The Word Of God Found, And Fed Upon
“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.”—Jeremiah 15:16
The prophet had to write some bitter things which often made his heart sad; he was a man of strife and contention to the whole earth; he had to rebuke sharply for sin, and tell his own people of their coming judgments, that they would be carried away into captivity to Babylon; this raised him up enemies and persecutors for his faithfulness; but he appeals to his God; he was not left without comfort and help. God strengthened him by His Word: this Word which others hated and despised he found his greatest consolation. So is it still with the godly man; let us note a few things in this passage for our instruction, dear reader.
Here is authority acknowledged, “Thy words.” Divine inspiration is a doctrine fully believed by the man of God; he may not be able to give a logical definition of the inspiration of God’s Word always, but he knows by experience that it is inspired to him. “It has come into his heart with power, with the Holy Ghost, and with much assurance.” It is the voice of God in the sacred page and in his soul, he bows with submission to its authority and receives with implicit trust its teaching. God has spoken; he believes, and acts accordingly. Thus the prophet fully believed his message; he had not received it of man, but from heaven. It is this which causes men to tremble at God’s Word, and yet it inspires them with confidence and faith when received into the heart they know it to be true, it is God’s words to them.
There is search indicated “found.” The full meaning of God’s words does not lie upon the surface; a right understanding of the Word is not obtained without effort. “Search the Scriptures” is the command of our Lord, study, compare, meditate upon these things, “If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God” (Prov. 2:4,5). God often gives His people to see new light and beauty in His Word in answer to daily prayer and earnest research; it is indeed a mine of precious ore, but we must labour to make it our own, that it may instruct our minds, enrich our hearts, and strengthen our faith. There are unsearchable riches in Christ which are still unexplored, and though mighty intellects have brought out much therefrom, the fullness is inexhaustible. We profit by the works of good men, yet these are but rivulets. We must get to the fountain and dip the living water fresh for ourselves. Their works are as the dust of gold, but we must dig out the rich nuggets for ourselves that we may be rich with heavenly knowledge.
We have labour rewarded. “Were found.” None ever sought for God’s words in sincerity and truth in vain; a veil may for awhile seem to rest upon God’s truth, but the light will break in, the scales will fall from the eyes, He will “open our eyes that we may see wondrous things out of His law.” We shall find out the meaning of His Word. We shall find out its value, its greatness, and wondrous majesty and power. That which is sought for is more highly prized when we obtain it, and we shall never forget its sweet lessons, they have been inwrought into the experience of our souls in times of stern difficulty and danger, when we have sought the words of God with great diligence for comfort and direction; in seasons of great perplexity and soul trouble, they have become more precious to us, because of their seasonableness and suitability to our need.
Also we have possession realised, “I did eat them.” By eating God’s words they become our own, absorbed into our spiritual nature, taken up into all the parts of the soul. The words of God and the godly man are so united, they cannot be separated; he holds the words, and the words hold him, they abide in him as a well of living waters springing up into everlasting life. They are his credentials as a child of God, his earnest of the glory He has promised to him, his title deeds for heaven, and he carries them in a safe place where they cannot be taken from him, hidden in his heart, out of the reach of men or devils.
Dependance felt. As man cannot live without food, so the godly man cannot live, only on the Word of God; it is absolutely necessary for him; his soul would starve without it. Its doctrines, promises, provisions are his daily food, he meditates in the law day and night; he feeds upon its truths, and his soul becomes strong and vigorous thereby; his faith is no weak, sickly plant, but is as a tree planted by the waters, which bringeth forth its fruit in its season.
Lastly, satisfaction experienced. Gratitude fills his heart with joy that God should condescend to speak His Word to him, communicate to his soul such joyous tidings; such soul-satisfying food; he has fed on the husks of earth, and now he feeds on angels’ food—the contrast is so great. It is a continual feast without disappointment, it never palls upon the appetite, never do God’s people grow weary feeding on such heavenly dainties. The Lord Himself spreads the feast, “He leads into the banqueting house, and His banner floating over them is love. It is a pure spiritual joy of the heart, not the carnal nature or the groveling joy—of earth. It is anticipatory joy, looking forward to that happy period when we shall sit down at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, and go no more out for ever.
Edwin White (1846-?) was a Strict and Particular Baptist preacher. His first pastorate was with the church meeting at Orphington (1877-1879). After two years, the communion question cropped up, the majority of members deciding to throw the Table open. He forthwith resigned his office. His second pastorate was with the church meeting at Clare, Suffolk (1881-1887). After six years of blessed ministry, he resigned the office due to health reasons. His third pastorate was with the church meeting at Woolwich, Enon Chapel (1891-1919). In 1911 was elected president of the Metropolitan Association of Strict Baptist Churches.
