Podcast: Download (25.8MB)
Isaiah 55: The Invitation
Introduction: The fourth and final Servant Song began in 52:13. It was the picture of a suffering servant who made his soul an offering for sin, and yet lived on to see his offspring multiply and fill the earth. Chapter 54 spoke of the great mercy of the Lord that resulted from the Servant’s offering. Chapter 55 concludes the addendum to the Servant Song by offering an invitation to all who thirst and all who hunger for food that will cause their soul to live.
The chapter is naturally divided into two sections (1-5; 6-13), each beginning with an invitation and following with the benefits of acceptance.
1-5: Invitation to Rich Food
Even though the ESV begins with “Come,” the Hebrew is not the same as the word “come” used three times in the rest of the verse. The NASB represents to meaning with “Ho!” You might have experienced a similar picture at a Farmer’s Market or a foreign street market where all the sellers are trying to get the attention of those who are passing by.
This is followed by a threefold “come” and then in verses 2-3, a threefold “listen,” concluding in verses 3-5 with a threefold guaranteed blessing.
Notice the call of the merchant. The implication is, there are a world of people who are thirsty and hungry. Though he calls to the thirsty, verse 2 shows that everyone is seeking to quench their thirst and their hunger, though in all the wrong places. The call of this merchant is to recognize the value of what he is offering over what is offered by others.
This merchant offers superior drink and food.
First, to buy what he offers does not require money (literally “silver”). In fact, this merchant calls for those who actually have no money. He invites those in poverty to come buy and eat. He is looking for those who are needy and know it. The fact is, what this merchant sells cannot be purchased with money; it is a gift that is not obtained by wealth or any asset of humans, and that because of the Servant’s offering for guilt.
Further, what the merchant offers far exceeds what anyone else has to offer. He doesn’t just offer water for thirst, nor does he offer junk food, but that which is of the greatest desire: wine, milk, and rich food (vs. 2).
In contrast, this merchant chides those who buy from other vendors. They are actually spending their money and yet not receiving the “bread” that will sustain them. What is purchased elsewhere leaves them hungry and starving. This is another way of illustrating the idols that promised sustenance, wealth, and protection, while requiring expensive payments of money and effort, only to receive the wind.
How similar this is the Preacher’s discoveries in Ecclesiastes. Solomon obtained whatever his eyes and heart desired, and yet found that all was vanity and chasing the wind. Therefore the question of “why?” exposes the foolishness of all who spend their money on food that will never satisfy. Why do we do that? We keep looking and spending in all the wrong places for all the wrong things.
Verses 2-3 have a threefold “listen.” “Listen diligently” is actually “Listen, listen” (NIV), with the implication that this listening must not be casual, but with diligent concern. The idea is that everyone is thirsty and hungry, but if they are not discerning, they will find themselves eating bad food. Thus…
“Delight yourself in rich food.” We know what that is like when we go to our favorite restaurant. The NET translates, “Enjoy fine food!” So, here is our “testing moment.” Does seeking the Lord and tasting the goodness of the Lord remind you of eating the best food? Is it something you keep going back to get more? Do you want seconds and thirds and look forward to returning tomorrow for more? Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness!
Now notice what this rich food is at the beginning of verse 3: “come to me; hear (listen), that your soul may live.” Ah, the rich food is God himself. “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for you, O God” (Psalm 42:1). It is God, not things, pleasures, or earthly comforts that is the rich food; it is God. Throughout the Psalms, God is always that all-satisfying object.
Further, it is the “soul” that will live by eating this food. Jesus said, “Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life in you.” This food does for the soul what physical food does for the body. How many of us are filling our bodies regularly (we don’t miss a meal!), while our soul is emaciated?
3c–5 has a threefold blessing.
The covenantal blessing given to David. (Cf. Psalm 89). When God gave the promises to David in 2 Sam. 7, it was an everlasting kingdom with the promise he would never remove his “steadfast love from him.” This is fulfilled through the Messiah, but this text now includes us in the blessing. This is the blessing of the kingdom.
The blessing of proclamation of the everlasting covenant to the nations and having the nations “run” to us because of the Lord your God.
The blessing of exaltation, because the Lord your God has glorified you. As Hebrews states, Jesus was glorified through suffering (Isaiah 53) and now leads us to glory in the same way.
Therefore, those invited to the feast will enjoy the rich food of David’s everlasting, world-wide rule through the Messiah. In this, our soul is satisfied and filled with goodness.
6-13 The Invitation of Transformation
“Seek” is not the idea of seeking something lost, but is parallel to “call” and thus striving and obtaining something valuable that is available to obtain. The Lord can be found. He has brought himself “near” by the work of the Servant. But it is also true that this seeking is urgent. The Lord has brought himself near, but the offer is temporary. We don’t usually think this way. We think the offer is available as long as we live and we can get it anytime we want. That just isn’t so! Spiritual procrastination is breeds callousness and laziness. When our spirit’s are stirred the first time, it is usually the strongest stirring we will ever have. Ignore it, and we will be like Felix. The convenient time never comes.
Therefore, seeking is a decision regardless of the feelings of the moment. He did not say, “seek if the Lord has moved you to do so.” Throughout the text the merchant has been appealing to reason on the basis of what will satisfy and what will end in vanity. Therefore, seeking the Lord. Why would you be a fool and do otherwise?
Further, vs. 7, gives us confidence in seeking him since he will not respond in judgment or condemnation but with compassion and pardon. There is never a reason not to turn back to the Lord in spite of what Satan and our conscience tells us.
Notice that verses 8-9 compared with verse 7.
Here is an explanation of what it means to seek the Lord. We are not simply coming to be pardoned – to receive God’s gifts – we are coming to exchange our thoughts and ways for his. This is the only way we can buy milk and wine without price and bread the satisfies. Our thoughts and ways are the reason we are “spending our money for that which is not bread, and our labor for that which does not satisfy?”
Consider also that we are not just adopting God’s ways, but also God’s thoughts. In other words, we are called on to think like God thinks, not just do the things God asked us to do. It is this transformation of thinking like he does that is our biggest challenge. When we think like he does, our ways will be like his as well. Cf. 2 Peter. 1:4.
These verses also give us God’s reasons for the exchange of thoughts and ways. God’s thoughts and ways are so much higher than ours that is it like the distance of the heavens from the earth. Isn’t it amazing how persistently we hold on to our ways and thoughts! Oh how impressed we are with ourselves! How impressed we are with our great intelligence!
Verses 10-11 offer us assurance of the blessings that will be ours when we seek him and make the exchange of thoughts and ways:
First, there is a dependability in God’s word. When we seek him and his thoughts and ways, there is a promise that the effort will not be in vain. In the same way God sends the rain and snow causing the earth to sprout its crops and gives seed to the sower, so God’s word going out will give life to our soul. It will produce rich food that will satisfy. Therefore, God’s word reveals his thoughts and ways and is a blessing on man just like the rain.
Please consider also that if God did not send the rain and the snow, not only would there not be a crop but there would not be seed for the sower for the following year. We do not think much about this because we do not take much thought to our dependence on farms and crops. Imagine what TN would like like if we got the rainfall of southern CA. Tennessee would look like southern California! Tennessee must have rain, CA must have snow in the mountains. Without God’s word & exchanging our thoughts and ways, we have a spiritual famine.
But here’s the part I have read over too quickly. Notice the end of the last three phrases in vs. 11: “return to me empty…accomplish that which I purpose…succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” God is looking for a blessing from the word that he sent out of his mouth. His word is to produce fruit!
Finally, verses 12-13 describes the the transformation that accomplishes God’s purpose.
There is a release from bondage and the resultant joy and peace. Picture the response of the physical world when the prison gates are opened and we are led out to freedom. All the mountains and trees break out in singing and clapping! Can you imagine it?
And why would the earth respond in such a way? The curse has been reversed! We are no longer thorns and briers, but have been transformed into majestic trees.
This transformation makes a name for God. We become a sign of God’s power to bring life from death. NET version translates, “monument” for the Lord.
Berry Kercheville