He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit. Sermons I. MAN'S CLAIM TO BE RECKONED AS STRONG NEED NOT BE AN EMPTY ONE. He deserves the appellation of גֶּבֶר if only he will set the right way to obtain it. Weak as he appears from the point of view given, when his natural resources are fully opened up and tested, he may nevertheless become strong by the favor of Jehovah to perform the most extraordinary achievements. From one extreme where the strength of the godless is found to be but a mockery, we are taken all the way to another extreme, illustrated by the confident assertion of the apostle that he could do all things through Christ who gave him inward strength. We are every one of us meant to be strong with a strength which can meet the severest tests; and those who are the weakest in other respects often prove the strongest in spiritual life with what it requires both of activity and endurance. And it is of particular importance to be observed that the man weak of will, easily yielding to temptation, bound these many years by the chain of some dehumanizing habit, can be made strong enough to overcome his enemies and trample them under his feet. There is that in him which can be so renewed, so vivified, that he will become steadfast and energetic in attaining the Divine purpose of existence. Recollect the instance of the man who was above forty years old when his feet and ankle-bones received strength. Jesus of Nazareth did not bring this about merely for this man's physical benefit; but chiefly that those who were inwardly lame should be stimulated to seek him, and have the feet and ankle-bones of the inward man strengthened for a holy and a truly manly service. God must needs pour contempt upon the boastings of the natural man, in order that, when he has effectually humbled him, he may then exalt him into the possession of true strength. II. THE REQUISITE FOR THE ATTAINMENT OF TRUE STRENGTH IS POINTED OUT. Pointed out clearly and simply. He is the strong man who trusts in Jehovah, and he is strong just as far as he does trust. Notice how the requirement of trust is expressed twice over, first by a verb and then by a noun, both of which have the same root-letters. It is as if we first saw the man in the active exercise of trust, and then the habitual confidence of his nature. We see the man trusting and we also see the trusting man. "All things are possible to him that believeth." When God speaks, the trustful hearer readily acts upon the strength of God meaning what he says. The statements of the gospel transcend human powers of discovery, and they can only be believed because God makes them - he whose regular and beneficent ways in nature prove him to be so true. Man by faith puts himself in the hands of God, his Maker, and then he can do things far beyond what he has hitherto imagined to be practicable. Look at the sublimest illustration of this ever given upon earth; when the man Christ Jesus believingly said, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." Then, in a very few hours, the strength imparted even to the dead was revealed by the resurrection of Christ. III. THE ILLUSTRATION OF HOW THE BLESSING COMES. Possibly there is here a reference to some regular practice of the foreseeing planter of trees. The necessity of planting trees near water-courses is not obvious to us, seeing that in our moist climate we often see noble umbrageous trees far enough from anything of the kind. The children of this world are wise in their generation. They bear in mind - they have to bear in mind - the scorching heat, the rainless, cloudless heavens, or, if clouds there be, too often waterless clouds, mocking, tantalizing beauties of the sky; and so they plant their trees where they may stretch out their thirsty roots to the passing stream. And yet these same children of this world, prudent for their trees, may yet be foolish for themselves, taking up a position in life admirable for the gaining of temporal ends, but leaving at a great distance the river that flows from "the throne of God and of the Lamb." Thus there is here a lesson from the tree which cannot choose to the man who can choose. We all have our choice of the essentials of position. There are two sets of circumstances - those we cannot choose and those we are bound to choose. It is in the power of us all to be planted by the waters. God's gifts of grace flow through fixed and well-defined channels, and to these we must go. We are not allowed to make compromises. A very little seeming difference may, in reality, make all the difference between wisdom and folly in this matter. It did not need that the tree should be planted very far away from the water, a few yards more or less might determine the result. There is also in this illustration the notion of a hidden means of supply. To outward appearance there is no connection between the tree and the river; the connection is underneath, and it is real, increasing, and constant. - Y.
Shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green. I. THE FACT ITSELF. Meets us everywhere in the natural world. So also in the kingdom of grace. Spiritual health depends not only or mainly on our circumstances, but on the temper and state of our souls. In cottage, in palace; in want, in affluence; in retirement, on busy Exchange; in youth, in age; in health, in disease and sickness, God's Enochs have "walked with God." Look, then, within for source of weakness, decay, low spiritual state.II. THE EXPLANATION. 1. He lives in constant believing communion with God. 2. He improves what advantages he possesses. 3. He retains the good he receives. 4. He sedulously improves and turns to account the grace he has. (Islay Burns.) Homilist. True religion takes such a thorough hold upon all the deeply seated principles of our nature — so fastens itself upon the entire soul, that the high probability is, that where it has once commenced it will continue.I. THE PRINCIPLE OF INQUIRY IS AN INFLUENTIAL FORCE IN HUMAN NATURE AND TRUE RELIGION IS SUITED TO MAINTAIN A MASTER HOLD UPON THAT. Does religion proscribe any field of thought? Does it bolt any of the golden gates of science? No; it throws open the whole domain of truth, and spreads it forth, not only in all its amplitude to the mind, but in lights and colours of special fascination and charm. The mere speculative theist "looks through nature up to nature's God"; but the truly religious thinker feels that God is both philosophically and emotionally nearer to him than nature, and he looks through God down upon nature's mighty realms, and thus increases the charms of nature a thousandfold. Does not the picture appear in new beauties, after love for the artist has risen in the heart of the spectator? And does not the universe burst into new glories upon the vision of that man in whose heart supreme love for the Creator has been produced? But it may be said, granting that religion lays open all the realms of science, and heightens, incomparably, its charms; may it not be, that in the course of time the intellect may become so conversant with all truth, as to have neither need nor motive for future inquiry, and thereby religion would lose this master hold upon man? We think not. Who shall count the number of God's works, or describe the vastness of His universe? II. THE PRINCIPLE OF LOVE IS A MIGHTY POWER IN HUMAN NATURE AND TRUE RELIGION IS SUITED TO MAINTAIN A MASTER HOLD UPON THAT. Love is the spring and spirit of the universe. And, thank God, it is, notwithstanding our depravity, the strongest force in our nature still. Now, religion calls out this powerful element in our nature in its two most powerful forms, namely, gratitude and admiration. How powerfully does gratitude bind us to our benefactors. The language of the heart to such is, "entreat me not to leave thee, nor to return from following after thee." Kindness is might of the highest order; by it we can take hold of men's strength. grasp their very souls and bind them to us by indissoluble bonds Nor is love, in the form of admiration, a weaker force. When it is directed to artistic beauty, it is powerful; when it is directed to natural beauty, it is more powerful still; but when it is directed to moral beauty, it is most powerful of all. Beauty carries captive the soul. The fine painting is attractive; the magnificent landscape more attractive still; the true hero, the embodiment of the highest moral qualities, is most attractive of all. So long, therefore, as the supreme love of gratitude and admiration are directed to God, the soul must, from its very nature, be vitally allied to Him. And is not this love, where it has once been awakened, likely to continue? III. THE PRINCIPLE OF RIGHTNESS IS A POWERFUL FORCE IN HUMAN NATURE AND TRUE RELIGION IS SUITED TO MAINTAIN A MASTER HOLD UPON THAT. Men under the influence of conscience have voluntarily braved the greatest perils, endured the greatest sufferings, and made the greatest sacrifices. Looking at the power and history of this element of our nature, there is a high probability that those attachments and enterprises will be lasting which secure its entire sympathy and sanction. And are not such preeminently the attachments and enterprises of a truly religious life? Does not conscience, this monarch energy of the soul, not only sanction supreme love to God, and entire consecration to His service, but imperiously demand it? IV. THE PRINCIPLE OF HOPE IS A STRONG FORCE IN HUMAN NATURE AND TRUE RELIGION IS SUITED TO MAINTAIN A MASTER HOLD UPON THAT. The best and choicest blessings are ever in the region of hope — a region all flowers and fruit, and sunshine; across whose beauteous landscapes there never sweeps the withering blight or the furious storm, and whose suns and stars are never dimmed by cloud nor mist. Now, the probability of a man's continuance in any enterprise, depends greatly upon its connection with hope. Half the working world toil on in their respective lines of action, not for the sake of present results, but for the sake of what hope has promised them in the future What connection has the religious life with this hope? Does the religious enterprise hold out any bright prospect? If in connection with religion there should ever come a time when there was nothing more to expect, religion would lose much of its power over man, and there would be a strong probability of a relapse. But if the prospect widened and brightened as the man advanced, would not the chances of a retrogression decrease with every" successive step? This is just the fact in a religious life; the more actually attained, the more prospectively appears. V. THE PRINCIPLE OF HABIT IS A POWERFUL FORCE IN HUMAN NATURE AND TRUE RELIGION IS SUITED TO MAINTAIN A MASTER HOLD UPON THAT. The power of this principle is universally acknowledged, and in some eases is felt invincible. In the history of sin its force is the most striking. All the crimes in the long black narrative of human guilt you may trace, in a great measure, to habit. Every sinful act is another cord woven into that mighty cable of habit, which binds the spirit to the throne of darkness — a fresh momentum added to the falling soul. Now, if habit is so powerful in binding to sin, our position is, that it becomes more powerful in binding to holiness. 1. Because, in the one case, the man's conscience — the very root of his spiritual nature. — is in favour of his present course, and against change; in the other case, the whole force of his conscience perpetually against the present mode of life, and is demanding reformation. 2. Because, in the one case, Divine influence is ever present to stimulate and to cheer the spirit on; but in the other, the whole tide of this influence rolls in powerful opposition. 3. Because, in the one case, there are no unquestionable instances of change; in the other, instances abound on every hand; every conversion to God is an example. (Homilist.) (John Trapp.) A church is like a great tree in the desert which holds out the promise of fruit, and towards which all the spiritually hungry turn. There can be few sadder things in this world than a church, promising by its very name, by its spire pointing to heaven, by its open doors, by its songs and services, by its bells of invitation, to give food to the hungry, refreshment to the weary, comfort to the sorrowing, and then failing to keep its promises to the souls that come expecting.(J. H. Miller.) People Benjamin, David, JeremiahPlaces Jerusalem, Negeb, People's Gate, ShephelahTopics Always, Anxious, Bear, Care, Careful, Cease, Dearth, Drought, Drouth, Dry, Extends, Fails, Fear, Foliage, Forth, Fruit, Giving, Green, Heat, Leaf, Leaves, Luxuriant, Making, Planted, Pushing, River, Rivulet, Roots, Sends, Sorrowful, Spreadeth, Spreads, Stream, Tree, Waters, Worries, Yield, YieldingOutline 1. The captivity of Judah for her sin.5. Trust in man is cursed; 7. in God is blessed. 9. The deceitful heart cannot deceive God. 12. The salvation of God. 15. The prophet complains of the mockers of his prophecy. 19. He is sent to renew the covenant in hallowing the Sabbath. Dictionary of Bible Themes Jeremiah 17:8 4018 life, spiritual 4357 salt 4293 water Library Sin's Writing and Its Erasure'The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars.'--JER. xvii. 1. 'Ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.'-2 COR. iii. 3. 'Blotting out the handwriting that was against us.'---COL .ii. 14. I have put these verses together because they … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture A Soul Gazing on God Two Lists of Names The Heath in the Desert and the Tree by the River A Nation's Duty in a War for Freedom. "The Carnal Mind is Enmity against God for it is not Subject to the Law of God, Neither Indeed Can Be. So Then they that Are Severinus in Germany. Trust of the Wicked, and the Righteous Compared. Jer 17:5-8 But in Order that we Fall not Away from Continence... Epistle i. To the Roman Citizens. "And if any Man Sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,", "For what the Law could not Do, in that it was Weak through the Flesh, God Sending his Own Son in the Likeness of Sinful Flesh, Appendix xvii. The Ordinances and Law of the Sabbath as Laid Down in the Mishnah and the Jerusalem Talmud. The Fourth Commandment The First Part Moral Depravity. Inward Witness to the Truth of the Gospel. The True Manner of Keeping Holy the Lord's Day. But Concerning True Patience, Worthy of the Name of this virtue... What the Scriptures Principally Teach: the Ruin and Recovery of Man. Faith and Love Towards Christ. Jewish views on Trade, Tradesmen, and Trades' Guilds The Secret of Its Greatness Division of Actual Grace Links Jeremiah 17:8 NIVJeremiah 17:8 NLT Jeremiah 17:8 ESV Jeremiah 17:8 NASB Jeremiah 17:8 KJV Jeremiah 17:8 Bible Apps Jeremiah 17:8 Parallel Jeremiah 17:8 Biblia Paralela Jeremiah 17:8 Chinese Bible Jeremiah 17:8 French Bible Jeremiah 17:8 German Bible Jeremiah 17:8 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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