Isaiah 55 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Isaiah 55

The Compassion of the Lord

55:1   “Come, everyone who thirsts,
    come to the waters;
  and he who has no money,
    come, buy and eat!
  Come, buy wine and milk
    without money and without price.
2   Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
    and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
  Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
    and delight yourselves in rich food.
3   Incline your ear, and come to me;
    hear, that your soul may live;
  and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
    my steadfast, sure love for David.
4   Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,
    a leader and commander for the peoples.
5   Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,
    and a nation that did not know you shall run to you,
  because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel,
    for he has glorified you.
6   “Seek the LORD while he may be found;
    call upon him while he is near;
7   let the wicked forsake his way,
    and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
  let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him,
    and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8   For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither 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 than your thoughts.
10   “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
    and do not return there but water the earth,
  making it bring forth and sprout,
    giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11   so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
    it shall not return to me empty,
  but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
    and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
12   “For you shall go out in joy
    and be led forth in peace;
  the mountains and the hills before you
    shall break forth into singing,
    and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13   Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
    instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
  and it shall make a name for the LORD,
    an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

Commentary

v1-2: The Lord's blessings, unearned and free. Men prefer to earn blessings; and so often such are found to be a waste of effort; taking time and money that cannot last. And men's achievements feed our pride.

In contrast, God's blessings are free and abundant. The promise here is of a feast (see 25.6-8; Matt 22.1-14), reflecting God's abundant generosity.Here is joyful satisfaction in God.

Although the invitation is universal, there is the condition of repentance (v6-7). The command to 'come' is repeated. God is constantly welcoming as we turn to Him and return to Him.

v3: The promise of life, an everlasting covenant, fulfilled in the risen Christ, Acts 13.34.

v4: David the forerunner of Christ, he leader and commander for the people.

v5: The blessings upon Gentiles because of Israel's exaltation; see 65.1, quoted Rom 10.20. The promises of God through Christ reach all nations.

v6-7: Mercy falls on the repentant; but the day of opportunity is not endless. There is abundant pardon, for we are abundant sinners; even the ungodly are justified through His grace and power. We must therefore turn to the Lord, and seek Him alone.

John Bunyan defines the evil man's thoughts; 'The unrighteousness man’s thoughts are ‘those thoughts that hinder the coming man in his progress to Jesus Christ, his unbelieving thoughts.’ (JohnBunyan, Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ)

v8-9: Human religion is different from true religion; God's ways are different from man's ways; they are higher than our ways. We therefore have much to learn, and dare not think that we have all the answers. Our expectations are different from His as well.

'It is a statement not of the surprise of God's mysterious providence but of the surprise of God's compassionate heart.' (Gentle and Lowly, Dane Ortlund)

v10-11: God's word accomplishes what He ordains, not necessarily the same as what we desire or even expect, for His ways are higher than ours.

His concern is that there be fruitfulness in our lives; even as rain and snow are given for this purpose. God's purpose is not actually defined here, for it is God's plans which are fulfilled.

v12: See 44.23; 51.3,11; joy throughout God's creation, because God's promises are fulfilled, and His character manifest. His promises are fulfilled in His people, and in this creation itself rejoices.

v13: Thorns and briars replaced by fruitful trees; contrast 7.23-24; and these earlier judgments will be reversed.