SOMETHING WORTH GLORYING IN

JEREMIAH 9:2

A. "THUS SAITH THE LORD, LET NOT THE WISE MAN GLORY IN HIS WISDOM, NEITHER LET THE MIGHTY MAN GLORY IN HIS MIGHT, LET NOT THE RICH MAN GLORY IN HIS RICHES; BUT LET HIM THAT GLORIETH GLORY IN THIS, THAT HE UNDERSTANDETH AND KNOWETH ME, THAT I AM THE LORD WHICH EXERCISE LOVINGKINDNESS, JUDGMENT, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, IN THE EARTH; FOR THESE THINGS I DELIGHT"
  1. This is a most unusual and yet very timely text for our sermon this morning:
    1. It exposes the vanities of man
    2. It points to the value God places upon lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness
  2. How important it is for us to consider our own outlook in the light of our opening text:
    1. Do the material things of this life occupy the place in our hearts which belongs to God only?
    2. Have the cares of this world perverted our sense of true values? B. LET US CONSIDER PRAYERFULLY SOME OF THE IMPLICATIONS OF OUR TEXT
  3. A warning from God against vain glorying:
    1. "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom"
    2. The vanity of worldly wisdom has been sung by the saints in all ages - Job 5:12-14; Ps. 49:10-13; Rom. 1:23; I Cor. 1:19-21
    3. "Neither let the mighty man glory in his might" - Deut. 8:17; Examples - remember what happened to Goliath - I Sam. 17:4-10,42. Think of the tragedy of Samson Judges 16:20; or what happened to Herod - Acts 12:22-23; Nebuchadnezzar learned his lesson - Dan. 4:30-31
    4. "Let not the rich man glory in his riches" Examples - The rich farmer - Luke 12:16-20; the folly of Nabal - I Sam. 25:3-38
    5. Paul writes about "the uncertain riches" I Tim. 6:17; Examples: The earthly riches of a young man became his losing eternal life - Matt. 19:16-22; material wealth will become the curse of the last days - James 5:1-6; Ex. 7:19
    6. Riches in themselves are not sinful; unless they are gotten dishonestly or take the place that rightfully belongs to God - Abraham had great wealth; Solomon had wealth.
    7. The important thing is that if riches come to one not to attach the heart to them
C. WHAT WE SHOULD GLORY IN
  1. "Let him that glorieth glory in this that he understandeth and knoweth Me"
    1. Said Jesus in His high-priestly prayer, "And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent" - John 17:3
    2. A major part of the mission of the Son of God was to reveal the Father to man - Matt. 11:27; John 1:18; 17:1-23
  2. Our text gives us three reasons why we should glory in the Lord:
    1. Because of His lovingkindness - "I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness" (v.24)
    2. "How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God, therefore, the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings" - Ps. 36:7
    3. "How great is Thy goodness which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee" - Ps. 31:19
    4. "The Lord appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore, with lovingkindness have I drawn thee" - Jer. 31:3
    5. Because of His judgment - "Righteousness and judgment are the foundation of His throne" - Ps. 97:2
    6. The judgments of God have always been against wickedness and for righteousness; Examples: Witness the flood - Gen. 6:7:8:9; Sodom and Gomorrah - Gen 19; 2 Pet. 2:6-9; His judgment of Pharaoh - Gen. 15:1-18; His judgment of the nations which suppressed His people - Jer. 18:1-6; Is. 14
    7. Because of His righteousness - Righteousness crowned with lovingkindness is the character of God
    8. Our Lord Jesus gloried in this when He prayed to His Father "O righteous Father" John 17:25
I. Our advocate is "Jesus Christ the righteous" - I John 2:1; Paul writes about "the Lord, the righteous judge" - 2 Tim. 4:8, R.V. j. "Let him that glorieth, glory in this, for in these things I delight saith the Lord" Jer. 9:24

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