Hearken And Live

Minister:
Date: AM
Text: Isaiah 55:2,3
Psalters: 239, 358, 249, 355
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper
  1. The call to listen.
    1. That which all men are seeking to obtain is satisfaction of his needs and wants.
      1. As our bodies need and crave water, so our soul thirsts for fellowship and approval.
      2. Every human, standing in relationship to his Creator, longs for evidence of His positive attitude toward them.
    2. God told these believers that the satisfaction of righteousness and true happiness are obtained without money.
    3. Because it is free, God calls Hearken diligently (2) is literally: hearken, hearken.
      1. God call us to listen to him and to do so with great care.
      2. Unto me is positioned prominently in the word order, so God calls attention to Himself.
    4. He tells us, over and over, that His favor (and what His favor gives: righteousness and satisfaction) is free.
  2. Because if we don t listen carefully to God, the only other thing man would do is put forth his own effort.
    1. These activities are that of people who are working hard to obtain things through their efforts, their good works!
    2. But that which human efforts attains is vanity ( not bread ) and thus does not really satisfy.
      1. Why is it not bread and satisfieth not ?
      2. We pursue that which is sawdust, not wholesome, and even hurtful and destructive.
  3. God s promise.
    1. He commands us to listen and eat that which is good and delight in fatness.
      1. It is genuinely good and profitable, but also luxuriant and rich food. And most satisfying.
      2. Human efforts gives only leanness and nothingness, and even damnation.
    2. Abundant satisfaction with fatness and pleasures (Ps. 36:8; 65:4) are found in the relationship God has established!!
      1. His relationship with us is called the sure mercies of David.
      2. Text emphasizes that they sure and everlasting.
    3. Thus your soul shall live comfortably, plentifully and forever.