Isaiah 55
An Invitation to be Restored
Invitation to Receive God’s Promises vs. 1-7
God’s Ways are Higher vs. 8-13
Call to Righteousness vs. 1-8
Intro:
Last week we looked at Isaiah 54 and drew from it the message from God that is was time to rebuild
He called us to enlarge our tents, get a fresh start, and build a rich foundation
This week he builds on that by reminding us of his promises, His ways, and calls us to holiness
But he starts with an invitation
We get invitations for all kinds of things, weddings, baby showers, and birthday parties
Sometimes you have to be invited to be part of a group
Augusta National has only 300 members and is one of the toughest clubs to get in
The most exclusive club in the world is the Members of the Order of Merit
The Order was founded by King Edward VII in 1902 and members are chosen by the monarch -
An honor awarded to individuals of great achievement in the fields of the arts, learning, literature and science.
It is restricted to 24 members and the meet for lunch every two years at Buckingham Palace
Past members have included Florence Nightingale (the first woman member), writer T. S. Eliot, Winston Churchill, Margaret Thatcher, Mother Teresa and Nelson Mandela
While we may never be a member of Augusta National or the Order of Merit Jesus does invite us to a club that has more benefits than both of these clubs combined
Jesus invites Israel, and us, to partake in his promises this morning
This isn’t just a spiritual makeover it comes with promises that are for everyone who is part of the club
Read Isaiah 55:1-5
Transition:
The Israelites are being sent on a rebuilding project back to Jerusalem
God is going to use them to pave the path for the coming Messiah
There is only one problem… They Got Nothing!!!
That is where God has to remind them of his Promises
God’s Promises are so rich and deep
We can hang our whole life on His promises
We are going to see three promises from God that don’t cost us a thing
He wants to feed us, lead us, and forgive us
What’s interesting is that God is inviting us to receive his promises
There are six phrases that we want to focus on this morning
Invitation to Receive God’s Promises vs. 1-7
Vs. 1-2 Everyone who thirsts, come to the Waters
He has spoken to the nation and now he speaks to the soul
So he has told Israel to enlarge it’s tents and lay a rich foundation
This has to be a little disconcerting the Jews because they are going back to ruble
But they are also going back with nothing. They have to start all over
God recognizes this and addresses their concerns
He also recognizes that they are empty inside and gives them an opportunity to be filled
Is 44:3 For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.
He tells them to come to Him everyone who thirsts and has no money
That pretty much sums up the whole group
What he is telling them is that he has everything covered and will provide
It is not an invitation to everyone - but everyone who thirsts.
Only those who thirst will come to the waters.
If we aren’t thirsty for what the LORD can give us, then we will never come to His waters.
Matt 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Those who do thirst, and answer the LORD’s invitation, don’t need to bring money.
Their money won’t really do them any good.
They can simply bring their trust and faith and receive what God has to give them.
Water . . . wine . . . milk: It’s all free.
John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
This call is still going out to everyone who wants more of the Lord
The reason that we don’t experience this is because we desire something else
Vs. 2 why do you spend your money for that which is not bread?
God asks His people - “Why do you spend money for what can’t satisfy?”
This is a remarkably relevant question, in light of all the things we can pour our time and money and effort into - things which will never satisfy they way the LORD can satisfy.
Listen diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance: The invitation is clear.
The offer is made, the provision is made, and everything is available - but we must still do some things.
First, we must listen diligently.
The satisfaction God promises doesn’t come to those who don’t listen, and listen diligently.
It takes time, attention, and effort to listen diligently, and some aren’t willing do this.
Second, we must eat what is good.
This requires some discernment. We must choose what is good, and then eat that.
Many just simply eat whatever spiritual meal is set before them, without taking care to see that it is good.
Third, we must let your soul delight itself in abundance.
Even when we listen, even when we eat what is good, we still must let our soul delight itself in abundance.
You can sit down at a great spiritual meal, but by your stubborn or bad attitude, simply not let your soul delight itself in abundance.
Vs. 3-5 Incline Your Ear
Here is another important passage
If you incline your ear, come to me and hear you soul shall live
Inclining your ear means to make an effort to listen
For us to receive and walk in the promises of God we have to make an effort to hear them and follow them
If we do this our soul will live
How many dead souls are walking around in living bodies because they refuse to hear what the Lord is trying to show them
The result of that is that you have a people who are weary and ready to give up
That is why Jesus told us to come to him
Matt 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
When we come to him he establishes his covenant with us
That covenant is that he sent his son to be payment for our sins
He took God’s wrath for sin upon himself so we wouldn’t have to suffer for that
Picture of God’s Wrath: Standing 100 Feet in front of a Dam that is about to break
Vs. 6-7 Seek the Lord while He may be found
The prophet impresses a sense of urgency on God’s people.
“This is the time. God can be found now. Seek Him now.”
It isn’t that God is hidden, and can only be found now.
It is that He can only be found when our hearts are inclined to look for Him, and that inclination itself is a gift from God!
We must receive the gift, and make the most of it while we have it.
Not seeking, and failing to call upon Him while He is near, means we will not receive the blessings He promises.
Vs. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way:
The prophet impresses the need for repentance among God’s people.
Repentance is simply turning around our way - turning from our own way, turning unto God’s way.
Simply, this is what it means to return to the LORD, and we can never walk on God’s way until we forsake our own way.
Is 1:16 Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil,
The LORD’s glorious restoration works in and through our repentance.
Isaiah makes an important point when he says, and the unrighteous man his thoughts.
Wickedness may be demonstrated by our actions (our way); but unrighteousness can be found in our very thoughts.
The battleground for a righteous walk with the LORD is often found in our minds, in our thoughts.
Paul knew this also when he wrote of bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), and how we must not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2).
And He will have mercy on him: What a glorious promise!
When we turn to the LORD, He will have mercy on us!
In fact, He will abundantly pardon!
The problem is never that we turn to the LORD and find that He rejects us.
The problem is that we fail to return to the LORD!
God’s Ways are Higher vs. 8-13
Vs. 8-9 God’s Ways are Higher
God also wants to remind his children that he wants things done his way
He doesn’t think the way we do or operate the way we do
Vs. 8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts: God doesn’t think the way we do.
We get into a lot of trouble when we expect that He should think as we do.
Because we are made in the image of God, we can relate to God’s thoughts, but we cannot master them.
Vs. 8b Nor are your ways My ways: God doesn’t act the way we do.
He does things His way, and His ways are often not our ways.
We get into a lot of trouble when we expect that God should act the way we do.
How far is the distance between God’s thoughts and ours?
How far is the distance between His ways and ours?
The distance is a great as the heavens are higher than the earth.
Vs. 10-13 Word doesn’t return void
Vs. 11 So shall be my word that goes out from my mouth, it shall not return void
This means that God is not just “all talk.” When He talks, His words accomplish His intended purpose. The word of the LORD has power, and it never fails in His intended purpose.
There is power in the word of God
It shall accomplish what He pleases
A couple of weeks ago I was feeling like Isaiah was dragging on
I was looking into ways to shortening it
But many of you have come up and told me how Isaiah has come alive to you
God’s word doesn’t return void
Imagine going to a worship gathering in a house church in Asia
It is illegal to be a follower of Christ and getting caught could land you in prison or dead
The Asian believer who is taking you gives instructions “Put on dark pants and a jacket with a hood on it. We will put you in the back of your car and drive you to the village. Please keep your hood on and your face down.”
When you arrive in the Village under cover of night, another asian believers meets you at the door of the car
With your hood over your head, you crawl out of the car, keeping your face toward the ground
You begin to walk with your eyes fixed on the feet of the man in front of you as he leads you down a long winding path with a small flashlight
You hear more footsteps around you as you progress down the trail
Finally you round a corner and walk into a small room
Despite it’s size, sixty believers have crammed into it
They are all ages from precious little girls to 70 year old men
They are sitting on the floor lined shoulder to shoulder with their bibles on their laps
One light bulb dangles from the middle of the ceiling
No sound system, band, guitar, or cushioned chairs
Nothing but the people of God and the Word of God
And they sit their for three hours listening to the Bible being taught
God’s word is the same yesterday, today, and forever
It regenerates our weary souls and sends us out with joy
Vs. 12 You shall go out with joy and be led with peace
Is 52:12 For you shall not go out in haste, and you shall not go in flight, for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
Call to Righteousness vs. 1-8
Vs. 1-2 A Call to Righteousness
Vs. 3-8 Promise to the Outcast
Closing
