Isaiah 55
55
An Invitation to Grace
1All you who are thirsty,#The prophet invites all to return, under the figure of a banquet; cf. the covenant banquet in Ex 24:9–11 and wisdom’s banquet in Prv 9:1–6. The Lord’s covenant with David (2 Sm 7) is now to be extended beyond his dynasty.
come to the water!
You who have no money,
come, buy grain and eat;
Come, buy grain without money,
wine and milk without cost!#Jn 4:10–15; 6:35; 7:37–39; Rev 21:6; 22:17.
2Why spend your money for what is not bread;
your wages for what does not satisfy?
Only listen to me, and you shall eat well,
you shall delight in rich fare.
3Pay attention and come to me;
listen, that you may have life.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
the steadfast loyalty promised to David.#2 Sm 7:12–16.
4As I made him a witness to peoples,
a leader and commander of peoples,
5So shall you summon a nation you knew not,
and a nation#The “nation” is Persia under Cyrus, but the perspective is worldwide. that knew you not shall run to you,
Because of the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, who has glorified you.#Acts 13:34.
6#The invitation to seek the Lord is motivated by the mercy of a God whose “ways” are completely mysterious. Seek the Lord while he may be found,
call upon him while he is near.
7Let the wicked forsake their way,
and sinners their thoughts;
Let them turn to the Lord to find mercy;
to our God, who is generous in forgiving.
8For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways—oracle of the Lord.
9For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways,
my thoughts higher than your thoughts.
10#The efficacy of the word of God recalls 40:5, 8. Yet just as from the heavens
the rain and snow come down
And do not return there
till they have watered the earth,
making it fertile and fruitful,
Giving seed to the one who sows
and bread to the one who eats,
11So shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
It shall not return to me empty,
but shall do what pleases me,
achieving the end for which I sent it.
12Yes, in joy you shall go forth,
in peace you shall be brought home;
Mountains and hills shall break out in song before you,
all trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13In place of the thornbush, the cypress shall grow,
instead of nettles,#Thornbush…nettles: suggestive of the desert and therefore symbolic of suffering and hardship; cypress…myrtle: suggestive of fertile land and therefore symbolic of joy and strength. To the Lord’s renown: lit., “to the name of the Lord.” the myrtle.
This shall be to the Lord’s renown,
as an everlasting sign that shall not fail.
Currently Selected:
Isaiah 55: NABRE
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
Isaiah 55
55
An Invitation to Abundant Life
1“Ho! #(Matt. 5:6; John 4:14; 7:37; Rev. 21:6; 22:17)Everyone who thirsts,
Come to the waters;
And you who have no money,
#(Matt. 13:44; Rev. 3:18)Come, buy and eat.
Yes, come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without price.
2Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight itself in abundance.
3Incline your ear, and #Matt. 11:28come to Me.
Hear, and your soul shall live;
#Is. 54:8; 61:8; Jer. 32:40And I will make an everlasting covenant with you—
The #2 Sam. 7:8; Ps. 89:28; (Acts 13:34)sure mercies of David.
4Indeed I have given him as #(John 18:37; Rev. 1:5)a witness to the people,
#(Jer. 30:9; Ezek. 34:23; Dan. 9:25)A leader and commander for the people.
5#Is. 52:15; Eph. 2:11, 12Surely you shall call a nation you do not know,
#Is. 60:5And nations who do not know you shall run to you,
Because of the Lord your God,
And the Holy One of Israel;
#Is. 60:9For He has glorified you.”
6#Matt. 5:25; 25:11; John 7:34; 8:21; 2 Cor. 6:2; (Heb. 3:13)Seek the Lord while He may be #Ps. 32:6; Is. 49:8found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
7#Is. 1:16Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man #Is. 59:7; Zech. 8:17his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord,
#Ps. 130:7; Jer. 3:12And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
8“For#2 Sam. 7:19 My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9“For#Ps. 103:11 as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
10“For #Deut. 32:2as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
11#Is. 45:23; Matt. 24:35So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall #Is. 46:9–11prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
12“For#Is. 35:10 you shall go out with joy,
And be led out with peace;
The mountains and the hills
Shall #Ps. 98:8break forth into singing before you,
And #1 Chr. 16:33all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13#Is. 41:19Instead of #Mic. 7:4the 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 #Jer. 13:11for a name,
For an everlasting sign that 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
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.