My Bible Recap readings have brought me into the prophet Isaiah. Today I came again to one of my favorite Bible chapters, Isaiah 55, and I share it with you. I invite you to hear God’s sweet voice and invitation as you continue reading.
“Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy grain and eat. Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost [simply accept it as a gift from God]. Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, and your earnings for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight in abundance. Incline your ear [to listen] and come to Me; hear, so that your soul may live…
God, how you know us so well! Just as our physical bodies need water and food, our spiritual lives need the Living Water of your Spirit and the Bread of Life of your Son. You abundantly offer us what we need – and as a gift! Yet, we can get so caught up in so many other things that are not spiritual bread, that we spend ourselves on things that do not satisfy. Help us to listen carefully to you and bask in the abundance of your grace.
“Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him [for salvation] while He is near. Let the wicked leave (behind) his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion (mercy) on him, for He will abundantly pardon.
Thank you, God, for always being near us and always being available to us. Help us seek you, leave behind our sin and unrighteousness, and call on you. We beg you for mercy and compassion because we know you will abundantly pardon.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts. For as the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth, making it bear and sprout, and providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so will My word be which goes out of My mouth; it will not return to Me void (useless, without result), without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
Today we remember and rejoice in your sovereignty. Thank you that you are above all things, you know all things, and you have power over all things. Thank you for the physical and spiritual water you send to the earth and the food and fruit you provide for us. Thank you for your Word that will never be useless or without result because you always succeed in your plans and purposes.
“For you will go out [from exile] with joy and be led forth [by the Lord Himself] with peace; the mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thorn bush the cypress tree will grow, and instead of the nettle the myrtle tree will grow; and it will be a memorial to the Lord, for an everlasting sign [of His mercy] which will not be cut off.”
God, in this day and age we can feel like we are exiled from your Goodness and your Mercy. The world around us seems full of thorns, nettle, wickedness, evil, corruption, deceit and so much more that originates from the enemy of our souls. Yet your Word promises that your presence will usher in peace, love, grace, and so much more. Give us spiritual eyes and ears to see your blessings and longevity and the signs of your everlasting covenant with us that will not be cut off. Lead us with Peace, and may we shout with Joy in the presence of God our Savior! Amen and amen!
ISAIAH 55 (AMP)
The Free Offer of Mercy
1“Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;
And you who have no money come, buy grain and eat.
Come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without cost [simply accept it as a gift from God].
2Why do you spend money for that which is not bread,
And your earnings for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And let your soul delight in abundance.
3Incline your ear [to listen] and come to Me;
Hear, so that your soul may live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
According to the faithful mercies [promised and] shown to David.
4Listen carefully, I have appointed him [David, representing the Messiah] to be a witness to the nations [regarding salvation],
A leader and commander to the peoples.
5In fact, you [Israel] will call a nation that you do not know,
And a nation that does not know you will run to you,
Because of the Lord your God, even the Holy One of Israel;
For He has glorified you.”
6Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call on Him [for salvation] while He is near.
7Let the wicked leave (behind) his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the Lord,
And He will have compassion (mercy) on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
8“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
9“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts higher than your thoughts.
10For as the rain and snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth,
Making it bear and sprout,
And providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11So will My word be which goes out of My mouth;
It will not return to Me void (useless, without result),
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
12For you will go out [from exile] with joy
And be led forth [by the Lord Himself] with peace;
The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you,
And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
13Instead of the thorn bush the cypress tree will grow,
And instead of the nettle the myrtle tree will grow;
And it will be a memorial to the Lord,
For an everlasting sign [of His mercy] which will not be cut off.”
[Originally published June 23, 2023.]