Jeremiah 9:3 And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth on the earth… I. INQUIRE WHAT IS THE TRUTH. It is "the glorious Gospel of the blessed God." Without a knowledge of this, oh! how ignorant is the wisest in the things of time! 1. "The truth as it is in Jesus" was at first but obscurely revealed; a veil was cast over it which prophets and righteous men desired to remove. 2. "The truth as it is in Jesus" is a jewel only to be found in the casket of God's Word, not in the traditions of men; and that casket — emphatically called "the Word of truth" — must be unlocked for us by Him who is "the Spirit of truth." II. HOW WE MAY BE VALIANT FOR IT. 1. A cordial belief in it must be the first step to a valiant defence of it. 2. Love of the truth, an unalterable and unwavering attachment to it, must follow a firm belief in it. This principle gives courage to the soldier on the battlefield; patience to the wife amid scenes of sickness and misfortune. 3. Next follows an uncompromising advocacy of it. We fear not to give utterance to that in which we firmly believe, and which we ardently love. 4. Valour for Christ, who is "the truth" personified, will further display itself by noble sacrifices for Him, for the dissemination of His truth at home, for its propagation abroad. 5. Valour for the truth is most signally displayed by a consistent, prayerful, and persevering obedience to all its requirements. (J. S. Wilkins.) Parallel Verses KJV: And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD. |
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