There are many thoughts rolled up in this grand proposition. Perhaps this stands first: That if God is always looking at the truth, then the shortest way and the best, by which we can see truth, is to look as God looks.
I. If God's eyes are upon the truth, then He looks more upon the true than He looks upon the false in everything. He does so: (1) as respects truth in the world; (2) as regards our actions.
II. If God's eyes are upon the truth, are they not there for this very purpose, to defend and secure it. Is not then the truth quite safe? Why then are we anxious lest truth should fail in this world? Why do we talk as if truth were a poor, weak, sickly thing, and likely to decay; and its existence very precarious? Is not God the Guardian of truth?
III. Take the thought a step higher. The "truth" is Christ. All religious truth, all moral truth, in its highest aspect, all physical truth, in its first germ, all gathers and centres itself there. Where then are the eyes of God fixed? In Christ He sees His own dear Son; Him in everything, everything in Him. And what does He see there? A world forgiven; a propitiation; the pardon, the restoration, the salvation, the peace, the life, of the whole earth.
IV. Many events which are to be, lie for a long time wrapped up in the mysteries of prophecy. All the while as much before the fulfilment as afterwards it is truth to Him to whom all time and all eternity are one ever-present now.The subject of prophecy is a fact; as much a fact as it will be when it comes to pass. And the eyes of the Lord are upon it. That great flight of yet undeveloped truth is soaring on its high way, though man sees it not. The courses of nature the history of our world it is all ordained by a Secret Hand to secure that undeveloped "truth." We are only travelling on to the purpose of the Almighty. That purpose is truth.
J. Vaughan, Sermons,14th series, p. 45.
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.