Isaiah 65:1 I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me… We learn on inspired authority that this is a very bold passage (Romans 10:20); it required much courage to utter it at the first, and in Paul's day it needed still more to quote it and press it home upon the Jews around him. He who protests against a self-righteous people, and angers them by showing that others whom they despised are saved while they themselves are being lost, will have need of a dauntless spirit. This text has the clear ring of free grace about it; and for this reason it may be called bold. I. THE PERSONALITY OF GOD IN THE WORK OF HIS GRACE. This is remarkably prominent in the work before us. 1. The personality of God comes forth in that He Himself is observant of all that is done. Do any seek him? He saith, "I am sought. De any find him? He saith, "I am found. Is there any preaching of the Gospel? The Lord declares, "Behold Me, behold Me." 2. He Himself in the great object of desire where grace is in operation. When men are savingly aroused, they seek — what? Religion? By no means. They seek God, if they seek aright. The Lord saith, "I am found." If men do not find God they have found nothing. God Himself fills the vision of faith; observe the words, "Behold Me, behold Me." We look to God in Christ, and find all that our soul needs. 3. He Himself is the Speaker of that call by which men are saved. Here are the words: "I said, Behold Me, behold Me." The Lord Himself speaks the effectual word. 4. He Himself is the director of the message., "I said, Behold Me, behold Me, unto a nation that was not called by My name. ' Not only does God speak the Gospel, but He speaks it home to those whom He appoints to hear it. This surrounds the Gospel with a strange solemnity: if the Gospel blesses us, it is not it, but God that blesses: God Himself has come unto us. This fact has another aspect to it; for if the Gospel be rejected, it is God that is rejected. Read the next verse: "I have spread out My hands all the day unto a rebellious people. II. THE DELIGHT WHICH GOD TAKES IN THE WORK OF GRACE. God is glad to be sought and found by those who once were negligent of Him. 1. It is evident that He rejoices in contrast to the complaint of the next verse. 2. The Lord rejoices in each step of the process. There is a poor soul beginning to cry,, "Oh that I knew where I might find Him!" and lo the Lord says, "I am sought. A man has only just begun to attend the House of Prayer; he has only lately commenced the earnest study of the Bible; the Lord sees it, and He says, "I am sought. As when a fisherman smiles because a fish has begun to nibble at the bait, so the Lord notes the first movings of the heart towards Himself, and He says, "I am sought." The very next sentence is, "I am found." 3. The Lord also rejoices in the persons who seek Him. He says, "I am sought of them that asked not for Me. He will be glad for any heart to keep on seeking that has begun to seek; but He is best pleased when non-seekers become seekers. 4. The Lord rejoices in the numbers who seek and find Him. "I said, Behold Me, behold Me, unto a nation." When shall the day come that nations shall be born at once? III. THE DESCRIPTION WHICH GOD HIMSELF GIVES OF THE WORK OF GRACE. 1. The Lord tells us where He finds the objects of His grace. He says, "They asked not for Me; they sought Me not; they were not called by My name." What a mercy it is that He comes to us in our sin and misery; for assuredly we should not else come to Him. 2. He next describes that Gospel which comes to them as the power of God. Here are His own words: "I said, Behold Me, behold Me." The way of salvation is, "Look unto Me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth." 3. Then the Lord goes on to mention the converts which the Gospel makes. The careless become seekers, the ungodly finders, the prayerless behold their God and live. 4. The Lord also describes the experience of the saved. God comes to us that we may come to Him. IV. THE USE WHICH GOD MAKES OF ALL THIS. The Lord here took care that when He said, "I am sought of them that asked not for Me," His words should be written down, and that they should be made known to us. It is not everything that God may say to Himself that He will afterwards repeat to us; but here these private utterances of the Divine heart are spoken out to us by Isaiah, and left on record in this inspired Book. To what end d-o you think it is so? 1. That he may excite in us wonder and admiration. 2. To destroy pride and self-esteem. 3. To encourage you who are seeking Him: for if those who do not seek Him often find Him, why, you that do seek Him are sure to find Him. 4. To encourage workers. Go to work among the worst of the worst; for since God is found of those who seek Him not, there is hope for the vilest. 5. That he may convict those who do not come to Him of the greatness of their sin. Look, saith He, those who never heard of Me before have found salvation, while you who have been instructed, and invited, and impressed, have still held out and resisted My Spirit. ( C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. |
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