The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-07-26
LESSON FOR JULY 20
GODS GRACIOUS INVITATION.

while he is near.-Isa. 55s
The Bible is throughout n forward
looking book. No matter how dark
the light, Il looks forward TO the dawn
Of n new and better day. Whenever
written, the prophet looks forward to-
ward the end OF the Babylonian exile.
Isaiah died about 1i2 years before that
event. That scene Is laid In Baby
lonla. Isaiah prophesied In Jerusalem.
.. The Invitation, wv. 1-s) In or.
der TO understand the fullness and
blessedness OF this invitation. we
should read In its connection chapters
90 and "a. In chapter SO we have
prophecy and vision OF the Messiah,
making his atonement for sins.
wounded for our transgressIons."
Again we have In this connection a
picture Of the Messiah as our leader
and Savior. In chapter So we have
the invitation and Joyous welcome to
the beautiful city which he is estab-
fishing for us.
90 Who 10 invlted7 The word "Ho"
u
word Hold" used To excite attention.
This invitation Is extended TO every
Cd (a) the thirsty" TO those who
NDheedy; % the poor and the rich
those without money" and the supply
Is abundant. even ms the water. Every
one Is invited without limitation or
distinction. The greatness OF n mans
spirit Is measured by the numbers Of
his desires and thirsts. by their quail
tiles and by his capacities or the In
tensity OF his thirst. Those invited
were TO have "wine," luxury. and
"milk," staple necessity. without
money and without price. The cur
rency Of the kingdom Of Heaven Is
grace ". -.
(2) Who viii Gomez ". 81. Only
those who are listening and who are
attentive. Many fail OF eternal life
because they do not pay attention to
the claims OF religion. "Come unto
me-" (Matt. IL :2s). We go to God
for salvation and help. and we find
life. Life Is more than mere exist
ence. II Is the natural. harmonious.
Joyous activity OF every part Of our
being. The result OF coming Is. "your
soul shall live" and the surety OF II
IL. "an everlasting covenant" Liter
ally. an agreement with promises
which can never be broken. namely.
''the sure mercies of David" (See ii
Sam. IL 20: Cor. 17:7-27: Ps. 80 Ia |;
also Luke 20 Al, Az. We are bought
but we did not pay the price. The
mercies OF David are the antitype OF
our Savior; the mercy OF grace. True
satisfaction Is In its right order. (See
w. 2. 81. Christ is a faithful witness,
the exalted one. ". 81 to this cove
nant.
(3) When to Come ". o.. While
he may be found and while he Is
near. implying time when he may
not be found and time when he will
not be near. All OF Gods promises are
conditional.
(4) The Way to Come ". y. For
sake open sin, turn from unrighteous
thought. turn TO the Lord and receive
his multiplied pardon" Man Is every
where depicted In the Scriptures as
wandering away from the true God
and there Is no salvation II We insist
on continuing In sin.
10. The Transformation wv. S13).
Gods promises have back of them all
the power OF the universe and are as
certain as the process Of the seasons.
Tn In % Tor In
the character Of man, We are to think
his thoughts after him. We see and
know only very little of this spirit,
but God sees, knows and controls the
universe. which Is at his command.
Il Cor. 10:13; Phil. 4 :19). We are to
enter into his ways. and his ways are
as the heavens. higher than those of
the earth. Having entered into his
ways we are to bring his fruits (see
John 15). II the Divine seed ". III
Is implanted within us. then we may ex-
pect to see the fruits Of the kingdom
Of God. which are born Of the spirit.
~. o :22-28). This transformation
NBlves service. for we are to have a
mission, "go out to all the EARTH" be-
Ing led by the Messiah and thus re-
ceive "joy and peace" As sure as
"the rain cometh down and the snow
from heaven and returneth not but
watereth the EARTH" 80 is the seed of
the Word In the hands Of the sower, to
become bread to the eater. As We go
forth We have his promise ". III that,
ut shall not return void but shall ac-
complish that which l please, and II
shall prosper In the thing whereto
sent It."
As result the "thorns" (eviD
shall be displaced by fig trees"
(good). Gods word bears fruit In I'M
planted lives. (John Q :S3; James las;
! Peter / :23). God calls this word,
which is spoken Of by the prophet my
word" What the prophet says, God
says. What an inspired man says, God
inspires him to say. Gods promise
will be consummated In redeeminG So
ciety, as well as redeeming creation