SERMON III. A Broken, an Humble Heart
even more glory by shaking an immortal soul through His Word than by shaking the heavens and the earth. It is true that if God were to speak a single word, He could shake this building, heaven, and earth.
But He would not receive as much glory by shaking them as He does through one immortal soul that trembles in the manner that has been explained to you. Oh, it is no wonder that God pays attention to such an individual, for His Word and even Himself are honoured and glorified by them.
Sermon III A Broken, an Humble Heart And he that trembleth at my Word. Isai. 66.2.
The Lord pays special attention to a trembling heart. Why? Because just as His Word is honoured and His name is sanctified, the Lord sees that the heart is broken, serious, and teachable, and therefore it must be accepted by God. It is a broken and humble heart, and that's why it is added that it is a contrite and broken heart that trembles at God's Word. These qualities are intertwined. The Lord takes great delight in a broken heart, which is the root of trembling at the Word of God. The reason why people do not fear and tremble at the Word of God is due to the pride and hardness of their hearts. However, an humble and broken heart is precious before God, and it is the source of this trembling.
Furthermore, it is a serious heart, and God loves a serious disposition. When a person has dealings with God, especially in serious matters, they need to be serious themselves. God cannot tolerate a frivolous and vain heart; it is a dreadful curse upon people's spirits. But when the heart starts to be serious, focusing on
God and His truths in a serious manner, there is great hope for such an individual.
And it is highly teachable. A heart that trembles at the Word of God is teachable. In Acts 13:16, Paul says, "You who fear God, listen." It is as if he is saying, "I know you will pay attention to what is said." Only those who have the fear of God are truly fit to hear the Word, as it is the beginning of wisdom, according to Scripture. When men and women have the fear of God in their hearts, they begin to have wise hearts and understand God's Word. When their hearts tremble before the Word of God, they come to understand it. On the other hand, if their hearts are bold and presumptuous, they come and go from the Word without understanding anything. But when the heart trembles, it becomes teachable. That is why, before the Lord instructed Job, He first struck him with fear.
In Proverbs 15:33, the text says, "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom." Note that it is not only the beginning of wisdom but also the instruction of wisdom. This means that wisdom will never instruct a soul that does not have the fear of the Lord. It begins with the fear. Unless the Lord causes the heart to fear before Him, it will not be instructed, not even by wisdom itself. The jailer, who was rough and unyielding before, in Acts 16:29, came trembling and fell down before Paul and Silas, asking, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Now the jailer is in a teachable disposition as he trembles and seeks guidance on salvation. When people ask questions in a trembling manner, they are in a teachable disposition. This is a precious state of spirit because it signifies a serious and teachable heart.
We now proceed to the application.
Firstly, we learn from this that God's judgment is not the same as human judgment. What is precious to God may not be considered precious by humans, and vice versa. Men tend to value bold and courageous spirits, those who are confident and full of vigour. They
admire those who are fearless and dismissive of whatever the Word may say. On the other hand, those who tremble with fear and are troubled in conscience, those who are humble, broken, and troubled in spirit, are looked down upon and despised by the world. But God sees it differently. God considers the trembling heart to be the blessed and happy one. The world may despise those who shake and tremble at the Word because it does not align with the boldness valued by society. However, for a poor soul who trembles before God at His Word, God says, "To this person will I look." There is nothing in Heaven or Earth that pleases God more than someone who trembles before Him. But let us not dwell on this further.
Secondly, if this disposition is highly regarded by God, it should teach the ministers of God who have to deal with His Word to speak it in a manner that evokes fear and trembling, causing the hearts of people to be struck with fear and trembling. They must not approach it lightly or play with people's imaginations or their own cleverness.
When they speak the Word of God in His name, they should strive to deliver it in such a way that the hearts of their listeners are filled with fear and trembling. There is indeed a way of speaking the Word of God that brings it with majesty to the hearts of the people. The Apostle Paul states in 1 Corinthians 2:4 concerning the ministry of the Word, "My speech and my preaching were not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power." Here we see two types of preaching: preaching with enticing words of human wisdom, which may earn a preacher praise for being clever, witty, or sophisticated, and preaching in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. The power of the Word follows the demonstration of the Spirit. When people perceive a minister only preaching wit and showcasing their abilities, the heart may despise it. It may commend the person but despise the Word because it lacks power over the conscience. However, when a minister of God comes in His name and preaches in the demonstration of the Spirit, they preach with power that prevails with people's consciences. This is the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. It is said of Christ in Matthew 7:29 that He did not preach like the scribes and Pharisees
but as one who had authority. The scribes and Pharisees had a superficial way of preaching, but Christ spoke with authority that reached people's consciences. Similarly, ministers of Christ should speak in His name, backed by His authority, as those who have to deal with people's consciences and not their fancies. Indeed, the best commendation of a sermon is when it strikes the hearts of people.
When writing about Basil and Chrysostom, two famous preachers of their time, it is said that their true honour was not in the applause of the crowd but in people coming to them and crying out, "What must
I do to be saved?" This is the commendation of a minister. Ministers should strive for their ministry to be of such a nature because the Lord highly values a heart that trembles at His Word.
There is enough substance in the Word of God to cause any heart to tremble, if it is delivered as the Word of God. What significance does worthless chaff hold compared to valuable wheat? In 1 Peter 4:11, it is stated, "If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God." If anyone takes it upon themselves to speak
God's Word, it must be done as if speaking the Word of God, the divine oracles.
I recall reading about Cicero (Tully), who spoke with such power that he made Caesar's book fall out of his hand. And surely, if Cicero could have such an effect with his eloquence, there is even greater power and eloquence in the Word of God that can cause the desires and lusts of people to fall out of their hearts. The weapons we use in our spiritual battle are powerful through God's strength, capable of tearing down strongholds and proud imaginations that defy God and His truth. The Word of God possesses a divine power that is not of the flesh but of the Spirit, enabling it to cast down arrogant thoughts and make them tremble before the Lord. This concludes the second application.
Thirdly, from this gracious disposition of the heart, trembling at the Word, you can understand the reason why the servants of God are so
obedient to His Word and dare not act against it. God has instilled in them a trembling at His Word, a perception that others do not possess. You may wonder why some individuals are so strict in their adherence to God's Word, why they would endure anything in the world rather than go against even a single sentence in the Word. You find it perplexing. The reason is that you do not perceive the majesty and authority in God's Word as they do. Your hearts have not been struck with fear and trembling. However, they perceive such majesty and fear in the Word that they dare not go against it. They would rather endure any hardship in the world than act contrary to the Word. They dare not do what you dare to do. In Revelation 6:9, it is said of some, "When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained." In other words, they would rather be killed than go against the Word of God. They would remain faithful to the Word regardless of what happened to their lives and possessions. I saw those souls, and they were under the altar, under God's protection. Surely, they were individuals who trembled at the Word of God, and God looks upon such souls. The soul of such an individual shall lie under the altar, within God's sight, because they tremble and would rather lose their lives and everything than act against God's Word. This concludes the third point.
Fourthly, the fourth point is one of comfort and encouragement for all those who possess such a blessed disposition, those who tremble at the Word. "To him will I look, even to him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my word." The very text is filled with richness and offers comfort to such individuals. In the realm of nature, they say that "Tremor Cordis" is a disease, the trembling of the heart. However, in the realm of divinity, it is not a disease but a truly gracious disposition. Those who possess such a blessed disposition can find great comfort in it. Comfort can flow into their souls through various channels. There are six or seven streams of consolation flowing into the hearts of those who tremble at God's
Word.
The first point is this: Surely, God has begun to enlighten your soul by allowing you to see His glory in His Word. This is a great mercy.
There was a time when you saw nothing special in the Word of God, considering it no different from the words of man or other things.
But has God now started to reveal His majesty and glory in His Word to you? Oh, this is a precious mercy! It signifies that God is beginning to work great things in your soul.
Secondly, if you have a heart that trembles at the Word, know that all the threats in God's Word have already had their impact on your soul. Therefore, you need not fear any harm from them. I repeat, you do not need to fear the execution of any threats found in God's Word.
Why? Because God has already achieved the glory He desires from those threats within your heart. Why does the Lord threaten sinners in His Word? It is so that He may receive glory and that sinners may fear Him. But now, if you do fear Him and give Him glory, God has accomplished His purpose in issuing those threats, and they no longer have any power over you. It is a great comfort for a soul to know that no threatening in God's Word is directed at them to bring any harm upon them. Why? Because those threats have already achieved their purpose in my life, though not in execution.
There are two purposes for threats: either God obtains glory through their execution, or He receives glory through the trembling of the heart before Him.
Now, if God can receive His glory through your trembling, He will never desire to obtain His glory through execution. When He takes glory through execution, it is not because He delights in crushing the prisoners of the Earth under His feet. Indeed, God takes pleasure in His own glory. He is determined to receive glory for His name from every creature. However, God prefers to obtain His glory from our souls in an active manner rather than forcefully extracting glory from us in a passive manner. Therefore, if you have a heart that actively gives glory to Him, there is no need to fear that God will compel His glory from you in a passive way.
Thirdly, if you have a heart that trembles at the Word, know that God has a special intention for you in that very word of salvation.
Whenever God brings a message of life and salvation to any congregation, He has a specific aim at your soul. He directs His words of life and salvation towards you. Consider the Scripture in Acts 13:16: "Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen." But pay attention to what is said in verse 26: "Brothers, children of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation." If there is a soul that fears the Lord, that trembles in His presence, the word of salvation is sent to that soul. Whenever you come to hear anything about life and salvation in the preaching of the Word, know that God has you in mind specifically. The word of this salvation is sent to you.
Fourthly, if you tremble at God's Word, you shall be comforted. The Word of God contains just as much material to bring comfort to a soul as it does to make it tremble and fear. For this, I could provide you with many promises from Scripture. Let's consider these three.
The first promise is found a verse or two after my text, which I have also mentioned before: "Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at his word. Your brothers who hate you and exclude you because of my name have said, 'Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy!' But they will be put to shame." It's as if God is saying, "You trembled, so much so that you didn't dare do as others did, especially in matters of worship. You didn't venture as they did, and as a result, they cast you out. But here is a promise for you: The Lord will appear to bring you joy, and they will be ashamed." The Lord has fulfilled this promise many times.
Another promise is found in Proverbs 13:13: "Whoever despises the word will be destroyed, but whoever fears the commandment will be rewarded." God will reward you for this. Do you come before the Lord with a heart that trembles at his word? When you hear his word, do you receive it with a trembling heart? The one who fears the
commandment will be rewarded. This promise is the opposite of the earlier threat.
And a third promise is found in Isaiah 50:10: "Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God." This is for the soul that has such a trembling disposition of heart that it dares not disobey God's voice in his word. Perhaps there is someone here who sits in darkness and cannot see any light, who has walked with a trembling heart in response to God's word, and can appeal to God, saying, "Lord, you know all things. You know that I wouldn't disobey your voice for anything in the world. My heart stands in awe of your word." Yet, perhaps this soul is currently in darkness and sees no light. To such a soul, the Lord looks and speaks, saying, "Let that soul trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God," for there is true mercy for such a soul. This is the fourth stream of consolation for those who tremble at the word of God, that this word of God will certainly bring them comfort.
Fifthly, another source of comfort is that this disposition of your heart, trembling at God's word, is accepted in place of obedience.
Even if you cannot obey God's word as you would like, the Lord will spare you. The soul that recognizes its many weaknesses and is unable to fully obey the truths revealed in the word, yet trembles at it, shall find peace. I say the Lord accepts this trembling disposition instead of obedience, and indeed, even more so. The act of obedience itself does not hold as much significance as this; for a hypocrite can perform the act of obedience, but they lack this trembling. In Malachi 3:16, it is clearly referring to such a disposition, for in verse
15, it says, "And now we call the proud happy; yes, those who work wickedness are raised up; yes, those who tempt God are even delivered." But in verse 16, "Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name." Notice how God loves to emphasize this and savor it, as we do with things that are sweet. He
does not merely say "for them," but "for those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name." And the text continues, "They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him." Therefore, God does not say, "To him will I look who does my word," but "to him who trembles at my word." A learned person commenting on this passage said, "There is more godliness in the trembling of the heart than in the work of the hand."
God accepts it, and therefore be comforted in this.
Sixthly, another stream of comfort is that the Lord will reveal himself to this soul. Among all the dispositions in the world, the Lord loves to manifest himself to someone like this. Though it may not happen immediately, wait upon him, and the Lord will make known the most glorious things to you. You will come to know the mind of God more than anyone else. I will provide you with a significant text to support this idea: those who have trembling hearts at God's word come to know the mind of God sooner than anyone else in the world. The text can be found in Ezra 10:3. It says, "Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God. Let it be done according to the Law." The speaker urges them to act according to the counsel of his lord and those who tremble at the commandment of God.
As if to say, certainly they understand God's intentions, let's follow their advice, let's heed their counsel. Those who come before God and tremble at His word are the men and women who comprehend the nature of God better than anyone else. It is not said, "Let us do according to the counsel of my Lord and of the wise, learned, and understanding men among us," but rather "of those who tremble at His word." They know the mind of God.
And indeed, my brethren, it is wiser to seek counsel from those who tremble at God's word than from any other people in the world.
Learned individuals who possess bold spirits and live licentious and
wicked lives do not understand the secrets of God as those who tremble at His word do. There is a gracious promise to this effect in Psalm 25:14: "The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant." They shall understand God's secrets. Others may comprehend some outward aspects of God, but only those who fear the Lord have the promise of understanding His secrets and His covenant.
Seventhly, those who fear and tremble at God's word can find comfort. Why? Because the very word that you now tremble at is the word that God will compel the entire world to tremble at one day.
God will honour His word before men and angels. Consider, oh, what unimaginable joy it must bring to the heart of a man or woman when
God magnifies His word before the entire world. To think, this is the very word in which I saw the dreadful authority of God before when I lived in the world. This is the word that I esteemed and obeyed, and now God has come to fulfill it before men and angels. And now I see those who disregarded it trembling, even though it will be of no benefit to them. Therefore, blessed be God that while I lived, I trembled at His word, and now the Lord has come to magnify it so gloriously before men and angels.
Rest assured that there is a time coming when the Lord will bring honour to His word before the entire world. Therefore, those who currently tremble in reverence of it are truly blessed. Surely, their hearts will be filled with comfort when God comes and bestows honour upon His word in the presence of all.
Fifthly, once again, if this is the disposition that the Lord values so greatly, allow me, my brethren, to speak a word of rebuke to those who are far from possessing such a heart. Indeed, God looks for those who tremble at His word. But where does God find objects to behold? Even now, God is looking upon this great congregation, seeking to find one who trembles at His word. However, Lord, though we hope that You have some objects to behold, how many souls do You sometimes gaze upon before finding such an object?
Oh, no! It is the word that the angels long to understand. It is the word that thousands of souls in heaven bless the name of God for knowing, yet you disregard it as if it were worthless.
There is another group even further away, and they are those who take the liberty to argue against the word as if it were their equal. It is enough that you argue among your equals, but understand that even though the person speaking it may be your equal, the word of God is above you. In James 4, it is said, "If you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge." These individuals do not come to be doers of the law, but to be judges of the law.
Certainly, if God were to humble the hearts of men, they would not have so many objections against the truths of God that are proclaimed. But observe how God addresses them in His word, they will be inclined to turn their accusations towards their own hearts.
There is a significant scripture that illustrates this, especially when compared with another passage. The first is found in Job 38:2, where
God speaks to Job, whose heart had not yet been fully humbled.
Now, take note of what happens when God humbles Job in Chapter 42:9. Job responds, as if saying, "Who is the man? Well, it is I." He charges himself, just as God did before. This is a clear indication that the heart has been humbled when objections against the word disappear and the heart is willing to acknowledge the same charges brought forth by the word.
Thirdly, those who persistently disobey and rebel against the Word of God are to be rebuked. You know that your ways are contrary to what you hear in the Word, yet you continue without hesitation. Oh, how audacious is your heart to presume to persist in ways that you know are against God's Word! What do you expect to gain? Do you not fear the consequences described in God's Word? Do you not consider the risk of forfeiting all the good that is revealed there? Are you willing, or do you dare to endure the full extent of the evil threatened in the Word? Isn't it the Word that can save your soul if you are to be saved? Let me pose this question to all of you who
boldly persist in sin despite what you hear revealed in the Word: Do you actually expect to be saved by God's Word, yes or no? "Receive with meekness the implanted word which is able to save your souls."
Can you truly believe that you will be saved by a Word that you persistently rebel against? This is the pride of your heart, that you dare to take such risks. Consider the Scripture in Jeremiah 13:15,
"Hear and give ear; be not proud, for the Lord has spoken." So I say to those who continue in a constant state of rebellion against the Word, "Hear and give ear." Do not merely listen and let it pass by. Do not be proud, for the Lord has spoken. When you hear and refuse to heed what is said, but instead persist in rebellion against the truth that is revealed, it is a clear sign of your proud heart. The Lord has spoken, and it is only fitting for the creature to yield and submit.
Fourthly, there are others who not only live contrary to the Word, but they are also under the condemning sentence of God's Word.
They come and hear God's Word condemning them for their sins, and their consciences confirm that they are indeed guilty of the sins that God's Word condemns. Yet, they can sit there unaffected, numb, and with hardened hearts. This is not trembling at God's Word. It is even more significant for a single sentence from God's Word to condemn a sinner than if all the angels in heaven and all people on earth were to pronounce a sentence of condemnation. And yet, some of you can sit day after day under the condemning sentences of God's
Word, as if God's Word is true, and you are a condemned soul in the present moment.
I have no doubt that there are many who come to hear the Word and inwardly conclude, "If this is true, I am in a wretched state. I am condemned if that is true."
I remember knowing a man once who engaged in wrongdoing with another person, yet they both attended sermons together.
Afterwards, he would say to the other person, "Madam, if what the minister speaks is true, you and I are in a dire condition." Similarly, many people say, "If it is true, I am a profoundly miserable person."
Let me ask each and every one of you in this congregation a question:
Suppose that all the threats in God's Word are true and are indeed the Word of God, and suppose that they must all be fulfilled. What would you think of your condition then? I have no doubt that many consciences would answer, "Certainly, my condition would be utterly unbearable if this is true. But I hope things will not turn out so dire."
Well then, it all comes down to this: The foundation of your peace, present rest, and comfort relies on your hope that things will not turn out as bad as they are revealed in the Word. Is this not the basis of your soul's rest and comfort?
And if you were certain that things would indeed be as bad as they are proclaimed to be, you would say to yourself, "I will never continue in my wicked ways again. I would never be able to sleep peacefully at night." Therefore, if those things were true, you would be unable to sleep. Now, I say, cursed be that peace, that comfort, that sleep, that state which has no foundation except the hope that God's Word is not true. But this is the sole basis for the comforts that many people rely on throughout their lives. I am afraid that if God were to call upon individuals and ask them, "What is the foundation of your entire life?" they would be forced to say, "Lord, it is based on the hope that things are not as bad as ministers preach from the Word." Now I declare, cursed be that hope that is grounded on no other basis. Take a look at yourself. You have a bold heart that dares to risk your soul and eternal destiny on such a hope. If God's Word proves true, you will be a lost and doomed creature for all eternity.
Yet, you dare to take such a risk! It is a bold venture. Oh, consider this, all of you who can sit under the condemning power of God's
Word without having your hearts deeply affected. Learn to tremble at it.
Fifthly, there is another group of people who need to be rebuked on this matter. These are the individuals whose hearts rise up against God's Word. They do not tremble at it. When the Word of God pierces their consciences and instills fear, their only desire and effort
is to remove it from their hearts. They wish they had not attended the sermon. They are troubled by it and seek the company of the wicked to rid themselves of the fear of God's Word. These people are far from trembling. Oh, poor creature that you are, how much better it would be for you to pursue the work of God that may benefit your soul. In the future, you may find yourself regretting your foolishness.
You will have reason to say, "What a blessed thing it would have been if I had continued in the work of God that He began in me at that time."
Sixthly, there is another group who rage against the Word of God, just as we read about the wicked King Jehoiakim in Jeremiah 36.
When the scroll was brought before him and read, he took a penknife and cut it, throwing it into the fire. I once knew someone who, while reading the scripture against adultery, tore out the pages. But consider this: Jehoiakim's father's heart melted when the Word was read, while his own son took a pen-knife and cut it, tossing it into the fire. This was such a great evil that I have read that the Jews observed a yearly fast to mourn this sin of their king.
Seventhly, how far removed are those who scorn at God's Word from trembling! For instance, when Christ Himself preached against covetousness in Luke 16, those who were covetous derided Him.
Similarly, in various scriptures, I could show the contempt and scorn that people directed towards Isaiah and Paul for the word they delivered. However, I will not elaborate further to avoid prolonging my discourse. Oh, this is also an immensely dreadful wickedness for anyone to be guilty of such a height of impiety, as the Lord expects trembling at His Word while they choose to scorn it.
Eighthly, there is another group, although not as severe, who jest at God's Word. But beware, my brethren, of treating Scripture as a source of jests. Wise men should never jest about two things: those in misery and holy things. So when you engage with God's Word and make jests out of Scripture, you are meddling with sharp tools. Know that it is a serious form of taking God's name in vain for anyone to
mock Scripture. I recall a statement by Luther: if a person wants to play and jest, let them jest with their children, with their toys. But as soon as they come to hear the Word, they should obey without any dispute. They may jest with other things, but not with that. In another instance, Luther said that it is not a matter of play to hear
God's Word. When the Word touches the soul, it is like thunder that can topple the mightiest things by its power. Hearing the Word is not a matter of jesting, but of trembling. So who are you to mock the Word, object to it, rebel against it, or argue with it? Who are you to obscure knowledge like this? What are you that you can raise your heart against the blessed Word of God? The Word of the Lord shakes the heavens and the earth (Psalm 104:32). God merely looks upon the earth and it trembles. Yet God speaks to you and you refuse to tremble. In Job 26:11, it is said that the pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at God's reproof. Pay attention to the text. If God merely reproves, the pillars of heaven are astonished. How many times has God reproved you through His Word and you have not trembled?
God reproves you for your Sabbath-breaking, swearing, keeping bad company, neglecting His worship in your family, and your atheism.
In Job 9:6, it is said that the shaking of the earth causes the pillars to tremble. The pillars of the earth and the pillars of heaven tremble.
Who are you to stand before the Word of God? Even holy men tremble when they hear the Word. In Jeremiah 23:9, it is written,
"My heart is broken within me; all my bones shake. I am like a drunken man, like a man overcome by wine, because of the Lord and His holy words." The saints tremble, as stated in Habakkuk 3:16,
"When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice."
Even the angels in heaven listen with reverence to the Word of the Lord. They do His commandments and heed the voice of His word.
They approach God's Word with respect and obedience. And you, what are you doing all this time? When God speaks, the pillars of the earth and heaven tremble. The saints of God tremble, the holy prophets tremble. Even the angels tremble. Yet you stand before
God's Word without a trembling heart. Let me speak these two or three things to you.
First, know that the Lord cannot help but look upon one who trembles at His Word with acceptance. But it is impossible for Him not to despise and detest a hard, stony heart like yours. You are a poor, vile wretch whom the smallest word from my mouth could send to the depths of hell. Yet when I speak, you pay no attention. It is impossible for the Lord to look upon you without bringing destruction. Especially if you are filled with base fears. When your master or someone in authority speaks, you fear them. But when the infinite, eternal, and dreadful God speaks, you do not fear. Know that the Word you do not fear is working your destruction. God will work fear into your heart, and one day you will tremble. As written in Isaiah 51:17, "Awake, awake, stand up, O Jerusalem, you who have drunk from the hand of the Lord the cup of His fury; you have drunk the dregs of the cup of trembling, and drained it." There will come a time when God will make sinners who do not tremble at His Word drink the dregs of the cup of trembling. The dregs may become your portion.
Furthermore, when God causes trembling, it's possible that He will pay as little attention to your fears as you pay to His Word. That passage in Proverbs 1 is most dreadful: "I will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your fear cometh."
In conclusion, I exhort all of us to strive for such a blessed disposition of the heart. In Hosea 13:1 and 5, it is mentioned that when Ephraim spoke, trembling would ensue. Some interpretations suggest that this was to the honour of Ephraim, as when Ephraim spoke, the people around him trembled.
Surely, it must be an honour to the great God that when He speaks, all people should tremble. The voice of the Lord is full of majesty and glory, and thus it is fitting for us all to tremble before Him. Let us
ponder upon the weightiness of His word and consider the majesty of God that is revealed within it.
Consider this: God has consistently fulfilled His word throughout time. The word of God has overwhelmed countless souls, casting them down and leading them to eternal ruin by the power of His word. Therefore, it is only fitting that I should tremble.
I implore you to pray to God that He may reveal to your soul the glory of His name found within His word. In Deuteronomy, the Lord speaks of giving the people a trembling heart as a curse, but you should beseech it from God as a blessing.
And you should demonstrate that God has instilled this disposition in your hearts through attentive reverence, just as fear causes the eyes to be focused. If men and women truly trembled at the Word, they would not be indifferent or sleep through it, but rather they would pay close attention. Oh, may the Lord continue to inspire awe for His Word in your hearts.
You may argue that if the Word were spoken directly from heaven, then you would surely pay heed, but as it is, you cannot.
There were several things I intended to discuss regarding this matter, but I will only give you one Scripture to counter that objection so that it will no longer prevail. In 2 Chronicles, the last verse of the chapter, it is stated: "And he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the Lord." The Lord charges Zedekiah with doing evil before Him and not humbling himself before Jeremiah the prophet. Now, Jeremiah was a humble man, what significance did he hold in comparison to King Zedekiah? But still, Zedekiah did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the Lord. Therefore, do not say that you would tremble only if God spoke from heaven. Instead, when we speak according to