This verse soundly emphasizes the old one, two, three of Christian victory. If we are to be victorious in the battle against the enemies of our soul, the world, the flesh, and the devil, we must utilize the power of the Lord in every encounter, else we will lean on the arm of the flesh, and Jeremiah 17:5 reveals God’s will concerning this matter: "Thus saith the Lord, Cursed be the man, that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord".According to the prophet Jeremiah, there is a curse connected with trusting in man, making the flesh his arm of strength and so called victory. The curse might be the curse of not glorifying the Lord, and thereby not receiving an eternal reward. Or it might be the curse of plodding on deeper into fleshly sin habits, sewing to the flesh corruption, instead of sowing to the Spirit eternal things.
Jeremiah, however, does pinpoint the cause of trusting in the flesh, he says the one who trusts in man, his heart has departed from the Lord. This one is definitely not abiding in Christ, this one has not actively by faith put himself under the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus(Romans 8:2), he certainly has not made Christ his life(Colossians 3:1), he has not "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof"(Romans 13:14) no the one who is under the curse Jeremiah speaks of, is fully trusting in his own strength to bring him the victory! It is significant, though, to understand that this one is not lost and without Christ. No, Jeremiah says: his "heart departeth from the Lord" so he at one time must have been walking with the Lord. So, let us be on guard, watch and pray, that we enter not into temptation, departing from the presence and protection of continual communion with the Lord Jesus by abiding in Him, for the heart that departs from the Lord will suffer the curse of trusting in man.
So, number one, if we are to have victory over the enemies of our soul, we must first and fully lean on Jesus, and the best way to do that is to call upon Him to "Hear, O Lord" David says in our text verse. Jeremiah 33:3 also encourages us to call upon the Lord: "Call unto Me and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not." David in countless passages cries out to God in times of distress and trouble, begging, pleading with the Lord to come to his rescue when the enemy attacks. "Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me." (Psalm 27:7) David’s appeal to the Lord to hear his request, carries with it an urgent emphasis for the Lord to listen to him, paying close attention to his present specific situation. This attitude of total reliance on the Lord is exactly what the Lord wants to hear.
Not only did he ask the Lord to hear, but, number two, he requested the Lord to have mercy upon him. Mercy, God’s response to an undeserving offender, a sinner who is totally helpless and undone apart from the mercy of God. "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." God’s mercy in Christ is new every morning. It is only through God’s mercy in Christ that forgiveness for our offenses against God is appropriated. Through the cleansing power of the Blood of Jesus our sins are eliminated by the mercy of God. Yes, when we confess our sins we are reminded of God’s mercy in Christ, for it is only through the suffering of our Saviour that our sins, past present and future are totally forgiven to be remembered no more forever! Amen?
And finally number three, David knew, centuries before Jesus spoke those key words of Christian victory "Without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5), unless the Lord builds the house they labor in vain that build it. David understood if the Lord was not his Helper, he would not be delivered from his enemies, he would not have rest and peace in his soul, he would not receive God’s healing power for his spiritual and physical body. David’s plea for the Lord’s help demonstrates his full reliance on the Lord to bring about complete victory in the battle against his foes, and also total healing for his spiritual and physical body.(Psalm 30:1,2) Yes, The Old One, Two, Three of our Lord Jesus Christ’s ongoing Victory must be taken advantage of day by day if we are to rejoice in Christ Jesus, having no confidence in the flesh