Friday, August 28, 2015
Proverbs 9:3-6 [Wisdom] has sent out her maidens, she cries out from the highest places of the city, Whoever is simple, let him turn in here! As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Forsake foolishness and live, and go in the way of understanding.
THE BANQUET INVITATION
In the book of Proverbs, Wisdom personified is Jesus Christ, our Savior, the only Head of His Holy Christian Church.
Today we see that from the highest point of the city, Wisdom sends her servant maids (not only pastors, but all Christians!) to invite everyone to her banquet. Yes, everyone. Wisdom doesn't play favorites or discriminate. Further, she invites the simple and those who lack understanding. She isn't interested only in the movers and shakers of this world, but she wants everyone to come so she can serve them all.
That is good news for us who by nature are among the simple and lack understanding. Yet by God's grace we too have heard the gospel invitation, and we want to share it with those like us who are among the weak and despised of the world.
The Bible abounds with examples of Wisdom's invitation to her lavish feast. There is the Savior's Great Commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature (Mark 16:15). In Jesus' parable of the Great Supper (Luke 14:16f) all the outcasts of society--the poor, the maimed, the lame, and the blind--hear His gospel invitation. To one and all Jesus says, "Come unto Me ... and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). To one and all He says: "I am the bread of life ... If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever ..." (John 6:48f).
And we have the following invitation from the prophet Isaiah: "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost" (55:1). Surely we sense the urgency to extend this invitation to others. And as we do that, we leave the results to Him and His Holy Spirit.
I hear the Savior calling! He leads a soul to me,
A soul in bitter anguish, One needing to be free.
The gift I have to offer Is Christ, my Lord's decree
That all have been forgiven--My Savior calls for me!
I hear the Savior calling! His call has urgency!
Each moment souls are dying; Soon comes eternity.
And so, my precious Savior, This is my humble plea:
Prepare me for my mission For You are calling me!
(Worship Supplement 2000, 770:2, 5)
