Love for the Word

"Love for the Word" - Jeremiah 15:16 To Jeremiah the Word of God, which he used to preach to others, had been experienced "by himself in his soul," and therefore had the graces of the Spirit which qualified him for divine favor, as well as his gifts.

I. Jeremiah could say, "Your words were found."

A. "Found by me."

1. When they came upon me in the spirit of prophecy and were found in me when I gladly received them and not only tasted them but ate them eternally.

2. "I received them as the most exquisite food for a person who is hungry."

3. The prophet is asked to eat the scroll "and Your words were to me a joy and the gladness of my heart."

4. Nothing else could be more agreeable to Jeremiah.

5. This can be understood.

a. Of the very message he was going to proclaim.

b. Although he was going to predict the ruin of his country which was so dear to him and in whose ruin he could have no notable share, yet all his natural feelings were swallowed up (swallowing food hurriedly and without chewing it) in his zeal for the glory of God and even these messages of wrath, being divine messages, they were a satisfaction for him.

c. Of course, at first, he had rejoiced in the hope that the people would take good note of his warnings and avoid God's judgment.

d. From the commission he had received to proclaim the message.

e. Even though the work to which he had been called did not involve (acting in relation to others) sales of a material kind, but, on the contrary, exposed him to contempt and persecution and it was for Jeremiah the food and drink to do the will of the one who had sent him.

f. (John 4:34) God wants us to live large and that is only possible with Him. When you long to do God's will more than you want to eat and drink, you will know the same joy that Jesus experienced. "My food is that I may do the will of Him who sent me and finish His work." It must be our thinking, not our expectations (illusion, hope, dream or illusion of realizing or fulfilling a certain purpose).

g. From God's promise to always assist him as he faithfully exercised his ministry (Jeremiah 1:8). "Do not be afraid before them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord."

h. That he had devoted himself to the discharge of his ministry with earnestness and self-denial (sacrifice of his will, his affections, or his interests), though he had recently found little satisfaction in it, (17) "I did not sit in the company of a merry people, nor rejoice, I sat alone, I spent a long time in my private room, for Thy hand's sake, who walked over me."

i. This phrase "because of Thy hand" receives different interpretations: (a) "because Thy hand oppressed me" (Asensio); (b) "for Thy hand gave me strength" (Henry M.).

j. The prophet is perplexed by their persecution and suffering, especially because he has been faithful to his Lord.

6. (Psalm 119:47) Jeremiah suffered outrage (insult, his body was tortured), but he loved His commandments.

7. He who wants to teach boldly (daring, bravery, courage), knows that those who will torture you will come.

8. Thy commandments we have loved.

9. In His commandments we rejoice (joy).

10. He who wants to preach must delight in it himself.

11. For us the entire verse is summed up in the words of a high Master, who said, "If you love Me, you will keep My words (John 14:23)."

12. (Psalm 119:72) The Bible is the most precious material possession we have in this world.

13. A computer can add fantastically large figures, but it cannot compute the value of the Scripture.

14. (Psalm 119:82) Reading this word until the eyes no longer see is only a small thing compared to watching for the fulfillment of the promise until the inwards of expectation begin to cloud with delay.

15. We cannot set dates for God, because this would be to put limits on the Holy One of Israel; Yet we can urge (ask) and insist on our plea with importunity (annoy, request, repeated, annoying) and make a fervent inquiry (investigate) as to why the promise is delayed.

16. (Psalm 119:97) "Oh, how I love Thy law!"

17. All day long she is my meditation.

18. Those who love the Lord will certainly love His Word as well.

19. And this love will be manifested in meditating on the Bible at every opportunity.

20. It is in moments of meditation that we suddenly discover new beauties and wonders in Scripture.

21. It is to love the Scriptures; you are known by how you act, if you love the Scriptures and it is embodied in your look, what you say, what you act, that is, your living, shouts your knowledge in it, in the Word.

22. (Psalm 119:140) "Your Word is exceedingly pure, and Your servant loves it."

23. In God's Word there is no mixture of error or sin.

24. A child of God in his best moments does not desire that the Word of God should descend to the level of his own imperfect character but rather desires that his character may be gradually raised to conformity to this blessed Word. Amen