Man's Battlements or God's Battlements
J. Batsman, M. A. Jeremiah 5:10 Go you up on her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they are not the LORD's. These words show us that if we would ensure safety we must embrace God's plan of salvation. I. MAN'S BATTLEMENTS. 1. Some build battlements without Christ as the corner stone. To read His history, admire His character, wonder at His miracles; but to leave out all the mystery of the Incarnation, to deny the efficacy of the bloodshedding, to substitute reason for faith, is to build battlements which are not "the Lord's." 2. Some build battlements with their own merits. As in the former case the foundation was faulty; so here is the superstructure. The "good heart" and the "good life" and the "good intentions" will not bear scrutiny. Salvation is of grace, and not of debt. 3. Others build battlements of external forms and ceremonies. They are like that foreign people who rear walls of painted canvas, guarded by painted sentinels, and armed with painted guns. There is no reality in such a religion. II. WHAT, THEN, ARE GOD'S BATTLEMENTS? 1. Repentance. No one strikes the penitent who confesses error, and asks forgiveness with many tears. 2. The second line of defence is Faith. Repentance does not save. We are saved by grace, through faith. 3. There is a third range, higher still, Holiness. A man may tremble behind the battlements of faith, even as the devils believe and tremble. That man only is safe and happy who is penitent, believing, and holy. (J. Batsman, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they are not the LORD'S. WEB: "Go up on her walls, and destroy; but don't make a full end. Take away her branches; for they are not Yahweh's.