The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-07-20
THE GRACIOUS
INVITATION q q

Specially Prepared FOR This Pager.

ory verses e-e. Read also Isaiah g.
GOLDEN TExT.--"seek ye the Lord
while He may be found. Isaiah $50.
TIME. Isaiah prophesied between the
years 7lo and 70l y. c. The edict for the
return Of the Jews from captivity was
given 63S B. c.
PLACE.-Isaiah prophe esied In Jerusalem.
Many scholars think this portion Of the
book was written BY prophet at Babylon.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES Compare
the Invitation Of Isa SSH. 2. with those Of
John +:10-N; 6:32-68: 1879; Rev. 21:6; 22:17.
The sure mercies Of David'' in lisa. 55:S
and in 2 Sam. 1876; 1856; Psa. 1880; S9:2s, -.
Get light on v. from lisa. 25:3; A:23: 1878. T.
For the thought of v. 9 see lisa. +9S; Jer.
29:i2-N
Comment and Suggestive Thought.
v. 1. "Ho." An exclamation to at
tract attention. Moderns have ex-
panded It into Hello. Every one mat
thirsteth." One must feel his need In
order to be attracted to that which
will supply 1t. Waters, milk, wine"
BY these expressive figures tAe prophet
seeks to set forth the blessings of sal
walton,
v. Q. Spend not bread" It
would be foolish to spend money for
81 etSiCo VI AOOu VI uIlhht WhhCu,
stead Of nourishing the body, poison
It: that is what the drunkard does.
v. 8. Incline your ear and come"
Hear and heed" is the reiterated call
Of this passage. "Your soul shall live"
Our spirit, heart, real life, can be sup
ported only by communion with Jesus.
IAN everlasting covenant" An agree
ment that can never be broken.
v. 4. Him." Il seems dif1icult to
decide whether the historical David,
or "David's greater Son." Jesus, is
here alluded to. David was in some
ways q type Of Jesus. He was q
witness" to the surrounding nations
Of the true God.
VT. Thou shalt call nation" ETC.
As David spread the knowledge of the
true God, 20 do Christians spread the
knowledge Of Jesus.
We Seek ye the Lord" While God is
always seeking US. there must be in our
part also q seeking, or. rather, q will
ingness to be found. while He may
be founo." This implies that a time
will come when God cannot be found;
this will be because our hearts have
grown hard 30 that they do not re-
spond to His loving touch.
" Z. The prophet now goes on to
tell how to seek the Lord. Wicked
forsake his way" Break of sinful
habits. turn from bad companions and
haunts Of vice. "Unrighteous man"
I 11x h. - o.
that 10. one who IL false instead of
true. His thoughts" Evil thoughts
put . barrier between God and man.
VS.. g. 8. my thoughts are not your
thoughts" etc This refers especially
to Gods thoughts about saving men.
These surpass anything that could have
entered into our minds. Their vast
ness is pictured by pointing to the
heavens. Countless worlds appear
there as stars, while in size they far
exceed our earth or sun; so are Gods
thoughts and ways beyond ours. In
the matter of pardon, for instance
when we pardon those who have
wronged us. IT is apt to be grudginglE
with reservations. and with a feeling
that we never can forget the injury;
but God abundantly pardons.
VS.. 10, II. Gods work in the proc.
esses Of nature is often pointed to that
we may learn therefrom about His
processes of grace. As He sends the
rain and snow, SO He has provided fol
refreshing and fertilizing our hearts
The means he has furnished for doing
this Is here called my Word" W.
must recollect the power Of the crea.
tive word Of God. think Of the heart
touching power of the words of Jesus
by which the lives of those who heart
were enlightened and purified. Gods
purposes for our salvation, ~ embodied
In His word. Shall not return void
that 10. they shall accomplish that
for which they were intended in thu
salvation Of mankind.
v. IL. For ye shall go out Will
JOY" These words seem to apply pri
marty 70 the return Of the captivsi
from Babylon: and, secondarily, to al
tAs people Of God who shall be deliv
sr6d from the bondage OF SIN and let
into the enjoyment Of peace and glad
ness through the reign Of Christ In tn
hsartsof men everywhere = The seen,
II one a sssl Joy. ~ = -
WIS. "lAitsad Of the thorn." Th'
smblem Of 1ih. Shall come up Oh,
ar trss" Rsprssentins beauty N,
ussfulasss. SO OF the "bfier" an,
myrtle tree. So great 10 the pcws
Of the Gospel that It can change nj
torres which are sharp. thorAy AM
hateful. until they Aii places o
bsAuty and usefulness In the world
TAis ID accomplished. in . measure. Il
every converted soul: the picture will
bs Alled out when Christ shah rule al
nations. and all men become HiS leya
subjects. And Il" (both tho work
Of nature and the Offer Of salvatiol
made in the preceding versss) "shal
bs b the Lord for . name" VIII re
veal Gods love and His glory (com
pare Jsr. bid.
Practical Points.
| VI. All that is needed to invigo
rate, cheer. nourish. Is stored up Il
Christ Jesus.-Rom. 1892.
va. The best way to cure ourselve
and others Of the taste for the world
unsatisfying pleasures is to eat freel
Of that which truly nourishes the sou
-hph. 3:1s.
v. 9. God II ever seeking US. bu
until We too seek, there can be n
happy finding.-Isa. 65:l2.
VI. Ways Of wickedness must
forsaken by those who would wal
with Q0A.-Heb. 1851