Homilist Jeremiah 23:23-24 Am I a God at hand, said the LORD, and not a God afar off?… I. THE FOLLY AND SIN OF EVERY FORM OF IDOLATRY. When Pompey, the Roman general, had conquered Jerusalem, his curiosity prompted him to enter the temple; and finding no image there of any divinity, he was filled with astonishment, and would fain have called the Jews atheists. The presence of an image seemed to him an essential part, or, at least, an important prerequisite, of Divine worship. As Pompey thought, so all pagans think; hence we term them Idolaters (from εἴδωλον, an image), because they either worship an image as God, or adore their divinities through the instrumentality of an image. This practice both reason and revelation condemn, as being exceedingly senseless, and exceedingly sinful. II. THE TRUTH OF THE TEXT SHOULD STIMULATE US TO THE CULTIVATION OF AN INCESSANTLY DEVOTIONAL SPIRIT. The whole universe is but one vast apartment filled with the Divine presence, and everywhere, therefore, we may be closeted with God III. SURE CONSOLATION TO THE CHRISTIAN, AMIDST THE SORROWS TO WHICH HE IS EXPOSED. God sees every tear, hears every groan. His seeing is blended with sympathy. "Like as a father pitieth his children," &c. With the exercise of sympathy is connected the putting forth of Divine power. He will either deliver us from our sorrow, or give us strength bravely to bear it. IV. WHAT A SAFEGUARD AGAINST THE SEDUCTIONS OF SIN MAY THOSE NOBLE WORDS PROVE, Shall we yield to temptation beneath the gaze of the infinitely Holy One! Shall we dare to oppose the righteous will of Him, "in whom we live and have our being"? Shall we dare to break the holy commands of the Divine law-giver, in whose presence we are at all times placed? (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?WEB: Am I a God at hand, says Yahweh, and not a God afar off? |
    |