Seek the LORD
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Key Verse: “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.” Selected Scripture: |
IN THE PREVIOUS LESSON Isaiah prophesied concerning our Lord Jesus as a light who would arise and be a great blessing to his people Israel, as well as to the whole world of mankind, to be realized in due time. In this Key Verse the prophet makes a special appeal to mankind to seek the Lord and the provisions of his wondrous grace.
During the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, and the Gospel Age following, there have been earnest Christians responding to his message. “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” (I John 5:10,11) A call has gone out to select from among these Christians a faithful little flock who would share with him in the grand work of his future kingdom. The Apostle Paul confirms this when he writes, “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life.”—Rom. 2:7
Isaiah looks down the stream of time when our Lord will be reigning in power and great glory, with his faithful bride class. He describes symbolically the wonderful features of Christ’s kingdom of truth and righteousness, and its work of recovery to uplift and bless the whole groaning creation from the ravages of sin and death.
We are now nearing the time foretold so long ago, when the world of mankind will be blessed as Isaiah has written, “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. 55:1) Jesus had a conversation with a Samaritan woman who had come to Jacob’s well to draw water. (John 4:5-15) He told her about ‘living’ waters, and that whoever drank of those waters would never thirst. The water he spoke about was like a well springing up into everlasting life. This is the water of life offered to the world by the church in Christ’s thousand-year kingdom. “The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”—Rev. 22:17
Isaiah also used the symbols of wine and milk in this prophecy of the kingdom. Milk is used to suggest nourishment and blessing, and the wine is used to represent the blood of Christ which seals the covenant. Life-giving blessings will become available under the administration of the New Covenant, and will be offered freely and without charge to those who desire and value them.
The glorified church will be the Divine channel for the outpouring of the mercies and blessings to those who seek the Lord. God promised to David, “When thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.” (II Sam. 7:12,13) These blessings are associated with the New Covenant as Isaiah prophesies, “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. 55:3