Proper 10: Old Testament, Isaiah 55:10-13

I’m excited to take a look at this passage from the prophet Isaiah this week because I am teaching a class on the prophets this coming weekend. Isaiah has been one of my main resting places in the past days and Isaiah 55 gives to us one of the grandest invitations from God to His people in all of Holy Scripture. God is holding out His hand once again to a people for whom His love burns hot. Oh they have been such a source of pain and grief to Him and He feels that grief because they have damaged themselves almost beyond repair.

The chapter begins with the offer of a free and full salvation. There’s a reason that Isaiah is known as the Fifth Gospel. The declarations of a God-centered, sin-erasing gospel are as clear in these 66 chapters as they are in any of the 66 books of the Bible. How could so many Jews have missed it? I hope many Christians do and will treasure the gospel as it is presented in this great book.

The foundation of any declaration of God is the fact that it comes to us in His Word. There is no clearer report on the efficacy of God’s Word than we find in this fifty-fifth chapter. The Lord holds out His hand crying “Come everyone,” and “Seek the LORD.” He desperately wants His people to know that they have a home in Him. I’m not going to type it all out here but take up your Bible and read Isaiah 55:10-11. If you’ve ever had or currently have doubts about whether or not God’s Word is good for what it proclaims, doubt no more. Eyes on the Word? Yes. Listen of course but then watch as God uses His Word to accomplish just exactly what it says He will do.

The result? Well all the trees of the field will clap their hands, of course. There will be rejoicing and more rejoicing when all God’s written purposes find their fulfillment in Christ and His promises which are sure to come to pass. Keep watching. Keep your eyes on the Word.