I. The invitation. He who invites is the Son of God--in the Proverbs represented as “Wisdom.” Of His generous invitation we remark--
1. That its acceptance is open to every human being on the face of the earth. The God of the gospel is no respecter of persons.
2. This invitation is urged with affectionate earnestness. How are men tobe “compelled”? Not by coercion or legal enactments--not by bribery or the civil power--but by the mercies of God, and the gentleness of Christ.
3. There is such a character in the invitations of the gospel as leaves those inexcusable who reject them. Some excuse themselves on the ground that a self-denial which is beyond them is required, others on the ground of previous engagements. Speculations, worldliness, even domestic relationships, are pleaded as excuses.
II. Inducements to the acceptance of the invitation. What would be inducements to accept an invitation to a feast?
1. Rank of the person inviting. Who, then, is it invites to the feast of the gospel?
2. The guests whom you were to meet. This company is select. It is composed of the wise and the good of every name: all are on a levelat the feast of salvation.
3. The occasion of the entertainment. This is intended to supply you with immortal food, and to feed you with the meat that endureth unto everlasting life.
4. The consequences that may result from a refusal. Refusing this, you risk the favour of God. (J. R. Hibbard.)
The soul’s diet
The verse, most of it, metaphorical, setting out Wisdom’s instructions under the similitude of a feast, to which persons invited come and comfortably refresh themselves with meat and drink.
I. The soul’s diet is of Christ’s providing. This was prefigured in the manna, and foreshadowed in the rock, that miraculously gave water to the people.
1. The Word is from Him which feeds the soul.
2. The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, whereby we are fed, was of His institution, yea, of His own administration the first time.
3. He hath authority from heaven to find diet for souls.
4. None but He can provide wholesome diet.
II. Men must come where Christ’s spiritual provisions are to be had.
1. We are invited to come, and it is discourtesy to refuse a friendly invitation.
2. We are commanded to come, and it is disobedience not to come.
3. The feast is prepared for us.
4. The benefits gotten by it may allure you to come for it.
III. We must make use of wisdom’s provision as well as come. Coming to a feast doth no good if men be sullen, and will not eat or drink.
1. Our profitable use of God’s ordinances is required.
2. We are informed beforehand to what end we are invited.
3. The gift of this undeserved favour should make us ready to receive it.
4. No good will come to us by this spiritual food if we feed not on it. They who feed well get much good to their souls. (F. Taylor, B.D.)
Wisdom’s invitations
It seems to me as if this moment were throbbing with the invitations of an all-compassionate God. I have been told that the Cathedral of St. Mark’s stands in a square in the centre of the city of Venice, and that when the clock strikes twelve at noon all the birds from the city and the regions round about the city fly to the square and settle down. It came in this wise: A large-hearted woman passing one noonday across the square saw some birds shivering in the cold, and she scattered some crumbs of bread among them, and so on from year to year until the day of her death. In her will she bequeathed a certain amount to keep up the same practice, and now, at the first stroke of the bell at noon, the birds begin to come here, and when the clock has struck twelve the square is covered with them. How beautifully suggestive! Christ comes out to feed thy soul to-day. The more hungry you feel yourselves to be, the better it is. It is noon, and the gospel clock strikes twelve. Come in flocks! Come as doves to the window! All the air is filled with the liquid chime: Come! come!come!(T. De Witt Talmage.)
