Seek Ye The LORD
Our Bible passage, introduction to Sunday 25th February service and hymns are below.
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Our principal verses are:
Isa 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Isa 55:2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
Isa 55:3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
Isa 55:4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.
Isa 55:5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.
Isa 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isa 55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Isa 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Isa 55:13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Seek Ye The LORD
In chapter 53 we were taught about the person of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, and how He represented, suffered and died for His people. In Ch. 54 we learned that Christ’s reward was His Bride and of the success and enlargement of the church of whom it had been said, in Ch. 52, ‘all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God’. In today’s passage we have the unfolding of Christ’s gifts to His church under the gospel call and the Lord’s encouragement to His people to partake, eat and be satisfied with His goodness.
How to holler!
The word ‘Ho’ is a public shout to gain attention, it carries a sense of pity, concern, even danger for those spoken to. In this, Isaiah’s ‘Ho’ suitably parallels the gospel-call. The gospel is spiritual food for hungry souls. We endeavour, as the Lord enables, to spread our message clearly and widely for the conviction of sin and the hearing of faith. Spiritually applied, God’s ‘Ho’ calls sinners to hear and partake of the word preached. Milk and wine, represent the body and blood of Christ by which quickened souls are fed and nourished.
Seeking a large audience
We do not preach only to a few special individuals. There is a fulness and a fitness in the call of the gospel intended to encourage all men and women to seek salvation in Jesus Christ. The only Saviour suitable for sinners is set before those in need with the sure and certain promise from Christ’s own lips, ‘he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst … All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.’
The true divine spark
There must be spiritual life before there can be spiritual hearing. There must be a new birth from above and conversion, otherwise, sinners lack ability and the heart-desire to respond to Christ’s welcoming words. Those who come by faith to Christ reveal themselves to be heirs of the everlasting covenant of grace and peace. The ‘sure mercies of David’ are covenant-promises made by God with Christ, and His people in Him, from eternity. David was shown these mercies for his comfort in his own lifetime, as are all believers in theirs.
Seek ye the Lord
The Lord Jesus Christ was appointed as a witness or testifier and Mediator in the covenant of peace. He leads and instructs His church. In this office the Lord’s work shall prosper. Nations will run to Him, even an unknown nation or a nation previously estranged from Christ. This is a picture of the elect of God, hidden in the Gentile world but now revealed through preaching the gospel and gathered for Christ’s glory. Sinners are called to seek the Lord in a timely fashion while He is near to save and deliver.
God’s ‘let’ is His command
All for whom Christ died, and for whom He stands as Surety, will flee to Him for salvation. Though wicked, they will seek pardon. Though unrighteous, they will desire holiness from the Lord. They will return to the Lord from whom they fell in Adam, seeking mercy according to His promise. What is impossible with man is possible with God. God’s ways and thoughts transcend our own. God’s word will not return void. Despite all appearances the gospel is accomplishing God’s pleasure and gathering and building up the church.
Our song of praise
Let no one doubt the success of our Saviour even in these days when genuine spiritual hunger and thirst seem rare. Let there be an air of victory in the song of the redeemed. With joy we leave behind the prison house of death. What appear to travellers to be obstacles on their journey, such as mountains and forests, will prove not to be hurdles at all. Even rough tracks will be pathways of praise on our way to glory. What we most dread will prove to be unfounded. Instead of a thorn there will be a fir tree; instead of a brier, a myrtle tree. In other words, even the troubles of life will be fir-oil scented and grant shade and fruit in due season.
Victory, glory and joy
Isaiah saw the victory of the Messiah and the glory of His church. He prophesied by divine revelation and told the remnant people of His age how the One True God in whom they trusted would come quickly to accomplish His saving purpose and do His good will. Doubt it not, God’s covenant people, old and new, will be eternally happy. They will be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting testimony that shall not be cut off.
Amen
Our hymns are below.
Hymn 1
Gadsby selection 723
Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ. Isa. 55. 1
J. Hart 8.7.4.
1
Come, ye sinners, poor and wretched,
Weak and wounded, sick, and sore;
Jesus ready stands to save you,
Full of pity, joined with power;
He is able,
He is willing; doubt no more.
2
Let not conscience make you linger,
Nor of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness he requireth,
Is to feel your need of him,
This he gives you,
’Tis the Spirit’s rising beam.
3
Come, ye weary, heavy laden,
Lost and ruined by the fall;
If you tarry till you’re better,
You will never come at all.
Not the righteous,
Sinners Jesus came to call.
Hymn 2
Gadsby selection 831
The Free Feast. Isa. 55. 1, 2; Luke. 1. 53
J. Hart S.M.
1
The God that first us chose,
The eternal Father, praise;
What wondrous bounties he bestows;
And by what wondrous ways!
2
His creatures all are filled
By him with proper food;
But O! he gives to every child
His Son’s own flesh and blood.
3
Here hungry souls appear,
And eat celestial bread;
The needy beggar banquets here,
With royal dainties fed.
4
Here thirsty souls approach,
And drink immortal wine:
The entertainment is for such,
Prepared by grace divine.
5
God bids us bring no price;
The feast is furnished free;
His bounteous hand the poor supplies,
And who more poor than we?
6
His Spirit from above
The Father sends us down,
And looks with everlasting love
On all that love the Son.
The Lord Jesus Christ gained the Church of God for His prize upon His successful sacrifice. His Father gave Him the Bride whom He loved and for whom He had died. This fulfilled the covenant of grace, here called the sure mercies of David. It is God's good pleasure to gather His people to Christ, pardon and cleanse their sins in Christ's blood and give them the joy of victory as we journey to heaven.
25 February 2024