Introduction

‘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. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples. Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendour.” Isaiah 55:1-5

INVITATION TO THE THIRSTY

This chapter speaks of God’s salvation, and it begins with the invitation of God. All things are ready, the guest is invited, the only requirement is to come, Isaiah 55:1-2 / Matthew 5:6.

This finds fulfilment in Jesus, John 7:37-39. Salvation cannot be purchased; the invitation to freely eat and drink of that which the Lord offers is to all, Isaiah 55:1 / John 3:16.

‘Come to me’, Isaiah 55:1-2, is the way of obedience by which the blessings may be obtained. God makes an everlasting covenant, Isaiah 55:3 / Jeremiah 31:31-34, and all blessings may be received through obedience, 2 Samuel 6:16.

David is given to the people as a witness, Isaiah 55:3-4 / Hosea 3:5. David said that he would proclaim the name of Jehovah among the heathen, Isaiah 55:5, and this he did in his seed, Jesus, 2 Samuel 7:4-17 / Psalm 18:50 / Psalm 57:9-10 / Psalm 89:34-35. Therefore, it was a prophecy of Jesus.

Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.

‘This unequivocally identifies the kingdom and covenant of the Suffering Servant with the Davidic, Kingly Messiah, the great fact which Peter stressed on the day of Pentecost when he spoke of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ as the enthronement of the Son of David (Christ) upon David’s throne in heaven!’

Barnes, in his commentary, says the following concerning Isaiah 55:5.

‘This covenant would be made with all who would come to God. That New Covenant would not be identified with any race or nation, but it would be between Almighty God and all mankind!’

‘Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.’ Isaiah 55:6-7

God’s gracious promises extended to the world. It is now possible to seek the Lord and find Him, Isaiah 55:6 / Jeremiah 35:31-35 / 2 Peter 2:20-22. If the wicked would be saved, they must forsake their wickedness and return to God, Isaiah 55:7. There is urgency in repentance, not because God will leave us but because we may lose our opportunity to repent.

Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.

1. Men are by nature ignorant of God, otherwise they should not have been commanded to ‘seek’.

2. If men will obtain God’s favour, they must seek it.

3. The invitation to seek God is open to all men.

4. The knowledge of God is of inestimable value.

‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers, the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.” Isaiah 55:8-13

Here we read of God’s appeal to the unrighteous. There is a vast difference between the ways and thoughts of God and those of men, Isaiah 55:8-9 / Jeremiah 10:23 / 2 Corinthians 2:15-17.

God has chosen the foolish and simple things of the earth to confound the wise, Isaiah 55:10 / 1 Corinthians 1:18-31. We think of Naaman, 2 Kings 5, and the walls of Jericho, Joshua 6, the plan of salvation.

We also read that God’s Word accomplished its purpose, Isaiah 55:11. This personification of the word presupposed that it is not a mere sound or letter. As it goes forth from God, it has divine life and power. It goes, with life, from God and does not return until it has done the work God designed it to do.

The word of God is a part of God Himself and must not be regarded as a ‘mere word’. God’s Word is indeed the seed of the kingdom, Luke 8:11. It is the Word of God that changes the hearts of men, Hebrews 4:12.

We also read that the Word realises its fulfilment. In joy and peace, the people will return to the land, Isaiah 55:12 / Isaiah 5:5-6, and their condition in that land will be reversed, Isaiah 55:13 / 2 Corinthians 4:15. This return serves to testify to God’s faithfulness.

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