Jeremiah 1:11-12 - Homiletics

The almond rod.

The early budding almond rod is symbolical of the wakeful attitude of God at a crisis in human events. God's manner of acting at this period of Jewish history may be regarded as typical of what we may expect again under similar circumstances.

I. THERE ARE OCCASIONS WHEN GOD 'S WATCHFULNESS AND ENERGY ARE ESPECIALLY MANIFEST . God never sleeps ( Psalms 121:4 ). While we sleep he keeps watch. Though. we do not mark his presence nor even think of it, he is still looking upon us and never ceasing from his activity. Yet he is said to awake as though from sleep ( Psalms 44:23 ), because to us he appears to be more wakeful at one season than at another.

1. There are times when God watches unseen, and times when he makes his watchfulness manifest to us by his acts; then he is said to awake.

2. God generally acts in quiet ways unnoticed and not directly interfering with us; but now and again his ceaseless activity is more pronounced, and is specially felt by opposing our course; then God seems to have aroused himself. Such times are awful crises of existence. We should be prepared to expect them, and not presume on the present obscurity of the Divine actions. Some day it will be as though God awoke with the voice of a trumpet and the might of a host suddenly revealed.

II. GOD NEVER DELAYS HIS ACTION BEYOND ITS DUE TIME . When it is time for God to "awake," he does "awake." It seems as though he tarried; but he has a reason for waiting.

1. He does not come to deliverance at the moment we expect him

2. He does not come to judgment

III. GOD 'S JUDGMENTS SOMETIMES FALL SUDDENLY AND SWIFTLY . We may have but short warning of their approach. The execution of them may be rapid. The storm which has long been brewing may burst quickly. The harvest which has ripened slowly may be gathered in with haste. The impending judgment may not be discerned till it is too late for escape. When the rain began to fall it was too late for man to seek refuge in the ark. When the Jews saw the hosts of Nebuchadnezzar approaching there were no means for saving their country from ruin. It is foolish and wrong to neglect the salvation of God until we discern his judgment looming over us. "Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts."