Isaiah 55
Isaiah 55
GOD’S GENEROUS CALL TO NEEDY MAN
THE CALL GIVEN
[1] Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Note:
Isaiah speaks here of basic needs.
{John Calvin says}
But I have no doubt that under these words, "waters, milk, wine, bread," Isaiah includes all that is necessary for spiritual life; for the metaphors are borrowed from those kinds of food which are in daily use amongst us. As we are nourished by "bread, wine, milk, and water," so in like manner let us know that our souls are fed and supported by the doctrine of the Gospel, the Holy Spirit, and other gifts of Christ.
ie. We need the ministry of Christ.
Do we feel our need?
Note:
The call is:
1. General “every one”
2. Personal “he that hath no money”
1. It is a General call.
Because all are in need.
Matthew 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
2. It is a personal call.
Because our need is known, God knows our need.
Psalm 103:13-14
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. [14] For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
THE QUESTION ASKED
[first half of verse 2]
[2] Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
{John Calvin}
He complains of the ingratitude and madness of men, in rejecting or disdaining the kindness of God who offers all things freely, and yet harassing themselves greatly about various trifles which cannot yield them any advantage.
Who is referred to in this passage?
What type of person?
{John Calvin}
The Prophet does not complain of the slothfulness of those who, altogether forgetful of themselves and of God, take no concern about the spiritual life of the soul; (there are many such persons;) but of those who desire life, and yet do not understand the method or way of obtaining it, and wander in uncertainty through deserts and untrodden paths. Here, therefore, are condemned all the methods which men contrive, in opposition to the Word of God, for obtaining salvation, and they are pronounced to be useless expenses; for by the word "money" he denotes all the industry, study, or labor which belongs to man.
SOME GOOD ADVICE
Verse 2b
hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
Note the 3 d’s
Diligence, Delicacies, Delight
THE GRACIOUS INVITATION
[3] Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
Note
1. To whom the invite is given.
YOU.
2. What it involves.
Hearing God’s word,
Trusting God’s promise.
3. The result of answering the invitation
hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
What is meant by the:
the sure mercies of David.
He is here speaking of the true David, Christ. (see V.4)
Note:
The use of the word SURE.
People often say that we can never be sure about God’s mercy.
[see 1 John 5:10-13]
[4] Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.
What does “Witness” mean
{John Calvin}
By calling him "a witness," he means that the covenant into which he entered shall be ratified and confirmed in Christ. There is a weighty meaning in the word "witness;" for he clearly shows that this covenant shall be proved in Christ, by whom the truth of God shall be made manifest. He will! testify that God is not false.
Note:
The 3 terms.
Witness, Leader, Commander.
1. Witness. The one to whom we must Listen
2. Leader. The one whom we must Follow
3. Commander. The one whom we must Obey.
Cf:
Prophet, Priest and King.
We hear him because he is our Prophet
We follow him because he is our Priest
We obey him because he is our King
NATIONS WILL COME
[5] Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.
1 Peter 2:9-10
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: [10] Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
A TIMELY WARNING
[6] Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
2 Cor. 6:2
(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
Hebrews 2:3
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
A DIVINE PROMISE
[7] Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Note:
It is not just our way but out thoughts which must be forsaken.
Abundantly = Extavagantly
[8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
Ie. God does not hold a grudge like we do.
Where there is real repentance there is real forgiveness.
[9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
{John Calvin}
There is nothing that troubles our consciences more than when we think that God is like ourselves; for the consequence is, that we do not venture to approach to him, and flee from him as an enemy, and are never at rest. But they who measure God by themselves as a standard form a false idea and altogether contrary to his nature; and indeed they cannot do him a greater injury than this.
THE POWER OF GODS WORD
[10] For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
[11] So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
THE JOY OF SALVATION
[12] For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth 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.
THE GREAT CONTRAST
[13] Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
GOD’S GENEROUS CALL TO NEEDY MAN
THE CALL GIVEN
[1] Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Note:
Isaiah speaks here of basic needs.
{John Calvin says}
But I have no doubt that under these words, "waters, milk, wine, bread," Isaiah includes all that is necessary for spiritual life; for the metaphors are borrowed from those kinds of food which are in daily use amongst us. As we are nourished by "bread, wine, milk, and water," so in like manner let us know that our souls are fed and supported by the doctrine of the Gospel, the Holy Spirit, and other gifts of Christ.
ie. We need the ministry of Christ.
Do we feel our need?
Note:
The call is:
1. General “every one”
2. Personal “he that hath no money”
1. It is a General call.
Because all are in need.
Matthew 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
2. It is a personal call.
Because our need is known, God knows our need.
Psalm 103:13-14
Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. [14] For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
THE QUESTION ASKED
[first half of verse 2]
[2] Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
{John Calvin}
He complains of the ingratitude and madness of men, in rejecting or disdaining the kindness of God who offers all things freely, and yet harassing themselves greatly about various trifles which cannot yield them any advantage.
Who is referred to in this passage?
What type of person?
{John Calvin}
The Prophet does not complain of the slothfulness of those who, altogether forgetful of themselves and of God, take no concern about the spiritual life of the soul; (there are many such persons;) but of those who desire life, and yet do not understand the method or way of obtaining it, and wander in uncertainty through deserts and untrodden paths. Here, therefore, are condemned all the methods which men contrive, in opposition to the Word of God, for obtaining salvation, and they are pronounced to be useless expenses; for by the word "money" he denotes all the industry, study, or labor which belongs to man.
SOME GOOD ADVICE
Verse 2b
hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
Note the 3 d’s
Diligence, Delicacies, Delight
THE GRACIOUS INVITATION
[3] Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
Note
1. To whom the invite is given.
YOU.
2. What it involves.
Hearing God’s word,
Trusting God’s promise.
3. The result of answering the invitation
hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
What is meant by the:
the sure mercies of David.
He is here speaking of the true David, Christ. (see V.4)
Note:
The use of the word SURE.
People often say that we can never be sure about God’s mercy.
[see 1 John 5:10-13]
[4] Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.
What does “Witness” mean
{John Calvin}
By calling him "a witness," he means that the covenant into which he entered shall be ratified and confirmed in Christ. There is a weighty meaning in the word "witness;" for he clearly shows that this covenant shall be proved in Christ, by whom the truth of God shall be made manifest. He will! testify that God is not false.
Note:
The 3 terms.
Witness, Leader, Commander.
1. Witness. The one to whom we must Listen
2. Leader. The one whom we must Follow
3. Commander. The one whom we must Obey.
Cf:
Prophet, Priest and King.
We hear him because he is our Prophet
We follow him because he is our Priest
We obey him because he is our King
NATIONS WILL COME
[5] Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.
1 Peter 2:9-10
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: [10] Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
A TIMELY WARNING
[6] Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
2 Cor. 6:2
(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
Hebrews 2:3
How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
A DIVINE PROMISE
[7] Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Note:
It is not just our way but out thoughts which must be forsaken.
Abundantly = Extavagantly
[8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
Ie. God does not hold a grudge like we do.
Where there is real repentance there is real forgiveness.
[9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
{John Calvin}
There is nothing that troubles our consciences more than when we think that God is like ourselves; for the consequence is, that we do not venture to approach to him, and flee from him as an enemy, and are never at rest. But they who measure God by themselves as a standard form a false idea and altogether contrary to his nature; and indeed they cannot do him a greater injury than this.
THE POWER OF GODS WORD
[10] For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
[11] So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
THE JOY OF SALVATION
[12] For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth 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.
THE GREAT CONTRAST
[13] Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
posted by Mark Fitzpatrick at 2:12 p.m.
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