Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: Behold, My anger and My fury will be poured out on this place, on man and beast, on the trees of the field and the produce of the land, and it will burn and not be extinguished. Sermons
I. THERE ARE MANY SUCH. All forms of life are mentioned here - human, animal, plant from the stateliest trees down to the lowliest herb - and all shall suffer because of the sin of but a portion of them. How many, even of men, were innocent! And the young children - what had they done? Yet none were to escape, though it was but a portion of the men of the day who had done such wrong. II. HENCE SOME SAY, "THE WAY OF THE LORD Is NOT EQUAL." But: 1. The summing up of all life in one head, constituting it a corporate unity, giving a solidarity to all life, especially to all human life, is the Divine order. 2. And though sin and sorrow come by means of it, yet a far larger balance of good is produced by it. What do we not owe to our all being members one of another? True, evil comes, but good yet more. Were we all isolated, separated, independent, there would be no guarantee for our good even then, but there would be certainty of infinite loss. If the sins of the fathers are visited on the children unto the third and fourth generation, the mercy of the Lord is unto thousands of generations "of them that love him and keep his commandments"(Exodus 20:6) 3. And though because of it "n Adam all died," yet because of it also in Christ shall all be made alive. This interlinking, of one with all and all with one is, therefore, a matter for great thankfulness, and, though attended with present evils, not at all of complaint. III. AND THE THOUGHT OF THESE INNOCENT VICTIMS OF SIN IS MOST SALUTARY. 1. It often holds back from sin. This is one way in which God "out of the mouth of babes and sucklings has ordained strength." How often fathers and mothers will, for the sake of their children, that they might not be harmed, keep back from sin, to which but for such motive they might have yielded! 2. It deepens repentance for sin. (Cf. 2 Samuel 24:17.) 3. It makes sin more hateful to us. What must that be which destroys not us only, but our children, innocent of all sin? And it may be that the thus furnishing of additional safeguards against sin, and of additional motives to obedience, was one reason in the Divine mind for constituting us all "members one of another." IV. AND THE THOUGHT OF THE INNOCENT 'VICTIM OF SIN, OUR LORD JESUS, IS THE MOST SALUTARY OF ALL. For he transforms us from victims into victors - victors over the condemning, the attractive, the defiling, the enslaving power of sin. And it is as we "look unto" him, as our souls habitually trust him to do all this for us, that we cease to be victims of sin, and become victors over it. Let us give glory to him by accepting his off, red grace. - C.
The children gather wood. I. GOD IS SETTING UP A KINGDOM IN THIS WORLD. A very glorious and gracious kingdom.1. Righteousness. Teaches us to do justice. 2. Peace — to love and pursue it. 3. Joy. God makes all happy who come into His kingdom. II. GOD EXPECTS US ALL TO WORK TO SET UP THIS KINGDOM. Christ came to set it up; ministers preach and labour for it; missionaries go to heathen; all God's people aid. III. CHILDREN CAN DO SOMETHING TO SET UP THIS KINGDOM. 1. You can pray; that God would make you willing subjects of this kingdom. 2. You can talk; speak to others about Jesus, pardon, God, heaven. 3. You can work; give to missionary society, etc. IV. CHILDREN ARE ALWAYS HAPPY WHEN TRYING TO SET UP THIS KINGDOM. Why? Because make others happy. Angels are happy, because employed making others happy. God is happy, for He blesses every one. And, when we act like God, we ourselves are happy. V. GOD WILL NEVER FORGET THE LABOURS OF LITTLE CHILDREN FOR HIM. When children wanted to come to Jesus, He noticed their disposition, and said, "Never prevent a child from coming to Me"; then took in arms and blessed. When they sang in temple He noticed their song, and said, "Hearest thou what these say?" God loves,everything done by children, because it is a proof of their obedience and love. (J. Sherman) Lay Preacher. "Queen of Heaven," i.e., Ashtaroth, or the Moon. The Israelites fell into this idolatry in the time of the Judges. Solomon was carried away by it. Josiah suppressed it. We may learn a useful lesson from these young idolaters.I. THEY WISHED TO BE USEFUL IN RELIGION. II. THEY DID WHAT THEY COULD. III. WHAT THEY DID WAS OF SERVICE. What can you do? For example, in — 1. Money. 2. Word. 3. Effort. 4. Prayer. IV. GOD DOES NOT DESPISE CHILDREN'S WORK. This fact is one which should be seriously pondered by children, parents, teachers. (Lay Preacher.) Eccentric Preachers. It is said that Matthew Wilks, one of the founders of the London Missionary Society, chose this text when he preached the anniversary sermon; and in those days when trite and commonplace remarks from the pulpit were considered orthodox, and anything that was a little fresh and novel was looked upon with suspicion, every eye in the large assembly expressed astonishment at the preacher's selection. He had not proceeded far, however, when the feeling of astonishment gave way to pure delight, when all seemed convinced that the text, though uncommon, was by no means inappropriate. I have not seen the sermon; I only know that he dealt with it in the following manner. He said, I will contrast your objects with those of the worshippers of the queen of heaven. I will compare your ardour with theirs. I will muster your agents. And it was this part of the subject, in which he referred to the agents, namely, men, women, and children, which gave rise to the system of auxiliary institutions which now pervade the whole country, and combine in its support young and old, rich and poor.(Eccentric Preachers.) To make cakes to the queen of heaven. (A talk with Children): — The people who lived in Jerusalem at this time, alas! worshipped the sun, and called it Baal, also the moon, and called it Ashtoreth, — just as our ancestors did at one time in this country, calling the day upon which they worshipped the sun Sunday, and the day upon which they worshipped the moon Monday. In Jerusalem, at the time referred to in our text, the people used to offer cakes to the moon. These cakes were always made round to resemble the moon. This offering was considered to be a very important one, and all wanted to have a share in making the cakes and presenting them. Now the first thing that had to be done was to get plenty of firewood. You cannot make a cake without fire, and you cannot get fire without fuel. Thus I think I can hear a Jewish mother say, "Now, my children, I want you to get some good firewood for tomorrow — wood that will burn brightly; I am going to make some cakes for the queen of heaven, and — who knows? — perhaps there may be a few tit-bits left!" Off the children go. That's just the work they like; they can stoop easily, or jump over the hedge or fence, and tear their clothes without having much scolding, as they are gathering wood for their mother. Little Hannah gathers her apron full, and Dan or Benjamin as much as he can carry in his arms, and they return home full of glee. They have done their part. But the following morning the fire had to be kindled. It required strong arms to kindle a fire by rubbing two pieces of wood vigorously together. The fathers could do that best; for they had muscular arms, and they gladly did their part. Then there was need of clean and gentle hands to knead the dough, and there were none who could do that as well as the mothers, aunts, and the elder sisters. It was their turn now, and the children would look earnestly on and wonder whether the dough would go far enough to make the necessary number of cakes for the "queen of heaven," or the moon, and one or two over. They little knew that the mother or sister had put in an extra handful of meal for that purpose. Then there was the baking and the consumption of the odd cake or two by the little wood gatherers. But beyond all this, there was a great pleasure reserved for them all — the privilege of presenting to the moon the cakes in the making of which they had all had a part, and which were as round and as perfect as a woman's hand could make them. Children have their part to do still. Often, as in this case, the work begins with children. They cannot do much; they cannot kindle a fire, or make a cake or a loaf; but they can gather wood, supply the fuel, and others will kindle the fire and provide an offering fit for the altar of God. You cannot as yet, at least, go forth to distant lands as missionaries and Zenana workers, and take the bread of life — not as a gift to God, but as a gift from God — to the heathen; but you can enable others who are older than you to do all this. You can contribute your pence to the missionary society, etc.(D. Davies.) People Ben, JeremiahPlaces Egypt, Jerusalem, Shiloh, Topheth, Valley of Hinnom, Valley of Slaughter, ZionTopics Anger, Animal, Beast, Behold, Burn, Burned, Burning, Field, Fruit, Fury, Ground, Loose, Passion, Poured, Produce, Quenched, Says, Sovereign, Thus, Tree, Trees, WrathOutline 1. Jeremiah is sent to call to true repentance, to prevent the Jews' captivity.8. He rejects their vain confidence, 12. by the example of Shiloh. 17. He threatens them for their idolatry. 21. He rejects the sacrifices of the disobedient. 29. He exhorts to mourn for their abominations in Tophet; 32. and the judgments for the same. Dictionary of Bible Themes Jeremiah 7:20Library An Earnest Warning About LukewarmnessI should judge that the church at Laodicea was once in a very fervent and healthy condition. Paul wrote a letter to it which did not claim inspiration, and therefore its loss does not render the Scriptures incomplete, for Paul may have written scores of other letters besides. Paul also mentions the church at Laodicea in his letter to the church at Colosse; he was, therefore, well acquainted with it, and as he does not utter a word of censure with regard to it, we may infer that the church was at … Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 20: 1874 The Sinner Stripped of his Vain Pleas. The Life of Mr. Hugh Binning. The Valley of Hinnom. The Knowledge that God Is, Combined with the Knowledge that He is to be Worshipped. The Everlasting Covenant of the Spirit Whether a Vow Should Always be About a Better Good? Appendix iv. An Abstract of Jewish History from the Reign of Alexander the Great to the Accession of Herod Obedience Christian Worship, Some General Uses from this Useful Truth, that Christ is the Truth. First Ministry in Judæa --John's Second Testimony. Barren Fig-Tree. Temple Cleansed. Concerning the Ministry. The Scriptures Reveal Eternal Life through Jesus Christ "To what Purpose is the Multitude of Your Sacrifices unto Me? Saith the Lord," "All Our Righteousnesses are as Filthy Rags, and we all do Fade as a Leaf, and Our Iniquities, Like the Wind, have Taken us Away. " Covenanting a Duty. Motives to Holy Mourning Letter ii (A. D. 1126) to the Monk Adam Jeremiah Links Jeremiah 7:20 NIVJeremiah 7:20 NLT Jeremiah 7:20 ESV Jeremiah 7:20 NASB Jeremiah 7:20 KJV Jeremiah 7:20 Bible Apps Jeremiah 7:20 Parallel Jeremiah 7:20 Biblia Paralela Jeremiah 7:20 Chinese Bible Jeremiah 7:20 French Bible Jeremiah 7:20 German Bible Jeremiah 7:20 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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