Moab hath been at ease from his youth
William MacDonald teaches that a life of ease without trials leaves the believer spiritually flat, and God uses disruptions to refine and strengthen character.
In this sermon, William MacDonald explores Jeremiah 48:11, using the metaphor of wine-making to illustrate how a life of ease leads to spiritual stagnation. He emphasizes that God uses trials and disruptions to refine believers, developing their character and dependence on Him. Drawing from historical examples and biblical truth, MacDonald encourages listeners to embrace God's sovereign refining process for spiritual growth.
Text
“Moab hath been at ease from his youth, and he hath settled on his lees, and liath not been emptied from vessel to vessel, neither hath he gone into captivity: therefore his taste remained in him, and his scent is not changed.” (Jer. 48:11)
Jeremiah here takes an illustration from the art of wine-making to teach us that a life of ease does not produce strength of character.
Whenever wine is being fermented in casks or vats, lees or dregs settle to the bottom. If the wine is left undisturbed, it becomes unpalatable. So the vintner must pour out the wine from vessel to vessel, eliminating the dregs and impurities. When he does this, the wine developes strength, aroma, color and flavor.
Moab had lived a life of ease. He had never suffered the disruption of going into captivity. He had insulated himself from troubles, trials and privations. The result was that his life was flat and insipid. It lacked fragrance and piquancy.
What is true of wine is true of us also. We need disruption, opposition, difficulties and disturbances to rid us of impurities and to develop the graces of a Christ-filled life.
Our natural tendency is to protect ourselves from anything that would unsettle us. We strive unceasingly to nestle.
But God’s will for us is that our lives should be a perpetual crisis of dependence on Him. He is forever stirring up the nest.
In her biography of Hudson Taylor, Mrs. Howard Taylor wrote: “This life that was to be made a blessing the wide world over must pass through a very different process (i.e., different from being settled on his lees), including much of that emptying and re-emptying ‘from vessel to vessel’, so painful to the lower nature, from which we are being refined.”
When we realize what the Divine Vintner is seeking to accomplish in our lives, it saves us from rebellion and teaches us submission and dependence. We learn to say:
Leave to His sovereign sway
To choose and to command;
So shalt thou wondering own His way,
How wise, how strong His hand.
Far, far above thy thought
His counsel shall appear,
When fully He the work hath wrought
That caused thy needless fear.
Sermon Outline
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I
- Explanation of Jeremiah 48:11
- Illustration from wine-making process
- The danger of a life of ease
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II
- Moab's life as a metaphor for spiritual stagnation
- The need for disruption and trials
- God’s purpose in stirring our lives
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III
- The natural human tendency to avoid disturbance
- The Divine Vintner’s refining process
- Submission and dependence on God
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IV
- Illustration from Hudson Taylor’s biography
- Learning to trust God’s sovereign hand
- The ultimate purpose of God’s work in us
Key Quotes
“A life of ease does not produce strength of character.” — William MacDonald
“God’s will for us is that our lives should be a perpetual crisis of dependence on Him.” — William MacDonald
“When we realize what the Divine Vintner is seeking to accomplish in our lives, it saves us from rebellion and teaches us submission and dependence.” — William MacDonald
Application Points
- Embrace trials as opportunities for spiritual growth rather than obstacles to avoid.
- Trust God's sovereign hand even when life feels unsettled or difficult.
- Cultivate a continual dependence on God through all circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'settled on his lees' mean in the sermon?
It refers to a wine-making term where wine left undisturbed becomes flat and unpalatable, symbolizing a life of ease without growth.
Why does God allow trials and difficulties?
God uses trials to remove impurities and develop strength and character in believers, much like wine being refined.
How can believers respond to God's refining process?
Believers should submit to God's sovereign will, trusting His wisdom and allowing Him to shape their lives.
What is the significance of the Moab illustration?
Moab represents a people who lived in ease and security but lacked spiritual vitality and growth due to absence of trials.
How does this sermon encourage spiritual dependence?
It teaches that a life of constant dependence on God through challenges is necessary for spiritual maturity.