The Great Invitation

ISAIAH 55:1-11—In this lesson we have a representation of the blessings which will flow out to the world during the reign of Christ and the church. It is to mankind in general, through the instrumentality of the divine Christ, that the invitation will be extended, “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.”—Verse 1

There is a certain sense in which any who thirst may now come to Christ and find in him a fountain of life. All his true followers are indeed thus refreshed and blessed. However, it can hardly be said that they receive this blessing without price, for in order to receive it, they must give up all that they have in sacrifice. There is no other condition upon which anyone can now receive life through Christ except that of following him in the way of sacrifice even unto death.

This situation will change with the full end of the Gospel age and the establishment of Christ’s kingdom, for then there will be no more suffering for righteousness’ sake. The narrow way will have been closed. The narrow way will give place to a new way—“the way of holiness”—and on that way all the redeemed of the Lord—Jesus gave himself a ransom for all—will be invited to walk. It will be then that the water of life will be offered free, the only condition being that of obedience to the righteous laws of the new kingdom. (Isa. 35:8) This is in keeping with Revelation 22:17, where we read that then the Spirit and the bride will say “Come. … Let him take of the water of life freely.”

How beautiful is the invitation as it will soon go out to the world, “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live.” (Verse 3) This reminds us of the words of the Apostle Peter as recorded in Acts 3:23. After telling of the “times of restitution” which follow the second coming of Christ, he adds, “It shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.” Every “soul,” that is, being or person, will be given a full opportunity to hear, to “incline” his ear toward the Lord; but those who, under the favorable circumstances of that time, refuse to obey will be destroyed.

And to those who accept the invitation to drink of the water of life will be given the “sure mercies of David.” This expression is descriptive of the mercies guaranteed to Israel and the world through the antitypical David who is to be the divine channel through which the blessings promised in the original Abrahamic Covenant will be poured out to the world.

God’s mercy toward David is promised in II Samuel 7:15,16, and this promise involves the establishment of the Lord’s kingdom in the hands of one who would come through the Davidic line. These “mercies” are “sure” not merely because they have been promised by God, but also because his almighty power guarantees them. Jesus, the antitypical David, the One who came into the world to be a king, was put to death, but this did not prevent the outworking of God’s plan to use him as the channel of blessing to all the families of the earth, for divine power raised him from the dead. Note the emphasis on this point as given in Acts 13:34. Paul also tells us that through the resurrection of Jesus assurance has been given to all men.—Acts 17:30,31

It is the resurrected and highly exalted Jesus that the Lord has given to the people to be a Leader and Commander, as pointed out in verse 4. He is the Leader of his people now, and their only true Leader. He came to his own nation at the close of the Jewish age but was rejected, and since then he has been calling a new nation, described by the Apostle Peter as a “holy nation” and said by him to be made up of those who “in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God.” (I Pet. 2:9,10) Note how this harmonizes with verse 5 of our lesson.

But the leadership of Jesus extends beyond the work of calling his church during the Gospel age, for he will be the great Leader and Commander of the whole world during the “times of restitution of all things.” (Acts 3:19-21) During that time a full opportunity will be given for all to repent and obey the kingdom laws. Because of the ransom provided by the death of Jesus, God will be ready and glad to extend mercy to the people, and abundantly to pardon all who accept the gracious provisions made for them by divine love.

But everlasting life will not be forced upon the people. It will be necessary for them to seek the Lord while he may be found, and to call upon him while he is near. (Verse 6) This indicates a limit to the age of grace, and other scriptures show that this limited time is the Millennium. Furthermore, even within the Millennium another limit is indicated; namely, that of a hundred years. Those who show no progress at all during that many years will have no further mercy extended to them. See Isaiah 65:20.

There is a disposition on the part of many to suppose that man is more benevolent toward his fellows than is the Creator toward his human creation. But this is not so. It is only because the loving-kindness of our God is not understood by the people that they reach a conclusion of this kind. God’s ways are higher than our ways, and his thoughts than our thoughts; and not until we come to understand the length and breadth and height and depth of his plan to bless all the families of the earth can we realize that what may at present seem harsh is in reality working out for the eternal joys of his creatures.

The sureness of the “sure mercies of David” is further emphasized in verses 10 and 11. Here we are given an understandable and very meaningful illustration of the fact that the plan of God is certain to carry through to victory. God’s wonderful arrangement for the provision of food for his creatures has been working silently and effectively since first put into operation at the time of creation. And the successful functioning of his plan of salvation is just as sure. His Word of promise to his people and of instruction to his servants will not return unto him void. He created not the earth “in vain, he formed it to be inhabited”; and thus it will be at the close of the “times of restitution of all things.”—Isa. 45:18; Acts 3:21

QUESTIONS

When will the general invitation be given to partake of the water of life?

What are the “sure mercies of David,” and what is one of the ways by which the Lord has made them “sure”?

Who is the Commander and Leader mentioned in verse 4 of the lesson; and what nation is referred to in verse 5?

How long a period is set aside in the divine plan during which the world will have an opportunity to seek the Lord?

Why do some doubt that the Creator is a God of love?

What illustrations does the Lord use to assure us that his promises will be fulfilled?

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