Jeremiah 31:18-21 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; You have chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke… I. THE ACKNOWLEDGMENT MADE BY THE PEOPLE OF GOD IN TIMES OF TROUBLE. 1. That the affliction is from the Lord. (1) It is this circumstance — this perception of God, as connected with affliction — which imparts to the afflicted an air of something more than solemnity and seriousness, as if the man had sustained a loss — were deprived of what was agreeable to him. It invests him, in some measure, with a character which inspires awe. He knows that God has been dealing with him. And yet, on this part of my subject, let me offer a word of counsel to the people of God. It is true that you believe that all afflictions come from the Lord. (2) Beware of resting satisfied with this as a part of your creed. Take care lest you do no more than in words acknowledge that the Lord is the author of your trouble. 2. That there is a necessity for improvement. This is the direction which the gracious soul takes, when its afflictions are in the way of being sanctified. It is submissive: it cannot question the act of the Lord: it is solemnised. But it is more than all this. There is a disposition and desire to make the dispensation an instrument of spiritual benefit and glory to God. To this spirit and exercise believers are brought by several considerations. (1) That the Lord does nothing in vain. (2) That this is the declared purpose of the Lord in the visitations of trouble. He calls His afflictions chastenings. (3) That improvement and reformation have been the effects produced by chastisement upon many. (4) There is a felt necessity for improvement, as well as experience derived from affliction in the past. II. SOME OF THE USES OF SANCTIFIED AFFLICTION. 1. Thus do believers become intimately acquainted with their God. God is then set before them in various aspects. (1) In the character of a Sovereign. (2) In the character of a Comforter. 2. Believers, when in affliction, know experimentally the value of their Saviour. 3. By affliction believers are weaned from the world. This is the result of their consideration of the Lord's dealings with them, and the work of His Spirit in them. Affliction of itself will not wean us from the world. Some it only glues more closely to that which is left. But when the solemn question upon a trial or a bereavement is, "What meaneth the Lord by this?" the effect is necessarily happy and useful. The meditation leads to the conclusion, that these objects we have lost are but creatures — that as creatures they must be regarded — and that God must have the first place in our affections and hearts. 4. By affliction believers are quickened in the performance of duties. (1) They are quickened in the duties which they owe peculiarly to God. (a) They are quickened so as to be more serious and frequent in their thoughts of God. (b) They are quickened so as to inquire after Him in His Word. (c) They are quickened in prayer. They pray after another fashion. They pray as the needy to the God who hears. (2) They are quickened in their duties to others. Sanctified affliction creates a tender feeling for others. (J. Thorburn.) Parallel Verses KJV: I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God. |
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