Cease ye from man
William MacDonald warns that placing ultimate trust in man rather than God leads to inevitable disappointment and calls believers to cease from trusting in human strength and turn wholly to God.
In this sermon, William MacDonald explores the biblical call to 'Cease ye from man,' emphasizing the dangers of misplaced trust in human beings. Drawing from the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah as well as the Psalms, MacDonald highlights the transient nature of man and the superiority of trusting God alone. He encourages believers to keep God on the throne of their hearts and warns of the inevitable disappointment when man replaces God as the ultimate source of confidence.
Text
“Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?” (Isaiah 2:22)
When we give a man or woman the place in our life that only God should have, we are in for a bitter disappointment. We will soon learn that the best of men are men at best. Although they might have some very fine qualities, yet they still have feet of iron and clay. This may sound like cynicism, but it is not. It is realism.
When the invaders were threatening Jerusalem, the people of Judah looked to Egypt for deliverance. Isaiah denounced them for this misplaced trust, saying, “Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharaoh King of Egypt to all that trust in him”(Isaiah 36:6). And Jeremiah said later, under similar circumstances, “Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:5).
The psalmist showed genuine insight on this subject when he wrote, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes” (Psalm 118:8,9). And again, “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish” (Psalm 146:3, 4).
Of course, we must realize that there is a certain sense in which we have to trust one another. What would a marriage be, for instance, without a certain measure of trust and respect? In business life, the use of checks as money is based on a system of mutual trust. We trust doctors to diagnose and prescribe properly. We trust the labels on cans and packages in the food market. It would be almost impossible to live in any society without some confidence in our fellows.
The danger comes when we trust man to do what only God can do, when we take the Lord off the throne and put man on it. Anyone who displaces God in our affections, who takes His place as our confidence, who usurps any of His prerogatives in our lives—that one is certain to disappoint us bitterly. We will realize too late that man is not worthy of our trust.
Sermon Outline
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I
- The futility of trusting in man
- Biblical warnings against misplaced trust
- Examples from Isaiah and Jeremiah
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II
- The psalmist’s insight on trusting God over man
- The transient nature of human life and strength
- The superiority of divine trust
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III
- The necessity of some human trust in daily life
- Distinguishing between practical trust and ultimate trust
- The danger of displacing God with man
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IV
- Consequences of putting man in God’s place
- Call to keep God on the throne of our hearts
- Encouragement to rely fully on God’s strength
Key Quotes
“When we give a man or woman the place in our life that only God should have, we are in for a bitter disappointment.” — William MacDonald
“Anyone who displaces God in our affections, who takes His place as our confidence, who usurps any of His prerogatives in our lives—that one is certain to disappoint us bitterly.” — William MacDonald
“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” — William MacDonald
Application Points
- Evaluate where you place your ultimate trust and ensure it is in God alone.
- Recognize the limitations of human strength and avoid idolizing people or institutions.
- Cultivate a daily reliance on God’s power rather than human resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'Cease ye from man' mean?
It means to stop placing ultimate trust and confidence in human beings and instead rely fully on God.
Is it wrong to trust people at all?
No, practical trust in others is necessary for daily life, but ultimate trust belongs only to God.
Why does trusting man lead to disappointment?
Because humans are fallible and limited, they cannot fulfill the role of God in our lives.
What biblical examples illustrate misplaced trust?
The people of Judah trusting Egypt for deliverance and the warnings from Isaiah and Jeremiah highlight this.
How can I ensure I am trusting God properly?
By keeping God first in your heart, relying on His strength, and not allowing anyone or anything to take His place.