712. JER 20:9. JEREMIAH’S DISCOURAGEMENT, AND RETURN TO HIS ONEROUS DUTY

Jer_20:9. Jeremiah’s Discouragement, and Return to His Onerous Duty

"Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay."’97Jer_20:9.

Jeremiah was one of the most distinguished of the Old Testament worthies. He entered on the service of God in early life, and therefore knew what it was to bear the yoke in his youth.

He began to prophesy in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah, about seventy years after the death of Isaiah; and he continued in his work for at least forty years.

As a prophet, he was distinguished for great love to his nation, and a holy, burning zeal for God. He was also very much signalized for the tender and pathetic character of his spirit; and hence, is appropriately styled, "The Weeping Prophet."

He lived in very bad times’97had many things to discourage him’97suffered much in carrying out his sacred calling. My text has to do with his experience on one of these depressing occasions.

Observe,

I. His rash and sinful determination. And,

II. The course which he was constrained, notwithstanding, to adopt.

I. His rash and sinful determination.

We say his determination was,

1. Rash.

Evidently not the habitual state of his mind. He had toiled and labored for upwards of twenty years. He had entered on his work from a conscientious conviction of duty and principle. His heart and soul were in the work. It was the great burden of his life, so that his exclamation was one of precipitate rashness’97the outburst of haste and passion.

We find the best of men showing their infirmities, under peculiar circumstances.

Job, cursing the day of his birth.

The Psalmist, pronouncing all men to be liars.

Jonah, angry even at the gracious dispensations of God.

James and John, desiring that they might bring fire down to consume the Samaritans. But,

2. It was sinful.

Not mere excusable rashness. It was more than weakness. Just look at the language. What did he say? "I will not speak," &c. This was direct rebellion’97daring presumption! Then, of whom did he speak? I will not make mention of "Him," that is, God. What had Jehovah done? Was he not great, and glorious, and blessed? "Nor speak any more in his name," &c. How irreverent and wrong! How unworthy of good, yet frail Jeremiah! How remarkable from the lips of one so pious, so faithful, so persevering! What an hour of weakness and sin!

Yet observe,

3. The temptations to this sin were very great.

We will only glance at the immediate and direct causes of that which, doubtless, affected the mind of the prophet.

He had been smitten by the sons of the Priest; Jer_20:2.

He had been put into the stocks, as a vile person; Jer_20:3.

Then he was a derision to the people, &c.; Jer_20:7.

They were also constantly looking for his overthrow and falling; Jer_20:10.

Now these were very trying scenes. A sad ordeal.’97A distressing test. Think of his noble nature! Dignified spirit’97high-toned generousness’97his devotedness to God; and then, the sad return he received.

We now proceed to,

II. The course which he was constrained, notwithstanding, to adopt.

This moral aberration of mind was only very transitory. It was a cloud which passed away, &c. Now observe how, and to what extent, his resolution was changed.

1. It was by the Word of the Lord.

What God had said to him. What God had commanded him to do.

Now the "Word of God" contains the ideas, thoughts, determinations and emotions of the Lord. Some speak disparagingly of the Word of the Lord. Without something annexed to it, they describe it as a dead letter, &c. It is, however, the very reflection of God’s mind and heart. It is most powerful and blessed. God has magnified his Word above all his name. By it, he created the world, &c. "He spake," &c. See Gen_1:3, Gen_1:6, Gen_1:9, Gen_1:11. By it he caused Sinai to tremble, &c. Psa_68:7-11, &c. By it he produces or stills the storms and tempests of nature. Psa_148:5-7. The Word of the Lord is searching and quickening. The power of God is conveyed in it, and by it.

2. It was the Word of God in him, as fire.

See the same idea in the language of Elihu. Job_32:18. See Psa_39:2, Psa_39:3. So God describes it as fire: Jer_23:29.

(1.) It enlightens. It dispels the gloom, when kindled in the dark night. It has ever done so. In all countries, &c. Germany, Britain. In the dark mind of the sinner.

(2.) It purifies. The silver ore is thrown into it, &c.; and the dross is removed, &c. So it sanctifies the heart, &c.

(3.) It consumes the stubble and chaff, or wood. Its threats will burn up the sinner, &c., who abides in impenitence.

Now it was in the heart of the Prophet as fire.

3. As fire, it burned out the precipitate rebellion of his spirit.

"He was weary of forbearing. He could not stay." It inflamed him afresh with,

Zeal for God.

Love to souls.

A sense of his official duty. And he could not "stay."

What can withstand these all-powerful elements? What resist the influences of an enlightened conscience’97a deep-toned pity and melting compassion, for the perishing? "The love of Christ constraineth," &c. "I count not my life dear," saith the Apostle, &c. He says, "I have become all things to all men, that by all means, I might save some," &c.

When the heart is sanctified to God’s work, it is its misery not to be acting, and living, and serving him, &c. So the Prophet’s heart loosened his tongue, and he continued to live, and toil, and suffer, in the cause of God and truth.

Learn,’97

1. The onerous and solemn work of the minister of God.

In Jeremiah’s time. Now, always, everywhere, &c.

2. The discouragements to which they are exposed.

See Jeremiah. See even Jesus, and his Disciples. See the Apostle of the Gentiles.

3. The great necessity of Christian sympathy and cooperation.

"Brethren, pray for us," &c. See Moses, and the elders of Israel standing and holding up his hands. I ask,

4. What influence the Word of God has had on you.

Are you receivers or rejecters’97lovers or haters? Oh receive it in faith and love, that it may be the power of God to your soul’s present and everlasting salvation.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS