The Divine Call and Promise
J. Bolton, B. A. Isaiah 55:3 Incline your ear, and come to me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you… The institution of public worship derives a peculiar value from its tendency to dispose men to the voice of God I. THE GRACIOUS PROPOSAL ON THE PART OF GOD. "I will make an everlasting covenant with you," etc. The covenant here proposed is a covenant of promise, that is, a covenant in which God promises to bestow freely upon His creatures a variety of the greatest and most necessary blessings. Two things here call for our attention — 1. The extent here specified of the engagements of the covenant. "The sure mercies of David." This covenant was first discovered to Adam, more fully to Abraham, still more so to David, who was an eminent type of Christ. Now Christ, the spiritual David, is come; what these sure mercies are, we know more fully. But they are "sure mercied," which lead to: 2. The ground of dependence. The covenant is founded upon the goodness of God. Think of the fidelity of His promises; of His ability; of the pledge He has given us. "He that spared not His own Son," etc. Think of the great cloud of witnesses who all testify to the Divine character, and speak the mercies to them without exception. Sure in the effects they produce. Sure in all changes. These never fail. Sure in another state of existence, for it is an everlasting covenant administered by an Eternal Being. II. THE MEANS OF OUR SECURING THESE SURE MERCIES OF DAVID. "Incline your car, and come unto Me." 1. The Person speaking ought to induce attention. It is the Lord, our Maker, Preserver, Redeemer. 2. The interest we have in the subject ought to induce attention. 3. Our attention must lead us to God. "Incline your ear, and come unto Me. 4. The amazing issues which depend on our obedience should lead us at once to obey. "Hear, and your soul shall live." (J. Bolton, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. WEB: Turn your ear, and come to me; hear, and your soul shall live: and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.