This is what the LORD of Hosts says: "Glean the remnant of Israel as thoroughly as a vine. Pass your hand once more like a grape gatherer over the branches." Sermons
I. To THOSE WHO ARE AT WORK FOR GOD. The self-satisfied, who look at their work with too much content, as if it could not be bettered, - these need this charge. And the discouraged, who are for throwing up their work, abandoning it in sorrow and despair, believing they can do nothing more, - to them God would say," Turn back thine hand." To those who desire to do their work thoroughly. Go over it again. See how Paul was constantly in the habit of "turning back his hand," i.e. going over the Churches that he had established, revisiting them, in order that he might "confirm them in the faith (cf. Acts, passim). Line upon line, line upon line," is God's counsel to us in this matter. II. To THE STUDENTS OF HIS WORD. To none more than to these is this charge necessary, if they are to keep a living interest in God's Word. We come to be so familiar with the main themes, and the forms in which they are expressed, that reading of the Bible comes to be a work in which no thought is aroused, or attention arrested, and we weary of it terribly. Now, it is to the diligent searcher, who will "turn back his hand," go over his work again, and not be content with the truths which lie only on the surface and which every eye can see, - to him shall there be revealed clusters of precious truths which he had never seen before, and the Word of God shall yield to him what it yields only to searchers like himself. III. TO THOSE ANXIOUS FOR THE FRUITS OF GOD'S GRACE IN THEMSELVES. To true-hearted believers it is often a cause of regret that their fruits seem so few and so poor. How often the confession is made of this spiritual fruitlessness! But we need not, ought not, to stay in complaints and confessions. "Turn back thine hand," and search if there may not be more fruit found, and of a better kind. "In me is thy fruit found," says God, and it may be we have been looking in the wrong places and to wrong sources for that which we so earnestly desire to see. We may "go on unto perfection," for so bids us the Word of God. Our "whole body, soul, and spirit may be preserved blameless," and we maybe "the sons of God without rebuke;" for Christ "is able [has power] to save to the uttermost," and therefore we may be "filled with all the fullness of God." So, Christian brother," turn back thine hand as a grape-gatherer," and think not thou hast gathered all the fruits of the Spirit that may he borne by thee. Thou hast not. In conclusion, note how the subject tells of: 1. The worth of those objects which we search after. The action of the grape-gatherer, in carefully going over the branch again, testifies to his sense of the value of that for which he searches. And so here in I., II., III. 2. And what is yet left to be gathered will be more readily found because of the others that have been gathered. The solitary remaining clusters are seen more easily now that the others which hid them are cleared away. And he who desires to do more work for God, to know more of the truth of God, to bear more fruit unto God, shall find that his former work has been for his help, and on account thereof he is more sure of success. "Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit;" therefore "turn back thine hand." - C.
Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest My soul depart from thee. I. THE INFINITE GOODNESS AND PATIENCE OF GOD TOWARDS A SINFUL PEOPLE AND HIS GREAT UNWILLINGNESS TO BRING RUIN AND DESTRUCTION UPON THEM. How loath is He that things should come to this extremity?II. THE ONLY PROPER AND EFFECTUAL MEANS TO PREVENT THE MISERY AND RUIN OF A SINFUL PEOPLE. If they will be instructed, and take warning by the threatenings of God, and will become wiser and better, then His soul will not depart from them, He will not bring upon them the desolation which He hath threatened. III. THE MISERABLE CASE AND CONDITION OF A PEOPLE, WHEN GOD TAKES OFF HIS AFFECTION FROM THEM AND GIVES OVER ALL FURTHER CARE AND CONCERNMENT FOR THEM. Woe unto them, when His soul departs from them! For when God once leaves them, then all sorts of evil and calamities will break in upon them. (Archbishop Tillotson.) 1. Whereby are we to be instructed? By the state of affairs, and by the reason of things, or the right of cases.(1) God is a being of all perfection, of infinitely vast comprehension and understanding and power: and therefore He is able to attain those effects, and to teach men by all things that fall under His government.(2) Things managed by Divine wisdom are intensely expressive of notions, because they do partake of the excellency and sufficiency of their cause.(3) God doth nothing in vain, nor to fewer or lesser purposes than the things are capable to promote, or be subservient unto.(4) Because the affairs of mankind are the choice piece of the administration of providence: And God doth in a special manner charge Himself with teaching the mind of man knowledge. 2. Wherein are we to be instructed?(1) In matters of God's offence. For we are highly concerned in God's favour or displeasure.(2) In instances of our own duty: if we have departed from it, to return to it; if we have done the contrary, to revoke it with self-condemnation and humble deprecation. 3. What is it to be instructed? (1) (2) (3) (4) II. THE ENFORCEMENT. 1. An argument of love and goodwill, "lest My soul depart from thee." 2. An argument from fear, "lest I make thee desolate," A double argument is as a double testimony, by which every word is established (2 Corinthians 13:1). 3. This double argument shows us two things.(1) The stupidity and senselessness of those, who are made to the perfection of reason and understanding, and yet act contrary to it.(2) The impiety and unrighteousness of sinners, who are a real offence to God, cause His displeasure, and bring upon persons and places, ruin and destruction. Sin is a variation from the law and rule of God's creation: it is contrary to the order of reason: and when I say this, I say as bad as can be spoken. In sin there is open and manifest neglect of God, to whom all reverence and regard is most due. By sin there is a disturbance in God's family: it is an interruption of that intercourse and communication there ought to be amongst creatures; for every sinner destroys much good. By the practice of iniquity we mar our spirits, spoil our tempers, and acquire unnatural principles and dispositions. (B. Whichcote, D. D.) People Benjamin, JeremiahPlaces Beth-haccherem, Jerusalem, Sheba, Tekoa, ZionTopics Armies, Baskets, Branches, Gatherer, Gathering, Glean, Grape, Grapegatherer, Grape-gatherer, Grapes, Hosts, Pass, Pulling, Remnant, Rest, Says, Shoots, Surely, Thoroughly, Throughly, Thus, Turn, VineOutline 1. The enemies sent against Judah,4. encourage themselves. 6. God sets them on work because of their sins. 9. The prophet laments the judgments of God because of their sins. 18. He proclaims God's wrath. 26. He calls the people to mourn for the judgment on their sins. Dictionary of Bible Themes Jeremiah 6:9 4416 branch Library Stedfastness in the Old Paths. "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls."--Jer. vi. 16. Reverence for the old paths is a chief Christian duty. We look to the future indeed with hope; yet this need not stand in the way of our dwelling on the past days of the Church with affection and deference. This is the feeling of our own Church, as continually expressed in the Prayer Book;--not to slight what has gone before, … John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII A Blast of the Trumpet against False Peace Whitefield -- the Method of Grace Reprobation. Prefatory Scripture Passages. Jesus Raises the Widow's Son. Backsliding. An Obscured vision Sin Charged Upon the Surety An Address to the Regenerate, Founded on the Preceding Discourses. Scriptures Showing the Sin and Danger of Joining with Wicked and Ungodly Men. How those who Fear Scourges and those who Contemn them are to be Admonished. Christian Meekness Jeremiah Links Jeremiah 6:9 NIVJeremiah 6:9 NLT Jeremiah 6:9 ESV Jeremiah 6:9 NASB Jeremiah 6:9 KJV Jeremiah 6:9 Bible Apps Jeremiah 6:9 Parallel Jeremiah 6:9 Biblia Paralela Jeremiah 6:9 Chinese Bible Jeremiah 6:9 French Bible Jeremiah 6:9 German Bible Jeremiah 6:9 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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