITATION OF EVIL I. Some of the restraining influences of life. “As thou couldest.” By many considerations we are restrained from fulfilling the evil impulses and designs of which we are conscious; our potential wickedness is not allo... [ Continue Reading ]
_Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also._ COMPARATIVE CRIMINALITY I. State this decision of the Lord. 1. Israel, from the time they became a distinct nation, cast off God; therefore, given into Assyrian captivity and divorced by God. 2. Judah had retained the worship of God, but r... [ Continue Reading ]
_Return, thou backsliding Israel._ THE BACKSLIDER’S RETURN I. The invitation to return. 1. From one who (1) has been wronged (Jeremiah 3:13); (2) might therefore justly be angry; (3) but is “merciful” (Jeremiah 3:12). 2. To one who (1) has been grossly disobedient; (2) has been equally ungr... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will give you pastors according to Mine heart._ THE CHARACTER AND TEACHING OF CHRIST’S MINISTERS I. Their character. To be a “pastor after God’s heart,” a man must not only theoretically understand, but practically feel the truths he sets forth in his teaching. How describe the burden of a guil... [ Continue Reading ]
_The ark of the covenant of the Lord._ THE ARK OF THE COVENANT When inward piety is low the externals of religion are frequently cried up. Those who know nothing of God are the very people to exclaim concerning themselves and their brethren, “The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are thes... [ Continue Reading ]
_The throne of the Lord._ THE CHURCH CHRIST’S THRONE 1. Jerusalem had been of old the throne of God: the symbol of God rested on the ark. Hence called “the city of the Great King.” 2. Jerusalem became the throne of God as never before when Emmanuel visited her. Yet she rejected her King. 3. Chri... [ Continue Reading ]
_How shall I put thee among the children._ PUT AMONG THE CHILDREN I. A most delightful condition of privilege and enjoyment. 1. A real and endearing relation, not a mere figure or shadow. Though all worlds wait on His will, God’s heart is a Father’s heart; and its home, its place of joy and singi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Return. .. and I will heal your backslidings._ HOPE FOR THE WORST BACKSLIDERS I. The call from God. “Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.” 1. It is a call to come back to God; and that means, first, remember Him; begin to think of Him; let Him be a living God to yo... [ Continue Reading ]