To Jeremiah chapter 33. Jeremiah
chapter 33. And we will read verses 1 to
11. Jeremiah 33, verses 1 to 11. The name of the message is, I
will heal and cure them. I will heal and cure them. Jeremiah 33, verses 1 to 11. Moreover, the word of the Lord
came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up
in the court of the prison, saying, Thus saith the Lord, the Maker
thereof, the Lord that formed it, to establish it, the Lord
is his name. Call unto me, and I will answer
thee. and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest
not. For thus saith the Lord the God
of Israel concerning the houses of the city and concerning the
houses of the kings of Judah which are thrown down by the
mounts and by the sword. They come to fight with the Chaldeans,
but it is to fill them with dead bodies of men whom I have slain
in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness
I have hid my face from the city. Behold, I will bring it health
and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the
abundance of peace and truth. And I will cause the captivity
of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build
them as at the first. And I will cleanse them from
all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against Me. And I
will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and
whereby they have transgressed against Me. And it shall be to
Me a name of joy, a praise, and an honor before all the nations
of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them. And they shall fear and tremble,
for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure
unto it. Thus saith the Lord again, there
shall be heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate
without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah and
in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate without man
and without inhabitant and without beast. The voice of joy and the
voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice
of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, praise the Lord
of hosts, for the Lord is good, for his mercy endureth forever,
and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into
the house of the Lord, for I will cause to return the captivity
of the land, as at the first saith the Lord. Now in these
verses here before us, we have the gospel of grace given to
us in providential type and in picture. In providential type
and in picture. Paul has told us that all things
happened to Israel of old, they were given for our example, to
teach us and to comfort us in the way of grace. Romans says
this, Paul pens this, for whatsoever things were aforetime written
for our learning, that we, through patience and comfort of the scriptures,
might have hope. So the things that occurred to
Israel were given for our example. And remember, Israel is a picture
of the church in the Old Testament. Now turn, if you would, to 1
Corinthians. 1 Corinthians chapter 10, but keep your finger there
in Jeremiah 33, because we'll be going right back there. We see Paul writing about the
Israelites here. And we'll read verses 1 to 13.
More of a brother and I would, 1 Corinthians 10, 1. More of a brother and I would
not that ye should be ignorant that all our fathers were under
the cloud and all passed through the sea. And were all baptized
into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. And did all eat the
same spiritual meats. And did all drink the same spiritual
drink. For they drank of that spiritual rock that followed
them, and that rock was Christ. But with many of them God was
not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness."
Now look at this. Now these things were our examples.
To the intent that we should not lust after evil things as
they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as some
of them. As it is written, the people
sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. Neither let
us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in
one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ,
as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed with the serpents.
Remember, all who looked to the serpent that Moses raised up
were saved, and all who didn't perished. They were perished,
or not all of them, but a lot of them, 23,000 of them died
in one day. Neither let us tempt Christ,
as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed to the serpents.
Neither murmur ye. We shouldn't murmur. We shouldn't
murmur about people, and we shouldn't murmur about the things of God.
Look at that, neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured,
and were destroyed to the destroyer. Now all these things happened
unto them for examples. They were examples for us, beloved.
And they are written for our admiration, upon whom the ends
of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh
he stand to take heed, lest he fall. There hath no temptation
taken you, but such is common to man. So all these things are
common to man. All these temptations that Paul
just listed there are all common to man. There hath no temptation
taken you, but such is common to man. But God is faithful,
who will not suffer you to be tempted above, that ye are able,
but will with temptation also make a way to escape, that ye
may be able to bear it. But note, Paul tells us that
Israel was an example for us. Example for us. Now let's go
back to Jeremiah 33. Jeremiah 33. And we see in verse 26 that the Israelites
were taken into captivity by the Chaldeans and then delivered
by the decree of God. Then will I cast away the seed
of Jacob and David, my servant, so that I will not take any of
his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,
for I caused their captivity to return, and have mercy on
them. Well, the same is true of spiritual
Israel, isn't it? The same is true of spiritual
Israel. We were taken captive by sin, weren't we? Keep your
finger there in Jeremiah 33 and turn to Romans chapter 8. We were taken captive by sin.
We were taken captive by Satan. And the holy justice of God,
it had us captive too, didn't it? Because it had a demand upon
us. The law and justice of God had
the just demand upon us. But we've been delivered from
that, we who are God's people, we've been delivered from that.
That's the glad tidings of the gospel, like I spoke of this
morning. We've been delivered. Look at this in Romans 8, verses
28 to 30. And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are called
according to his purpose. That's God's people, that's his
elect. But I love that, called according to his purpose. I don't
think any of us could say we were looking for God. We who
are the redeemed of the Lord, can we? We weren't looking for
God when he saved us. But we were called according
to his purpose, beloved. For whom he did foreknow, he
also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his son, that
he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom
he did predestinate, then he also called. What did he call
us out of? Darkness, bondage, sin, And God called us with an
effectual call, didn't he? The Holy Spirit's call was effectual
in our lives. Because no one can resist his
call. In whom he called, then he also what? Justified. We looked
at this morning, that Christ was raised for what? Our justification.
We're justified in Christ. And notice this is all past tense,
have you noticed that too? In whom he justified, then he
also glorified. We're seated in the heavenlies
in Christ. It's wonderful. It's absolutely wonderful. Let's
go back to Jeremiah chapter 33. Now we're looking at verses six
to eight and we're take note of the blessings which are given
in these verses, the blessings of the, which are given in these
verses. And, and as I said, we have a,
a providential type and picture here of the gospel of God's grace,
which has been given to and shown to God's people in and through
Christ alone. Jeremiah 33, let's look at verses
6 to 8 and then we'll break down the verses here. Behold, I will
bring it health and cure and I will cure them and will reveal
unto them the abundance of peace and truth. Look at that. And I will cause the captivity
of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return and will build
them as at the first. Now when we fell in Adam, right,
we're born now dead in trespasses and sins, and we are captives
to sin. We're captives. That's our natural state. And
then it says, and I will cleanse them from all their iniquity,
whereby they have sinned against me, and I will pardon all their
iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have
transgressed against me. Now this verse very plainly proclaims
that our sin is against God. In the sin of everybody in this
world, that their sin is against God. It's against God because
he says of his people that he's going to take their iniquity
which way, pardon their iniquities for which they have transgressed
against me. So let's first consider verse
six here. It says, behold, I will bring in health and cure and
I will cure them and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace
and truth. I will bring health and cure,
the scripture says here. How? How does God bring that
to his people? Well, through the blood of the
Lord Jesus Christ. Through the blood of the Lord
Jesus Christ. Think of this, all our spiritual diseases, of
which we could never cure ourselves of one, sin and our sins, have
been put away and the believer is eternally healed in Christ,
in Christ alone. Turn, if you would, to Isaiah
53, and then put your finger in 1 Peter 2. I will bring health and cure.
As I said, this is a picture of the gospel of God's grace,
providentially placed before us. Isaiah 53, verses 4 to 6,
speaking of our great substitute, The Lord Jesus Christ, speaking
of what He's done in the room and place of His people. Surely
He hath borne our griefs and carried our souls, verse 4. Yet
we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted, but He
was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities,
the chastisement of our peace. The only way we have peace with
God is through Christ, was upon Him. And with the stripes we
are what? Healed. Healed. All we like sheep have gone astray.
We have turned everyone to his own way. And the Lord hath laid
on Him the iniquity of us all. All the sin of God's people was
laid upon Christ. And He bore it, didn't He? The
sinless sacrifice. My, what a Savior. Now turn,
if you would, to 1 Peter. 1 Peter, in light of this, chapter
2, in light of, I will bring health and cure. I will bring
health and cure. So it's spoken of in the Old
Testament there, and then look here in the New Testament. 1 Peter, chapter 2, verses 21
to 25. For even hereunto were ye called,
because Christ, verse 21, also suffered for us. This brings
forth the great substitutionary work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Who did he suffer? Who's Peter writing to? He's
writing to believers, isn't he? He's writing to believers. And
he says, Christ suffered for us. For us. Oh, this is wonderful. We know Christ suffered for sinners.
for us, leaving us an example that ye should follow his steps,
who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth, who when
he was reviled, reviled not again. When he suffered, he threatened
not, but committed himself to him that judges righteously.
Look at this, who his own self, bear our sins in his own body
on the tree. that we, being dead to sin, should
live unto righteousness, by whose stripes you were what? Healed. Healed. For ye were as sheep
going astray, but are now returned unto the shepherd and bishop
of your souls. I will bring health and cure,
it says in Jeremiah 33, 6, and we see there all we see there by his stripes
we are healed let's go back to Jeremiah chapter 33 Jeremiah
chapter 33 we'll look at verse 6 again and
the second point I'd like to see the second blessing I'd like
us to see bought forth here is he will reveal unto the his people
the abundance of peace and truth the abundance of peace and truth
look at verse 6 again Behold, I will bring it health and cure,
and I will cure them and will reveal unto them the abundance
of peace and truth." Now note, He'll reveal it unto them. See,
the gospel is a revelation from God. When He reveals Christ to
us, oh my, oh my, we flee right to Him. We flee right to Him. And look at this, He'll reveal
unto us the abundance of peace and truth. Now apart from the
revelation of the word of God, the word of truth to our heart,
we're ignorant of the things of God. We're ignorant of peace
with God. I know I was, and I know you
were too before the Lord saved you. It's just, I had, I thought
I knew who Christ was, but I had no idea who he was. But when
he revealed himself to me, oh my, and I know it's so for you
too. He reveals to us and gives us
the abundance of peace and truth. Therefore, being justified by
faith, we have peace with God, Romans says in Romans 5.1. Justified
by faith, and who's our faith in? Well, it's in Christ and
Christ alone. We have peace with God. It's
something that the believer has. It's something that he has. With
God, how? Through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Only through Christ and Christ alone. By whom also we have access
by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in the hope
of the glory of God. Christ and Christ alone is the
only way of salvation. He alone is truth. The scriptures
declare this in Acts chapter 4 verse 12. Neither is there
salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven
given among men whereby we must be saved. True salvation for sinners is
only found in Christ. Nowhere else. Nowhere else. He is God's salvation. And salvation
is in Him alone. Outside of Christ, there's no
redemption for sinners. None. None. Absolutely none. But in Christ, there's redemption. There's forgiveness of all our
sins. All of our sins. Scripture says
this in Hebrews chapter 9, it says, neither by the blood of
goats and calves, but by his own blood. This speaks of the
substitute by his own blood. By giving his life, he entered
in once into the holy place, having obtained. I love this.
Having obtained what? Eternal redemption for us. He
obtained it. By his work, by his sacrifice,
he obtained eternal redemption. And all who believe in Him, all
who trust in Him, all who rest in Him have eternal redemption
through Christ and Christ alone. It's absolutely marvelous. We
have revealed to us the abundance of peace and truth. Who's that? Christ. Christ and Christ alone. Turn if you would to John 14,
6. We all know this verse, but let's turn there in light of
this. In light of having revealed unto them the abundance of peace
and truth. We know peace only comes through
Christ and Christ alone. We know that Christ alone is
the true righteous one, don't we? He's sinless, he's perfect,
he's spotless. And we know the believer is clothed
in his perfect righteousness. Oh, in Jeremiah 33, it says this
also, In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall
be dwelt safely. Actually, before we look at John 14.6 there, I
hope you still have your finger in Jeremiah 33. Go back there
quick, just quickly, and look at this in Jeremiah 33.16, but
keep your finger right there in John 14.6. Look at this. Tucked in, right in with these
verses here, a little further down, verse 16. In those days
shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely. Dwell safely. And this is the name whereof
she shall be called, the Lord our righteousness. And we know
that the only reason that we're called that is because we're
clothed in the righteousness of Christ. That's the only reason. Because the Lord is our righteousness,
isn't he? And he alone now go back to John
14, six and keep in mind, I'll read the verse again in Jeremiah
33, six. Behold, I will bring it health
and cure, and I will cure them and will reveal unto them the
abundance of peace and truth. Now look at this in John 14,
six. Look what's proclaimed of our Lord. Jesus saith unto him,
I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the
Father but by me. Cross-reference that with what
it says over there in Jeremiah 33.6. I will reveal unto them
abundance of peace and truth. Who's the truth? Christ. Christ and Christ alone, beloved.
So we see the truth of this verse in Jeremiah 33.6 fulfilled. in
the Lord Jesus Christ, who is called the truth. The truth. Let's go back to our text in
Jeremiah 33. And oh my, we know the believer
only has peace, and it's an abundance of peace, isn't it? And we know
the truth, and Christ is the abundance of the truth. I like
to say, and he's truth manifested, and that's what he is. That's
what he is. He's the incarnate one. God incarnate
in the flesh. Eternal life for His people.
Let's look at verse 7 now. I will cause the captivity of
Judah and the captivity of Israel to return. And I will build them
as at the first. Now remember how I mentioned
where the Lord found us. Where did the Lord find we who
are His blood-bought people? Dead in trespasses and sins.
That's where He found us. That's where He found us, wasn't
it? Absolutely dead in trespasses and sins. Loving the sin we were
in, not having to care for the things of God, not having to
care for the gospel, not having to care for the Savior. That's where we were. And we
were absolutely powerless to deliver ourselves from that captivity. Absolutely powerless, we had
no power to deliver ourselves. But by the obedience and sacrifice
of our Lord Jesus Christ, beloved, we've been liberated. We've been
liberated. Which is the next point, I will
cause them to return. We fell on Adam, didn't we? He's caused us to return to God,
hasn't he? Oh my, thy people shall be made willing on the
day of his power. He's caused us to return. He's
caused us to look to the Savior. And it's him and him alone. Scripture
declares this. Stand fast, therefore, in the
liberty wherewith Christ hath made you free. Free. And be not entangled again with
the yoke of bondage. Behold, I, Paul, say unto you, if you
be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. Now, remember,
in Galatians, Paul was battling those who said you had to be
circumcised to be safe, basically. those who were adding something
to the finished work of Christ. He says, well, if you be circumcised,
Christ shall profit you nothing. Why? Because salvation's in Christ
and Christ alone, plus no works at all. For I testify again to
every man that is circumcised, he's a debtor to do the whole
law. So if someone brings a law towards you and says, well, you've
got to do this in the law, then you know what you say to them?
You say, well, if you say you have to do that, then you're
a debtor to the whole law. We can't even fulfill one point
of it. But boy, the whole law, everything. And then Paul goes on to write,
Christ has become no effect unto you. So people who trust in their
works, Christ is of no effect to them. None at all. Just a
pinprick of works, too. Just a pinprick of works. Whosoever
you are justified by the law, you're fallen from grace. For
we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by
faith. Now turn, if you would, to John chapter 8. John chapter
8. Think of this in the light of,
I will cause them to return. I will cause them to return.
Again, I'll read Jeremiah 33, 7. I will cause the captivity
of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build
them as at the first. Look at this in John chapter
8. All the Lord Jesus Christ has set us free, hasn't He? He
set us free from the bondage of sin that we were in. And we
could again never, never free ourselves. Never. Jeremiah 8,
31 to 36, Then said Jesus to the Jews which believed on Him,
If you continue in my word, then you are my disciples indeed.
And ye shall know the truth, and what? And the truth shall
make you free. Free. They answered him, we be Abraham's
seed, we were never in bondage to any man. How sayest thou you
shall be made free? Jesus answered them, verily,
verily, I say unto you, whosoever committed sin is the servant
of sin. See, we were slaves to sin and
we didn't even know it in our natural state. That's what we
were. God set us free, beloved. And the servant abideth not in
the house forever, but the son abideth ever. If the Son therefore
shall make you free, what? You're free indeed. My, so the
believer can say, I'm free in Christ. He's caused us to return to God,
hasn't he? He's turned us to Christ. We
were made will in the day of his power. So we see again in
the scriptures, we're looking at a type and picture of the
gospel of God's grace. Let's go back to our text again
and look at verse 7. And I will cause them the captivity
of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build
them as at first. Note, I will build them. Now
note as we're reading these verses, note who's doing the work. It's all God, isn't it? It's
all God. Again, let's read that verse.
And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of
Israel to return and will build them as at first. This is the
next point. I will build them. Now God's
elect rest upon the foundation of who? The Lord Jesus Christ. He's our foundation, isn't he?
He's the chief cornerstone. And upon this foundation, our
Lord declared, I will build my church. and the gates of hell
shall not prevail against it. See, I will build them. This
is a work of God, beloved. Christ again is the chief cornerstone,
the foundation in whom all the believers, scripture says in
Ephesians, turn if you would to Ephesians, and then we'll
go back to 1 Peter where we left, or we'll go to chapter two this
time. But Ephesians chapter two, and in 1 Peter chapter two. In
light of this, I will build them. In light of Christ being the
chief cornerstone, beloved. See again, we have a picture,
a picture of God's grace right here before us. Because this
is all God doing this. And it's all by His grace and
by His mercy. Ephesians chapter 2, verse 20
to 22. Look at this. And are built upon, writing about
believers, upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets,
Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone. So he's the
foundation. He's the foundation of the building
of God. Christ is. He's the chief cornerstone. In
whom, look at this, all the building fitly framed together. All believers
are part of the spiritual house, which is of God's making, the
spiritual temple of God, which is the body of Christ, right?
But we're fitly framed together. How? By the master builder. I will build them. Remember Jeremiah?
I will build them. Being fitly framed together,
groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord, in whom also, or in
whom ye also are building together for inhabitation of God through
the Spirit. The Spirit dwells within us. Now turn, if you would,
to 1 Peter 2. You know the body of Christ is
living stones. We're living stones, beloved.
We already looked at that one portion in the Old Testament,
I believe last year in one of the messages that were stones
made ready, right? And we're being hewed and worked
upon here while we're on this earth to fit perfectly into the,
it's incredible. For when we get the glory, we're
being conformed to the image of the sun right now. Look at
this on 1 Peter 2, verses 4 to 8. To whom coming as unto a living
stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God and precious. Ye also as lively stones, that
means living stones, are built up a spiritual house in holy
priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God
by Jesus Christ. Now remember in our natural state,
we were just a dead stone, weren't we? But we're born again now of the
Holy Spirit of God. We're living stones, beloved. We're built
up. Built up. Wherefore also it contained in
the scripture, behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone.
A chief cornerstone. Elect precious, and he that believeth
on him shall not be confounded. Unto you, therefore, which believe,
he is what? Precious. He's precious to us,
isn't he? There was a time when he wasn't
precious to us, but oh, he's precious to us now. Oh, he's
precious. He's everything to us. He's precious. And he that believeth on him
shall not be confounded. Unto you, therefore, that which
believe he is precious. But unto them which be disobedient,
the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made
the head of the corner, and the stone of stumbling, and a rock
of offense. Even to them which stumble at
the word, being disobedient, whereunto also they were appointed.
Oh, my. So the one he's precious, And
to the other, he's a stumbling stone. Let's go back to our texts
in Jeremiah chapter 33. Jeremiah chapter 33. And we'll
notice also here again, the next blessing which is found in verse
8. And I will cleanse them from
all their iniquity. whereby they have sinned against
me, and I will pardon all their iniquities whereby they have
sinned and whereby they have transgressed against me. So again,
remember this is a providential type and picture of the gospel
of God's grace. How can this happen? I will cleanse
them from all their iniquity whereby they have sinned against
me and I will pardon all their iniquities whereby they have
sinned and whereby they have transgressed against me." How
can this happen? Only in Christ. Only in Christ. There's no other way. Only in
Christ bearing our judgment in our room and place. Only in Christ
being our substitute. For Christ also hath once suffered
for sins, the just for the unjust. that He might bring us to God,
being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit.
And in Titus chapter 2 says these wonderful words, looking for
that blessed hope in the glorious appearing of the great God and
our Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He
might redeem us from all iniquity, all iniquity, and purify unto
Himself a peculiar people zealous of good works. And look what our text says,
and I will cleanse them from all their iniquity. My. The next blessing is also
found in verse eight, and I will cleanse them from all their iniquity,
whereby they have sinned against me, and I will pardon all their
iniquities whereby they have sinned and and whereby they have
transgressed against me. Now note this in verse. 8 here,
I will pardon them from all their iniquities against Me. Who alone
but God has the authority and right to declare the guilty justified
in His sight? We know we can't make ourselves
justified in His sight, but God can make it so, can't He? And
He can declare us justified. And do you see what He declares
here? He declares the believer in Christ justified. And I will
cleanse them from all their iniquity whereby they have sinned against
Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities whereby they have
sinned and whereby they have transgressed against Me. All
there means all. When God says all, it means all. Seek ye the Lord while He may
be found. Call ye upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake
his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him
return unto the Lord. And he will have mercy upon him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." Isaiah 55, verses 6
and 7. Have we not, we who are the blood-bought
children of God, we who are born again by the Spirit, have we
not been abundantly pardoned when our God tells us, and I
will pardon all their iniquities? Oh my, that is an abundant, abundant
pardon, isn't it? Let's turn to Nehemiah chapter
9. Nehemiah chapter 9 with this in mind. And I will cleanse them
from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against Me,
And I will pardon their iniquities whereby they have sinned, and
whereby they have transgressed against Me." Look at this in
Nehemiah chapter 9. We'll read verses 7 to 17. 7 to 17. Thou art the Lord, the
God who didst choose Abraham, and broughtest him forth out
of Ur, out of the Chaldees, and givest him the name of Abraham.
Verse 8. And foundest his heart faithful
before thee, and made us a covenant with him to give the land of
the Canaanites and the Hittites, the Amorites and the Perzites
and the Jezebites and the Gershwegites, to give it, I say, to his seed,
and has performed thy words, for thou art righteous." There's
a wonderful statement right there. There's a whole sermon right
there. God's righteous. He's righteous. and didst see
the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, so he didn't lose sight
of his people, and heardest their cry by the
Red Sea, and showest signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on
all his servants, and all the people of his land. For thou
knowest that they dwelt proudly against them. So didst thou get
thee a name, as it is this day. And thou didst divide the sea
before them. The Red Sea parted, beloved. It really parted. And
it stood up. And the Israelites walked across
dry land. And the Egyptians thought, we're
going to get them. And they took off after them, didn't they?
And that sea just fell upon them. But not a drop of water fell
on the Israelites. And thou didst divide the sea
before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea
on dry land. And their persecutors thou throwest into the deep as
a stone in mighty waters." They just sunk. And picture that, picture that,
beloved, as God's wrath and judgment falling upon the enemies of God's
people. The Israelites walked on dry
land. That's a picture of the church, isn't it? Oh, that wrath fell upon their
enemies. Oh, my! Moreover, Thou leadest
them in the day by a cloudy pillar, and in the night by a pillar
of fire, to give them light in the way wherein they should go.
Thou camest down upon the Mount Zion, and speakest with them
from heaven, and gavest them right judgments and true laws,
good statutes and commandments. and made us known unto them thy
holy Sabbath, and commanded us them precepts, statutes, and
laws by the hand of Moses thy servant, and gave us them bread
from heaven for their hunger, and brought us forth water for
them out of the rock for their thirst, and promised them that
they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn
to give them. Now all that is a picture of
us going through this world, isn't it? And how the Lord provides
for his people all of our lives. till He takes us home to glory
and then we're with Him forever. Then we're with Him forever,
beloved. Oh my. But they and our fathers went
out proudly and hardened their necks and hearkened not to Thy
commandments and refused to obey, neither were mindful of Thy wonders
that Thou didst among them, but hardened their necks and in their
rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But
look at this. And this is where we're getting
to, right here. But Thou art a God. ready to pardon. Our God's
a God ready to pardon. He pardons in Christ and Christ
alone. Oh, my gracious and merciful. We looked at the mercy of God
this morning in Sunday school. He's full of grace, beloved,
and he's merciful to his people in a great kindness and forsook
us, them not all that rebellion. He didn't forsake him. Oh, my. Think about all our rebellion.
Even after we say he doesn't forsake us. He doesn't forsake
us. It's wonderful, isn't it? It's
absolutely wonderful. Absolutely wonderful. Let's look
at those verses again. Those verses there in 6. 6 to 8. and cure, and I will cure them,
and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth,
and that's been shown to God's people in Christ, in Christ alone.
And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of
Israel to return, and will build them as at the first. We fell
in Adam, he's brought us back to himself, hasn't he? We're
born again in the Holy Spirit of God, we were made will in
the day of God's power to flee to Christ. Oh, it's wonderful.
It's absolutely wonderful. And I will cause the captivity
of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build
them as at the first." We're free in Christ, absolutely free
in Him. and I will cleanse them from
all their iniquity whereby they have sinned against Me, and I
will pardon all their iniquities whereby they have sinned, and
whereby they have transgressed against Me." Now, that pardon
of all our sins and all our iniquities only comes to us in and through
Christ and what He's done. He died on Calvary's cross as
our substitute, and He paid it all. And through Him, we have
all our iniquities forgiven, all our sins forgiven. Again,
this is glad tidings, good news for sinners, isn't it? Wonderful
news for sinners. And when God the Holy Spirit
moves upon someone who does not know Christ, and reveals to them
that they are a sinner, they flee right to Christ. He makes
them willing in the day of His power. And that's our hope. Our
hope is if you don't know Him, that God would make you willing.
That He revealed to you your sinnership, just like He did
to us. And now we who are saved, we still see ourselves as sinners,
but praise God we're saved. were saved by the precious blood
of the Lord Jesus Christ in Him alone. Now a result of all these
blessings which we have seen, a result of all this picture
of God's grace and mercy towards His people that we have in and
through the Lord Jesus Christ, The result of that should be
as we see in verse 9 here, a name of joy, praise and honor. We
give glory and honor and praise to our great God, don't we? And
it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honor before
all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good
that I do unto them. And they shall fear and tremble
for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure
unto it. Oh my. Therefore we should worship our
great God, shouldn't we? For all the goodness and prosperity
that I procure, which means in the Hebrew to make, to accomplish,
to complete. That's what that word means in
the Hebrew. To make, to accomplish, to complete. He's did it all, hasn't he? In
all those verses we looked at tonight, I will. I will. Oh my beloved, this is the work
of God. And the frequently used Hebrew
verb of this word conveys the central notion, one Hebrew scholar
said, of performing an activity with a distinct purpose. He does this with a distinct
purpose. Because he has a people, and
they've been redeemed by Christ. It's wonderful, isn't it? It's
absolutely wonderful. These verses basically proclaim
that salvation is of the Lord. It's of the Lord. It's His doing
from beginning to end. He's the Alpha and the Omega
of our salvation, beloved. And it's all in and through the
Lord Jesus Christ. And as we just saw with that
word, it's all by divine appointment. It's all by divine appointment
and by divine decree. Now that makes the believer shout
for joy. to know that I'm saved according
to the divine appointment and decree of God. Oh, praise His
name. Heavenly Father, we thank Thee
again for Your mercy and grace towards us in Christ. We thank
Thee for the picture we saw tonight of the gospel of Your grace.
in picture in the Old Testament. Oh, Lord, we we love Thee and
we praise Thee. We thank you for revealing yourself
to us. We pray that we would think upon
these wonderful truths that we've heard of today, that we would
take this week and meditate upon them and think upon them. And
may they give us strength and grace through this week in Jesus
name. Amen.