Proper 20: Old Testament, Isaiah 55:6-9                              

Isaiah 55:6-9

Isaiah 55 is one of those treasures that the church turns to again and again. It is full of gospel sweetness. It puts in front of those who hear or read it, great promise of gain that far outweighs anything this paltry world could offer. We traced promises in the early portion of the chapter in our Old Testament reading a few weeks ago. The emphasis there was the false hope of earthly wealth compared to heavenly bliss. Our reading this week goes straight to the center of the target: “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near” (Is. 55:6).

 Sometimes I wonder, as wonderful as God’s promises are and as surely as he wants us to enjoy them, if we forget that God himself is our true and lasting treasure. Writings by A. W. Tozer, John Owen, Charles Spurgeon, Johann Gerhardt, Martin Luther, and my own dear mentor John G. Mitchell always take me back to the centrality of the person of God himself. The ancient church was so very fond of calling the Christian to the sure hope of the Beatific Vision, that gaze upon God which would render every other sight as nothing. I think the church of today has lost its way in this regard. Worship replaced by work and Beauty replaced by busyness. We need to guard our hearts. Carefully.

 The God of Isaiah 55 is pictured as the God of great compassion and one who will abundantly pardon. The passage ends with what I think may be the most important self-disclosure from our Lord. His thoughts and ways are not ours. And the difference between? The very height of the heavens above the earth. God be praised!

 Seek the LORD while he may be found. Why wouldn’t you?