Jeremiah 31:18-21 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; You have chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke… What is it that wins back the heart to God? It is God's free, full, everlasting mercy. This attracts the sinner, melts, transforms, comforts, saves him. I. A BROKEN HEART. Such was Ephraim's; he had departed far from God, he had fretted against the Lord, he had refused for a time to submit, but chastisement after chastisement in mercy came, and at length he received instruction. 1. His froward course is strikingly set forth. "A bullock unaccustomed to the yoke," Ephraim had spurned the hand that would have guided him. 2. There was insight into, and confession of his guilt. Nothing so fit to describe his state, am it was seen by his now enlightened eye, as the untamed bullock; like Asaph, "his heart is grieved, he is pricked in his reins"; like him he is ready to exclaim, "So foolish was I and ignorant, I was as a beast before Thee." 3. There were the true breathings of prayer. "Turn Thou me."(1) The source is acknowledged whence this godly sorrow flows. "After that I was turned."(2) There is application for mercy. "Turn Thou me."(3) Faith was in exercise in this prayer of Ephraim. "Thou art the Lord my God." II. HEALING MERCY. The mercy that God gives is Godlike mercy; yea, He giveth Himself to the believing soul in and by Jesus Christ. 1. God makes no mention of his sins. 2. He transcribes a fair copy of his confessions. 3. He treasures up his groans. 4. He addresses by the titles of affection the once wayward but now bemoaning Ephraim. 5. God answers the one desire of the contrite heart. (F. Storr, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God. |
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