Taking God as Our Guide in Youth
J. C. Herdman, M. A. Jeremiah 3:4 Will you not from this time cry to me, My father, you are the guide of my youth? I. IT IS DUE TO GOD. 1. He is your Maker, who gives you all things; therefore He has a supreme and sole right to you. 2. He has bought you at a vast expense, that you might be delivered from the curse of sin and the wrath to come. If an artist pays a large sum of money to get back his own painting from some one into whose hands it has fallen, and then labours to improve it, would you not say that he has a good title to such painting? Thus with the ransomed children of God. II. IT WILL BE GOOD FOR YOURSELVES. 1. You need a guide. (1) Consider your character. Ignorance of the future, and without experience, should you not tremble to go alone? (2) Consider your situation. The road is beset with dangers, infested with robbers, filled with bypaths! (3) Consider the importance of your steps. Begin to wander, and who shall tell the issue? Worn out with fatigue, benighted in that trackless wilderness, you fall a prey to the forest beast, or are dashed in pieces over a hidden precipice. One evil habit may lead you to ruin, must cause you pain and trouble. One false step in youth may mar you forever. 2. God is infinitely the best Guide. That He is a sure and safe Guide, none can doubt. He is wise, knows all things, and can proportion trials to your strength. He never fails. You live in a world of changes; but He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. But He is also a pleasant Guide. He is powerful to bring you out of trouble; He is gracious in it. In the day of the east wind He stays His rough wind, and "tempers the wind to the shorn lamb." (J. C. Herdman, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth? WEB: Will you not from this time cry to me, 'My Father, you are the guide of my youth?'