Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD has appeared of old to me, saying, Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love… I. A GREAT WONDER. 1. The object mentioned. "Thee." Most unworthy. 2. The attribute displayed. Love. What is it? 3. The person speaking. "I," whom ye have — (1) Doubted. (2) Despised. (3) Disregarded. II. A GREATER WONDER. "With an everlasting love." Wonderful to love us at all. More wonderful to love us with such a love. This love is everlasting in its — 1. Counsels. 2. Conquests. 3. Continuance. 4. Consequence. III. THE GREATEST WONDER. "Therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee" To send food to the hungry, is gracious in the wealthy; but to bring the hungry in the kindest manner to the royal table — this is wonderful indeed. We shall see here — 1. A wonderful display. "I have drawn thee." Here is inferred our helplessness and unwillingness to come. God draws by many means. 2. A wonderful instrument. "Loving-kindness." The heavenly magnet. Kindness does not always go with love. God saves us. Here is kindness. But He does so in the best possible way. In the tenderest, most gentle manner. 3. A wonderful reason. "Therefore." God's reason is in Himself. Our salvation the fruit of everlasting love, and nothing else. Should we not love Him? (W. J. Mayers.) Parallel Verses KJV: The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. |
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