Grainger County news. (Rutledge, Tenn.) 1917-current, 1917-07-26
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDGYSGOOL
LESSON
LESSON FOR JULY 20
GODS GRACIOUS INVITATION.
LESSON TExT-Isa,ab sI.,I

Il
GOLDEN TEXT-seek ye the Lord
while he may be found. call ys upon him
while he Is near-Isa. b5:6
The Bible is throughout a forward
looking book. No matter how dark
| the light. II looks forward to the dawn
of a new and better day. Whenever
written, the prophet looks forward to-
ward the end of the BabylOnlan exile.
Isaiah died about 142 years before that
event. That scene is laid in Baby
lonia. 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
53 and "a. In chapter SO we have a
prophecy and vision of the Messiah,
making his atonement for sins,
wounded for our transgresslons."
Again we have in this connection a
picture Of the Messiah as our leader
and Savior. In chapter IS we have
the invitation and joyous welcome to
the beautiful city which he is estab-
fishing for us.
~ Who Is invlted2 The word "Ho"
Is perhaps an abbrevlation of the
word "Hold," used to excite attention.
This invitation is extended to every
one: (a) the thirsty" to those who
are needy; (b) the poor and the rich /;
those without money" and the supply
Is abundant, even as the water. Every
one is invited without limitation or
distinction. The greatness of 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
'.mllk," staple necessity, without
money and without price. The cur
rency of the kingdom of Heaven is
grace ". ID.
(2) Who Will Conner ". 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. 1t Is the natural, harmonious,
| Joyous activity of every part Of our
being. The result of coming is, "your
soul shall i've" and the surety of II
IL, ian everlasting covenant" Liter
ally, an agreement with promises
which can never be broken, namely,
''the sure mercies Of David" (See II
Sam. II 20; / Cor. II 1927; Ps. SO 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.
| CO.. When to Come ". 81. While
he may be found, and while he is
near. implying a time when he may
4 not be found and time when he will
not be near. All of Coos promises are
conditional.
~ 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 If we insist
on continuing in sin.
II. The Transformation wv. 8-13)
Gods promises have back of them all
the power Of the universe and are as
certain as the process of the seasons
In working out his transformation 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 10; Phil. AID. 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). If 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
(Gal. 5:22-26). This transformation
involves service, for we are to have 9
mission, Ego out to all the EARTH" be
ing led by the Messiah and thus re
ceive "joy and peace" AS sure al
1.-The rain cometh down and the snow
from heaven and returneth not bu
watereth the EARTH" so is the seed oi
the Word in the hands of the sower, Il
become bread to the eater. AS we e
forth we have his promise ". III that
sit shall not return void but shall &C
complish that which / please, and 4
shall prosper In the thing wheretO
sent it."
AS a result the 'thorns" (eyil,
shall be displaced by "fg trees
(good). Gods word bears fruit In i'm
planted lives. John 6 :33; James :18
l Peter :23). God calls this word
which is spoken of by the prophet, M
word" What the prophet says, Coz
says. What an inspired man says, Coo
inspires him to say. Gods promis'
will be consummated in redeeming SO
ciety, as well as redeeming creation
wv. 12,13; Oh. 80 10; 40 $40; 81 IL
Jer. 81 :12-14; lisa. 50 :1,2). The Ian