Jeremiah 5:20-25 Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying,… I. ARGUMENT FROM GOD'S GOVERNMENT OF THE SEA. 1. Suited to impress man with an idea of — (1) Infinite power. (2) Consummate wisdom. (3) Special goodness.Two fold — (a) Negatively, in checking the threatening invasion of the sea; (b) Affirmatively, in giving rain, etc. 2. Man's revolting tendencies. (1) God has prescribed the bounds of man's actions and thoughts by befitting laws. As the sea has bounds, so there are limits to every finite being. (2) To overstep these limits is rebellion against the Great Lawgiver. (3) Man has revolted, differing in this from the sea. (4) Man can do what the sea cannot. (a) Man has a heart, the sea has not; a will power. (b) This power in man has been prostituted to evil. II. ARGUMENT FROM GOD'S BESTOWMENT OF THE HARVEST. 1. Until the Gospel was communicated to the world, attentive observance of the dispensation of providence was the principal means whereby God's Spirit drew the Gentiles to Himself, and led them to piety and obedience. (1) It was the religion of nature (Acts 14:15-17; Romans 1:19, 20). (2) From God's works alone, His being, power, mercy, may be fully and satisfactorily proved, without the advantages of revelation. 2. Although we enjoy the full light of the glorious Gospel, we can never too closely keep in mind the fact that all things we see and enjoy are ordained by God. (1) We have less need than the heathen to learn about God from His outward and visible works. (2) Yet we are beholden to His providence for all essential natural blessings. (3) Nothing in nature could reach maturity but for the fatherly care of God. 3. From the natural events around us we may — (1) Learn diligence in our spiritual concerns, that the Word of Life may ripen in our hearts. (2) Pray that the heavenly Sower will not pass us by in barrenness. (3) When observing the tender blade, reflect on the weakness of our advance in piety, and entreat Him who tempers all the elements to "work all things together for our good."(4) When the harvest hour is nigh, let us think how short our time is, and pray that we may not be found blasted or unfruitful. (Bp. Heber.) Parallel Verses KJV: Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying,WEB: "Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying, |
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