But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.
All day long stretching forth the hands means continual reaching out with appeal, help, salvation, compassion and invitation. Those reached for are disobedient and gainsaying, resistant, opposing and contradicting people. The people addressed are Israel, whose history reveals both enduring divine love and mercy and persistent human refusal to heed, in forgetfulness, backsliding and rebellion. The appeal was fulfilled in Christ continually offering Himself to Israel, and Israel's rejection of the Redeemer completed its pattern of rejecting the prophets and finally the Son of God, whom Israel should have been first to recognize.
Those appealed to already have the Word of God, the testimony of His Spirit, and divine and human agencies placed at their disposal, while God and all heaven work to prepare a people for the day of God's preparation. Through Jesus Christ the invitation extends to all sinful and fallen, needy people. He welcomes everyone, rejects none, and is willing to pardon even the greatest sinner, rescue captives, and lift people from the deepest degradation caused by sin. The invitation does not force anyone but must be chosen and accepted. Christ's righteousness is prepared to clothe the sinner, yet refusing it leads to perishing, and conviction and postponed resolutions do not save.
Israel refused to repent and come to its Saviour, and the time granted for repentance was nearing its end when God would no longer shield the people from their enemies. Those appealed to remain far from Christ, lukewarm and destitute of every grace, full of Pharisaism and spiritual pride in saying they are rich and increased with goods. They therefore need to apply the Laodicean rebuke to themselves, be zealous and repent, and open the door to Christ. The verse applies to people who selfishly take what belongs to others, defend their actions as service to God, and follow methods contrary to His word.
All day long stretching forth the hands means continual reaching out with appeal, help, salvation, compassion and invitation. Those reached for are disobedient and gainsaying, resistant, opposing and contradicting people. The people addressed are Israel, whose history reveals both enduring divine love and mercy and persistent human refusal to heed, in forgetfulness, backsliding and rebellion. The appeal was fulfilled in Christ continually offering Himself to Israel, and Israel's rejection of the Redeemer completed its pattern of rejecting the prophets and finally the Son of God, whom Israel should have been first to recognize.
Those appealed to already have the Word of God, the testimony of His Spirit, and divine and human agencies placed at their disposal, while God and all heaven work to prepare a people for the day of God's preparation. Through Jesus Christ the invitation extends to all sinful and fallen, needy people. He welcomes everyone, rejects none, and is willing to pardon even the greatest sinner, rescue captives, and lift people from the deepest degradation caused by sin. The invitation does not force anyone but must be chosen and accepted. Christ's righteousness is prepared to clothe the sinner, yet refusing it leads to perishing, and conviction and postponed resolutions do not save.
Israel refused to repent and come to its Saviour, and the time granted for repentance was nearing its end when God would no longer shield the people from their enemies. Those appealed to remain far from Christ, lukewarm and destitute of every grace, full of Pharisaism and spiritual pride in saying they are rich and increased with goods. They therefore need to apply the Laodicean rebuke to themselves, be zealous and repent, and open the door to Christ. The verse applies to people who selfishly take what belongs to others, defend their actions as service to God, and follow methods contrary to His word.