B25a-devotions

Isaiah 55:1-5

Alternative devotions for Wednesday 30th December

Review

This is a wonderfully expressive passage of scripture, and it is a powerful and poetic call from the Lord to His people to return to Him and receive from Him the riches of His grace. The work of the Servant has brought liberation to the people of God, and they are now a renewed people like a new city (54:1f.) where His blessings are freely available! The whole passage is like the Gospel invitation. Isaiah has already explained how the Servant has paid the price of our vindication before God (52:13-53:12), and this accounts the joyous sense of freedom and liberty which runs through the whole passage. In addition, Isaiah speaks about an ‘everlasting covenant’ (55:3), the restoration of David as a leader (55:3), the renewed witness of God’s people to the whole world (55:5), and the glorious authority of those who have been liberated (55:5)!

The opening words of this passage are a great blessing for all who read them. They are an invitation to all people to come and receive from God the benefits of His grace in love and mercy, now that the Servant has achieved God’s promised redemption. However, we gain most from this prophecy when we see how it fits into the wider scheme of Isaiah’s prophecies. Chapter 55 forms the end of what are traditionally known as Isaiah’s ‘Servant’ songs (chapters 40 to 55), and from chapter 56 onwards Isaiah’s vision stretches even further than the work of the Servant towards the fulfilment of all things, or as we might say, the End Times. Chapter 55 is therefore a conclusion to Isaiah’s highly significant prophecies about the work of the Servant (the Messiah), and it contains highly condensed teaching.

With this in mind, the words of our passage stand out as a powerful reminder to us of the Lord’s objective in sending His Servant for the liberation of His people. It says loud and clear that God wants a permanent individual relationship with all people, and to this end, Isaiah takes the everyday language of trade and commerce and uses it as an illustration of God’s intent. All of us know that nothing can happen in the world unless people collaborate, trade, and engage in the economic processes that generate wealth; and this is what secular historians, economists and political commentators will tell us has generated ‘civilisation’ from the earliest of times. Isaiah uses this to reveal a great spiritual truth, which is in total contrast to our material existence; there is no trade with God because we have nothing to offer Him. It is only when people accept their own emptiness before God and accept His free offer of salvation that their souls can be satisfied with life (55:2,3) and only then can the Lord God establish a lasting ‘covenant’ relationship with people, as previously promised to David (55:3).

However, the new covenant of God’s promise will be made with us personally and not with David. One thing we forget too easily is that Isaiah’s prophecies describe the failure of the covenant with David (see 2 Samuel 7:12f.) not because of God’s failure, but because of the failure of Israel and the physical descendants of David as the kings of Israel and Judah. This why Isaiah prophesied about the Assyrian Invasion (10:5f.) and looked ahead to the Babylonian invasion (13:1f., 39). We will find out later in the study that there is a strong connection between our passage and Psalm 89, a Psalm that declares the Davidic covenant as all but dead (Psalm 89:38-48), awaiting God’s renewal through the Messiah, who is a new David

All this sounds technical and uninspiring, but it sets the right foundation for our understanding of Isaiah’s great words, ‘hear this, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters ...’ (55:1f.). The Gospel of God is for those who know that they are thirsty, have no money, cannot get enough to eat and long to hear and know God’s answer to their desperation. It is good news for all who are willing to receive it, and it is freely available for all!

¹ Hear this, all you who are thirsty,

come to the waters;

and you that have no money,

come, buy grain and eat!

Come, buy grain without money,

wine and milk without price.

² Why do you offer money and get no bread,

or give your labour, and not get enough?

Listen carefully to me, and eat well!

and your soul will take delight in rich food.

³ Turn your ear, and come to me;

listen, so your soul might live.

I will make an everlasting covenant with you,

Confirming my kindnesses to David.

⁴ Look! I made him a witness to people,

a leader and commander of everyone.

⁵ Look! you will summon a nation you do not know,

and nations you do not know will run to you,

because of the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel,

for he has made you glorious!

When we have wandered and lost ourselves on the way, bring us back, Lord Jesus, by Your love. Rebuke our waywardness, receive our repentance, and revive our souls with the healing and the blessing of Your love. Save us, so that we may stand before You in righteousness and receive the perfect salvation You alone can give. All praise to You, Lord Jesus: Alleluia!

Thank You, Jesus, for the joy of little things as well as big things.

For a smile on the face of one who is close,

which says ‘I love you’, and you know it.

For a card received from a friend thought lost,

and anticipating the joy of reunion.

For the expectation and smell of a festive meal,

all ready to be served and eaten.

For the joy of seeing those who are closest to you,

being happy and content together.

For an unexpected phone call from someone loved,

bringing welcome and heartening news.

For a good night’s sleep after a very happy day,

and the knowledge that God is faithful.

Thank You, Jesus, for being our Saviour, our Redeemer and friend.

Prayer ideas

Consider making a New Year’s resolution to expand your prayer life; ask the Lord about this

On-going prayers

Pray for major industrial nations Pray today for Israel; whilst concerned about the security of the nation, pray for its economy
Pray for the family of Akmal Shaikh, put to death in China
Give thanks for all the good things God has given you

The alternative Bible studies are brief.

Scroll down to read this or select the regular study.