Yesterday was day two of my search through this passage. As I was reflecting on it, I realized that I honestly cannot share this rich chapter in just a few posts. Instead, I am going to talk about this the whole week long. It is very deep and glorious! Once again, I hope it will feed you as it does me.
Isaiah 55
The Compassion of the LORD
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.
3Incline 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."
Again, aren't these words astoundingly beautiful? Every time I read them, they give me chills. God loves us so much! He wants us to pass this love on as well.
Vs. 4: A good witness is a person who sees an event and testifies accurately and convincingly to it. God has called us to be his witnesses throughout the earth. We are called to be leaders. The Bible does not ask its people to be followers in this world. Are we called to be followers of Christ, and to take our respective places in society and the familial order? Yes, of course! But we are still leaders in the life-changing movement called Christianity. We are to be commanders in this movement! Step up and lead!
Vs. 5: When we are being true, God-driven leaders, people will tend to follow. Because of this fact, there will be certain times when whole nations will follow the example of the disciples of Jesus Christ. It says so right here in Scripture! Nations that we don't even know are going to be following us, and eventually be following Christ. What a beautiful picture! This, the passage says, is all due to God's work.
So, what are these verses telling us? First, we must be good witnesses by being leaders, within the context of following Christ. Second, when we do this, people are going to follow. We serve an awesome God, and people want to know him. If you are willing to take the step of faith in being a witnessing leader for the sake of the cross, be prepared. It may not always be what you think it will be, but this journey is going to be an amazing one!
Next time: Isaiah 55 Pt. 3- Seek that God will be found
Following Him wholeheartedly,
Meridian
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