An Ocean of Sweetness--without One Drop of Bitterness
God is a pure and unmixed portion, completely good and without any evil or imperfection.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes that God is the ultimate source of goodness and sweetness, portraying Him as an ocean of pure delight without any bitterness. He contrasts God's perfect nature with the mixed experiences of life, asserting that while other sources may bring both joy and sorrow, God remains entirely good and free from any evil. Brooks highlights that God embodies all light, love, and kindness, making Him the perfect portion for our souls. The sermon encourages believers to place their hope in God, who is wholly good and without any darkness.
Text
"The Lord is my portion, says my soul; therefore
I will hope in Him." Lamentations 3:24
God is a pure and unmixed portion.
God is an unmixed good--He has nothing in Him but goodness.
He is an ocean of sweetness--without one drop of bitterness.
He is a perfect beauty--without the least spot or shadow of deformity.
All other portions are a bittersweet; but God is a rose without prickles.
He is a good, in which there is not the least evil. God is a most clear,
bright, shining light; yes, He is all light, and in Him is no darkness at all.
There are no mixtures in God. God is . . .
all light,
all love,
all sweetness,
all goodness,
all kindness,
all graciousness.
There is . . .
no impurity,
no unloveliness,
no bitterness,
nor any darkness
at all in God.
Sermon Outline
- God's Nature
- Characteristics of God
- Comparison to Other Things
- Bittersweet vs. Pure Goodness
- God as a Perfect Beauty
- All Sweetness
Key Quotes
“He is an ocean of sweetness--without one drop of bitterness.” — Thomas Brooks
“God is a most clear, bright, shining light; yes, He is all light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” — Thomas Brooks
“There are no mixtures in God.” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- We can trust God completely because He is completely good and has no evil or imperfection.
- We should strive to be like God, who is all light, all love, and all sweetness.
- We can have hope in God because He is a perfect beauty and has no darkness or evil.