Jeremiah 5:3

Jeremiah 5:3

I. Who is the rebel here spoken of? To rebel is properly to renew warfare. In this its original meaning the word "rebel" is applicable to every sinner. The war between man and his God was ended once for all when Christ suffered. Therefore, whosoever sins, also rebels renews a finished war, and breaks an established reconciliation. The rebel spoken of is, in general terms, a rebel against his God. He is: (1) a rebel against right; (2) a rebel against power; (3) a rebel against love.

II. Observe, as the text and the subject bid us, that even this rebel was not let alone. The hand of God is far-reaching. It is not only in the home of the son, it is not only within the paradise of the upright, it is also over the remote exile, over the wilful wanderer, over the obstinate rebel, that that hand is stretched out still, for correction, for control, if he will, for blessing. So long as we live, God is dealing with us; we cannot get away from His presence; we cannot really make our escape from His Spirit.

III. Note the use made by the rebellious of the Divine discipline. "Thou hast stricken them, but they have refused to receive correction." The correction is there, not for all only, but for each; only the rebel refuses to receive. (1) He misunderstands them. For a long time he does not connect them at all with the thought of God. (2) And when this cannot be; when the arrow fastens itself too deeply and too unmistakably within to leave doubt of whence it comes; then the misunderstanding of the Author changes into a misunderstanding of the motive. Then the man says, "Not because God loved me and would save, but because He hated and would destroy, is this misery come upon me; let me alone, that I may curse God and die." (3) He who has misunderstood the correction goes on to neutralise it by a slight and superficial treatment.

C. J. Vaughan, Voices of the Prophets, p. 272.

References: Jeremiah 5:3 . Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xxvii., No. 1585; Ibid., My Sermon Notes: Ecclesiastes to Malachi, p. 271.Jeremiah 5:5 . D. Moore, Penny Pulpit, No. 3401.Jeremiah 5:10 . Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. i., No. 38; G. Brooks, Outlines of Sermons, p. 148; W. M. Punshon, Old Testament Outlines, p. 244.Jeremiah 5:13 . G. Brooks, Outlines of Sermons, p. 147. Jeremiah 5:14 . Preacher's Monthly, vol. vi., p. 156. Jeremiah 5:21 . Ibid., vol. iv., p. 206.