Isaiah 55
55
Invitation to an Abundant Life
1“Listen! Are you thirsty for more?
Come to the refreshing waters and drink. # 55:1 See Ps. 23:2; John 4:14; 7:37–39; Rev. 22:17.
Even if you have no money,
come, buy, and eat. # 55:1 See Matt. 4:4.
Yes, come and buy all the wine # 55:1 See Song. 2:4; Neh. 8:10. This wine can symbolize the joy-filled blessings of God. and milk # 55:1 See 1 Peter 2:2. This milk can symbolize the spiritual nourishment we receive from God’s Word. you desire—
it won’t cost a thing.
2Why spend your hard-earned money
on something that can’t nourish you # 55:2 See Ps. 107:9.
or work so hard for something that can’t satisfy? # 55:2 Matthew 11:28–30 is Jesus’ commentary on this verse.
So listen carefully to me
and you’ll enjoy a sumptuous feast,
delighting in the finest of food. # 55:2 See John 6:48–63.
3Pay attention and come closer to me,
and hear, that your total being may flourish. # 55:3 Or “listen to me so that your soul may live.”
I will enter into an everlasting covenant with you, # 55:3 See Heb. 13:20.
and I will show you the same faithful love
that I showed David. # 55:3 See Acts 13:34.
4See! I made him a witness to the nations,
an example of leadership,
as prince and commander of peoples.”
5Look! You will summon nations you’ve never heard of.
Nations who have never heard of you
will come running to follow you # 55:5 See 2 Sam. 22:44–46; John 12:19.
because Yahweh, your God, the Holy One of Israel,
has glorified you!
God’s Mercy Greater than Man’s
6Seek # 55:6 “Seek” (Hb. daresh) has the idea of visiting frequently more than trying to find something. the Lord Yahweh when he makes himself approachable; # 55:6 Or “while he lets himself be found.” See 1 Tim. 6:16: “the immortal God, living in the unapproachable light of divine glory!” In Jesus, the Anointed One, God makes himself approachable (see 1 Tim. 2:5). This is the Hebrew word ehimase’u, a Niphal infinitive. It has the idea of obtaining or finding knowledge. The infinitive form would suggest an overwhelming amount or an abundance of knowledge can be found.
call # 55:6 The Hebrew word for “call” is qara’, which has two meanings. One is “to call or shout,” the other is “to fall into.” So this could be read “Fall into him while he is near.” upon him when you sense he is near.
7The wicked need to abandon their ways,
and sinful ones need to banish every evil thought. # 55:7 See 2 Cor. 10:3–6.
Let them return to Yahweh,
and they will experience his compassionate mercy.
Yes, let them return to God,
for he will lavish forgiveness upon them.
8“For my thoughts about mercy # 55:8 In the context, the thoughts of God refer to his compassion, mercy, and forgiveness. Man’s thoughts of mercy are not God’s. Man’s mercy runs out, but God’s mercy is higher than the heavens. God’s mercy and forgiveness are generous and abundant. are not like your thoughts,
and my ways are different from yours.
9As high as the heavens are above the earth,
so my ways and my thoughts are higher than yours.
10“As the snow and rain that fall from heaven # 55:10 In the language of biblical metaphor, snow is a picture of mercy blanketing the earth. Rain is a frequent symbol of revelation-teaching that soaks the heart (soil) and makes us fruitful. Note the six terms for God’s Word in vv. 8–10: thoughts, ways, snow, rain, seed, bread. These same terms can be used to describe the Lord Jesus. He is the seed of the woman, living Bread, the Way and the Life that sprouts in us. He is the Word that was sent (as our Apostle; see Heb. 3:1), and he will not return to heaven without accomplishing all God’s pleasure.
do not return until they have accomplished their purpose,
soaking the earth and causing it to sprout with new life,
providing seed to sow and bread to eat.
11So also will be the word # 55:11 In the context, God’s word is his promise to show love, compassion, and forgiveness to all who turn to him. that I speak;
it does not return to me unfulfilled. # 55:11 Or “empty.”
My word performs my purpose
and fulfills the mission I sent it out to accomplish.” # 55:11 The Septuagint adds a phrase not found in the Hebrew: “And I will make your way prosperous.”
12For you will leave your exile with joy # 55:12 See Rom. 14:17.
and be led home wrapped in peace.
The mountains and hills in front of you will burst into singing
and the trees of the field will applaud! # 55:12 Isaiah was a master poet. With beautiful metaphors he described the return of God’s people out of captivity. What once limited God’s people as a barrier (mountains and hills) now celebrates with singing as the redeemed leave their captivity and come into God’s full purpose for them. See Rom. 8:19–21.
13Cypress trees will flourish where there were only thorns # 55:13 Thorns are a symbol of the curse of sin. See Gen. 3:18; Matt. 27:29; Gal. 3:13–14.
and myrtle trees instead of briars. # 55:13 There is a hint of the Lord Jesus in these trees. Jesus is the blessed man who is like a tree (see Ps. 1); he replaces the briars and thorns of our flesh with the flourishing Tree of Life in us.
These will stand as a testimony to Yahweh’s renown,
everlasting signs # 55:13 Or “a memorial [as a reminder].” that will not be cut off.
Currently Selected:
Isaiah 55: TPT
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
The Passion Translation® is a registered trademark of Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc.
Copyright © 2020 Passion & Fire Ministries, Inc.
Learn More About The Passion TranslationIsaiah 55
55
1 WAIT and listen, everyone who is thirsty! Come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Yes, come, buy [priceless, spiritual] wine and milk without money and without price [simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing]. [Rev. 21:6, 7; 22:17.]
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your earnings for what does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness [the profuseness of spiritual joy]. [Jer. 31:12-14.]
3 Incline your ear [submit and consent to the divine will] and come to Me; hear, and your soul will revive; and I will make an everlasting covenant or league with you, even the sure mercy (kindness, goodwill, and compassion) promised to David. [II Sam. 7:8-16; Acts 13:34; Heb. 13:20.]
4 Behold, I have appointed him (Him) [David, as a representative of the Messiah, or the Messiah Himself] to be a witness [one (One) who shall testify of salvation] to the nations, a prince (Prince) and commander (Commander) to the peoples.
5 Behold, you [Israel] shall call nations that you know not, and nations that do not know you shall run to you because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you.
6 Seek, inquire for, and require the Lord while He may be found [claiming Him by necessity and by right]; call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have love, pity, and mercy for him, and to our God, for He will multiply to him His abundant pardon.
8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, [II Cor. 9:10.]
11 So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
12 For you shall go out [from the spiritual exile caused by sin and evil into the homeland] with joy and be led forth [by your Leader, the Lord Himself, and His word] with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name of renown, for an everlasting sign [of jubilant exaltation] and memorial [to His praise], which shall not be cut off.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation