Human Resistance and Divine Power
W. Darwent. Jeremiah 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? said the LORD; and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? I. THE MORAL RESISTANCE OF MAN. "The rock" — the unconverted heart of man. 1. Every rock has a character. There are aqueous and igneous rocks — stratified and unstratified rocks. So with hearts; some are hard and unyielding, others are soft and flexible; some are full of pride and selfishness, others are gentle and benevolent. But they are all "rock" — hard against God. They all agree in this, though they may differ in other respects. 2. Rocks remain in the same condition for ages. So with sin-hardened hearts. Under the kindly rays of the Father's countenance, and the Saviour's love, they remain in the same unmoved and unfeeling state. The Lord has called, but they have not answered — they have despised His reproofs. 3. These rocks may be broken. They are composed of blocks of stone. The hardest is formed by the adhesion of minute particles; these may be separated — pieces may be detached, and the whole rock broken. If we now apply this to the heart, we shall see the points of resemblance. Each heart has many parts and many avenues. One part after another is conquered, until the whole soul is subdued, and brought in humble submission to Jesus. 4. These rocks may be made useful Rock is valuable in many ways: it girds the seacoast and stops the encroachment of the waters; it is the best foundation for the friendly lighthouse; it gives us the most solid and the most beautiful of buildings. So with the wicked hearts around us. It is true, that they are not only useless but injurious in their sinful unquarried state; yet from these must come the able and devoted servant of Christ, the loving disciple, the brave defender of the faith, and the real benefactors of a needy world. They need only to be broken to be useful. II. THE DIVINE MEANS EMPLOYED BY GOD TO REMOVE THIS RESISTANCE. 1. There is adaptedness in the means to accomplish the desired result. The result is to be the broken rock. There is no instrument so adapted for breaking as the hammer. It has weight in a small compass. It has also hardness; it will not yield to the stone; it has a peculiar shape and this gives it power. Thus the Word of God, with all its doctrines, promises, and threatenings — in all its discoveries of truth, and sublime revelations of the Father, and His Son Jesus Christ, is fitted to make deep and abiding impressions on the mind, and to subdue the soul. 2. There is a concentration of power. The same part is struck repeatedly, — each stroke tells. It cannot withstand. The hardest rock will yield to this concentrated force. The Word is similarly applied to the heart in order to subdue It. The rays of Divine truth shine upon the heart's false refuges until they are seen to be such, and are abandoned. 3. There is the strong arm in its application. There must not only be the means, but these must be applied by intelligence and power. This is seen in other matters. For instance, we may have all the apparatus for taking a correct likeness, but unless the photographer is there to superintend the process, we shall have no likeness. So with the Word. We must have the Divine Spirit, the arm of the Word, to bring it with convincing and saving power to the heart. (W. Darwent.) Parallel Verses KJV: Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? WEB: Isn't my word like fire? says Yahweh; and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?