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Sunday School Lesson
It is difficult for some people to commit to anything or to any positive cause. In a self-centered world, the "what's-in-it-for-me" syndrome becomes the guiding principle for life. This attitude has no place in the life of the person who claims to know Jesus Christ of Nazareth as his or her personal savior. The prophet Isaiah was sent with a message to the nation of Judah. He had been warned, "Go, and tell this people, hear ye, indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed." Isaiah 6:9,10. At that time, God promised that a tenth shall return to the land that God had promised to their forefathers. Isaiah 6:13. Thus, his message would not be totally lost. As this faithful servant prophet presented his message to this hard-hearted people, God gave a call to the wayward nation. In this poetic section of the prophecy, the call is made to those who sensed a personal need for the divine provisions. The source was available, and the supply was sufficient for all who would come. "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." Isaiah 55:1. Thus, the price had been paid by a benefactor who was generously supplying the needs of the thirsty and the hungry. The great benefactor - the heavenly father, the creator of the universe - asked a question that needed to be answered by the hearers of that day - and must be addressed in our day. "Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not?" Isaiah 55:2a,b. Through the prophet, God gave a series of directives. "... Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness." Isaiah 55:2 c,d. The heavenly father does not leave hearers to their own devices, attempting to find a way to follow the divine plan. The plan is given. "Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live..." Isaiah 55:3a. A promise is given - "and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." Isaiah 55:3b. These people were familiar with the divine promise that had been given to King David. 2 Samuel 7:4-29. Their national history had verified the promise that had been pronounced. The prophets had been sent to the wayward nation, attempting to show them the way back to God. If the promises to the king were sure, so would the promises that were made to them, if they would be obedient. Thus, the final outcome rested on the present response. To remind these hearers of the nature of the promise - through the prophet - God said, "Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people." Isaiah 55:4. At the time of the ministry of Isaiah, things were going quite well with the nation. Yet, this man - and other prophets - were bringing messages of warning of coming catastrophe with the destruction of their nation. Many hearers seemed to think that these faithful ones were just blowing smoke. Time would show that this assessment of these messages was totally wrong. God had great plans for this nation. Yet, sin had caused the people to stray from the best plan. However, the plan did not change. "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." Isaiah 55:5. The words of the prophet seemed to come from a heart that is crying out to God. The wayward nation needed a human representative to call their attention to a divine plan. One can almost hear the tears in his voice as the words are read, even today. "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near ..." Isaiah 55:6. He tells them how - "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." Isaiah 55:7. It is important for humans to remember their lack of divine insight. We like to think that we can understand and interpret the things of God, based on our intellect. Through the prophet, we are assured that this is not the case. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." Isaiah 55:8; Jeremiah 29:11-13. Comparisons are helpful, as we allow the holy spirit (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21) to teach (John 14:26) us. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9. The Apostle Paul reminded the Roman believers of this fact. Romans 11:33. The divine plan will be accomplished, even if we cannot explain the things that we see.
"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: 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." Isaiah 55:10, 11.
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