Jeremiah 12:7 - Homiletics

The forsaken heritage.

I. GOD REGARDS HIS PEOPLE AS HIS LINEAGE . The temple was God's house, the Jews were God's heritage. The Church is now the habitation of the Spirit of God, and her members are God's possession. This fact implies:

1. That God dwells with his people.

2. That he takes delight in them.

3. That he may be expected to protect them from harm.

4. That he has rights over them and claims their submission to himself.

5. That his honor is concerned with his people's conduct, so that their wickedness is not a matter of indifference to him, but is an insult to his Name.

II. GOD MAY FORSAKE HIS HERITAGE . God's people have no such "vested interests" that nothing can destroy their claims upon him. The present enjoyment of God's favor is no guarantee that this will be perpetual.

1. History shows that God has forsaken his heritage in the past; e . g . the Jews, ancient Christian Churches of Asia and Africa, individual Christians who have fallen from the faith.

2. It is reasonable to expect that he will do this when honor and righteousness require it. Let us, there fore, not presume on the favor of God.

III. GOD ONLY FORSAKES HIS HERITAGE WHEN THAT HAS BECOME CORRUPT . God never leaves his people till they leave him. He is not changeable, capricious, arbitrary in his favors. His love never wanes, his grace never fails, his help and blessings are never limited. The change begins on man's side. It is found in rebellion against God.

1. In self-will . The heritage becomes like a lion of the forest.— i.e. no longer tame, but swayed by its own wild passions.

2. In evil-doing . The lion is fierce and destructive—a beast of prey.

3. In direct opposition to God . The lion "cries out against" God.

IV. GOD 'S HERITAGE IS IN A TERRIBLE CONDITION WHEN IT IS FORSAKEN BY HIM . Birds and beasts of prey come up to devour the heritage.

1. It needs no positive act of God's to bring desolation on his sinful people. If he but withdraw his protection, the natural evils of the world and the special evils which they have provoked will be enough to bring ruin on their heads.

2. God's people will suffer in an especial way by the withdrawal of the Divine presence. The heritage is "like a speckled bird." It is strange, and so it draws upon itself opposition. The Jews were a mark for the enmity of the heathen through the singularity of their national customs. Christians are often singled out for opposition from the world for similar reasons. If they have lost their peculiar protection, their peculiar position and nature will invoke a peculiar ruin.