who in time past were no people, but now are God's people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

 The Christian is to yearn for this milk of the word; yearn is epipothein ( G1971) which is a strong word. It is the word which is used for the hart longing for the waterbrooks ( Psalms 42:1), and for the Psalmist longing for the salvation of the Lord ( Psalms 119:174). For the sincere Christian, to study God's word is not a labour but a delight, for he knows that there his heart will find the nourishment for which it longs. 