Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit · Sermon No. 1673
Delivered on Lord’s-Day Morning, August 6, 1882
“For who is this that engaged His heart to approach unto Me? says the Lord.” Jeremiah 30:21.
I MENTIONED in the reading that there is a very remarkable change of tone in the Book of Jeremiah, at the 30th chapter. You read on through the 29 chapters and you hear nothing but “a weeping and wailing,” while the Prophet stands before you, girt with sackcloth, bidding Israel, “lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the Lord is not turned back from us.” When you come to the middle of the 30th chapter, all is changed—you have left the dungeon for the pleasant meads and you hear “thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry.” Here flowers of promise glorify the fields and birds of praise sweeten the air with music. The people are first made to tremble and fear on account of sin and all faces are turned into paleness—and then the Lord declares His immeasurable Grace, saying, “I am with you to save you: though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you, yet will I not make a full end of you.”
The condition of the sinful people is brought home to them and the nation is solemnly told—“Your bruise is incurable and your wound is grievous. There is none to plead your cause, that you may be bound up: you have no healing medicines. Why do you cry for your affliction? Your sorrow is incurable, for the multitude of your iniquity—because your sins were increased, I have done these things unto you.” And then man’s extremity of misery becomes God’s opportunity of mercy! When and where sin abounds, Grace does much more abound, and the Lord displays His wonders of love. He graciously declares—“I will restore health unto you, and I will heal you of your wounds.”
The reason for the change is not difficult to find. The Prophet is led to speak of Covenant promises, such as that in the 22nd verse, “You shall be My people, and I will be your God.” No wonder that Jeremiah’s strain grew more cheerful and jubilant! Was there ever such a box of perfume as the Covenant? Was there ever such a harp of golden strings, all tuned to the music of consolation, as the Covenant? Inspired by this subject, he exclaims in the next chapter—“For thus says the Lord; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish you, praise you, and say, O Lord, save Your people, the remnant of Israel.”
Moreover, he introduces to us that glorious Messenger of the Covenant whom we delight in. He speaks of the Messiah, who is the Glorious One, who has engaged His heart to approach unto God and, as when the sun rises, darkness flees, so when the Savior appears, his sorrows vanish and Jeremiah becomes as eloquent with joy as Isaiah himself! Think no more of Jeremiah as exclusively the weeping Prophet, for the flashes of his delight make the night of his sorrow brilliant with an aurora of heavenly brilliance! The answer to the question of our text is the reason why Jeremiah put away his dust and ashes and girt himself with beauteous array.
God had, for a while, on account of their great sin, put away His people and wounded them with the chastisement of a cruel one for the multitude of their iniquities. They could not walk with Him, for they were not agreed with Him. He could not accept their sacrifices, for they were polluted. He could not listen to their prayers, for they were hypocritical. He could not dwell with them, for they were proud-hearted and rebellious. So Zion came to be called an outcast whom no man seeks after. God, Himself, seemed to have given her a bill of divorce and to have put her away—but it only seemed that way.
In Jehovah’s heart of hearts He was still bound to His people whom He loved with an everlasting love. He could not cast away the seed of Abraham, His friend, and His heart yearned towards the people whom He had loved of old and borne with in great long-suffering. He had put them under a cloud because of their sin, yet He did earnestly remember them, still, for He bears witness, saying, “I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is My first-born.” The Lord loathed the distance which separated His people from Him and He longed to see them approach Him that He might comfort them
and satiate their souls with His goodness. How was this to be done? This was the problem of that age, as it is the problem of all ages!
How can guilty man return unto the Holy God? How can there be peace and amity, love and concord between the Judge of all the earth and His revolting and polluted creature, man? It was necessary that one should arise who would approach God on the behalf of the people, so that God might be well pleased with them for his righteousness’ sake. But where was he to be found? Someone must come to God and, by his coming, make a way through which those whom he represented might have access. But where was this representative to be found? Paradise was lost—who was he by whom it could be regained? The question was asked and in man’s ears it seemed to be asked in vain, for it is written, “There is none to plead your cause; all your lovers have forsaken you.” “Who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto Me? says the Lord.”