Three Wonders

1. A great wonder

“ The LORD hath appeared of old unto me.” One would ask, who is speaking here? Some say Jeremiah is saying unto the Lord about a great wonder in his life—the Lord loved him. Others say this is the voice of the Lord Jesus saying that of old, from the stillness of eternity, the Lord hath appeared, saying, “I have loved My dear Son with an everlasting love.” Most agree, however, that in this text we hear the voice of God’s dear children, those people in bondage who miss much of the Lord’s presence. They are saying there was a time when the Lord appeared unto them. Perhaps we may ask if ever the Lord appeared unto you? Has there been a time in your life when the Lord said, “Yea, I have loved thee?” No, I am not asking how much of that love you may feast upon today. I am asking when you look back in your life—was there a time when the Lord appeared, when you were stopped upon your way which would certainly have ended in hell? A great wonder.

The children of grace are in bondage, and now they think they will never see the land of Canaan. Oh, will they ever hear the voice of the Lord again? Then that sweet, tender voice comes saying: Remember, you were living in Egypt enjoying the fleshpots of the world, and there the Lord appeared; He brought you in bondage where you must cry, “Oh, Lord, have mercy and come to deliver me.” Remember how the Lord appeared when standing beside the Red Sea? There the Lord opened a way for His people, but when the enemy sought to walk upon that same way, they were buried under the wrath of God. Remember how the Lord appeared in the wilderness and fed you with angel’s food when you thought you would certainly perish from hunger? Remember how the Lord appeared when you were standing before Jordan, asking how will we ever cross into the Promised Land? There the Lord placed the ark in the midst of the river and opened a way for you into the Promised Land.

A great wonder—He appeared and said, “I have loved thee.” How is it possible that the Lord loved me who has never asked for Him? He came to ask for me? How is that possible for one who is always so full of doubt and fear? How is that possible for one who cannot deny that of old there was a time when there was hope in one’s heart that the Lord had appeared but now is so afraid it was never true? How is it possible for one who so often stumbles in darkness and cannot find the way. Oh, merciful God, if Thou hath appeared as of old, wilt Thou once more speak to my soul? May I then hear Thy voice once again? May I hear that voice say, “I have loved thee,” and may that give hope to my heart today? Will that dear Saviour hold my hand and lead me through? How often the Jordan is overflowing both banks; may I then see Jesus standing in the midst of that river.

2. A greater wonder

The Lord is saying, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love.” That is the love of a Triune God. That love is threefold and flows from the stillness of eternity. That love is the love of the Father who loved His people when they were dead in sin and trespasses, rebels who only had one desire to follow the king of darkness forever. The Father’s love for them was so great that He gave His only begotten Son to deliver them from hell and darkness. That is the love of the Son. He said, “Father, let me go down in the breach between my holy Father and His deeply fallen children. Father, let Me heal the breach and carry away Thy wrath so that Thou can draw them with tender love from the pit of destruction.” That love is the love of the Holy Ghost. He came, saying, “Let Me be the One to gather them.” How does the Spirit from heaven gather them? He does that by Word and Spirit. Deem it a great privilege when the Lord brings His Word. Deem it a great privilege when together we may pray for the Holy Spirit to accompany the Word.

A greater wonder—the everlasting love of a Triune God—a greater wonder considering that I sin it away time and again, when my heart is full of darkness and fear, when I no longer can give a name to what, at one time, lay so firm and sure in my heart. What a great wonder the Apostle Paul declares, “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

3. The greatest wonder

“With lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” The word drawn speaks of resistance. Do we resist the Lord? Yes, when we always harden our heart, then we resist a wellmeant calling. Can we convert ourselves? No, yet how many beg the Lord for the greatest wonder?

“I have drawn thee.” Oh, what a blessed wonder that lovingkindness may bring the cords of everlasting love around me and draws me. It draws me out of the power of the devil. It draws me out of the horrible mire of sin.

It draws me upon the way where the blood of the Saviour has been. Draw me unto Jesus; He is all I desire to know. What a burning question that can be—is the Lord drawing me? Yes, those cords of everlasting love and kindness are around your heart when, among all your struggles, you cannot miss the Lord anymore; when you may long for the Healer of the breach more than anything else here below; when there are times that the wings of prayer may carry you upwards, and when you may come to hear the voice of the Lord. This is more precious than anything else. “Therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” How blessed you are when that may be the greatest wonder in your life.

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