Scripture Reading(s)
Isaiah 55:1-9
55:1 Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
55:2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.
55:3 Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
55:4 See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.
55:5 See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.
55:6 Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near;
55:7 let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Reflections
How often do we sometimes convince ourselves that we are as smart or smarter then God? Sometimes we lives our lives with the notion that we can plans our lives better then what God has in mind for us. Often we let our desires and passions rule over being wise and choosing the path that God has in store for our lives.
In this passage the Lord is calling back His people to focus back on the things that are important. He is lovingly reminding them only He can provide joy, peace, and long lasting satisfaction in their lives. He is declaring that His wisdom surpasses all because of that He knows what is best for us.
The nation of Israel was going through a season in which they had chosen to eat, drink and fill themselves with the things of this world. God is desiring for them to only go after what is good (vs 2). In our own lives that could mean reading more in God’s word, praying, spending time with friends who will build us up. It could mean spending less time watching movies, listening to certain music, reading certain books. God desires to fill our hearts and minds with what is pure and good. Philippians 4:8 says “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Let us make that our focus and goal and doing so we will see God’s awesome and working in and through our lives.
Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
We see in the coming of Jesus that God has called all people to Him. More specifically, He has called the poor, the needy, the outcast, and the humble. But this should not be seen as a new idea. We see in our passage today that God has always been calling all people to Himself.
I would add that inversely, God has little patience for the proud, for those who build up their own empire here on the earth. Even, Jesus’ own disciples were rebuked when they inquired to Jesus about their elevated status in the new Kingdom.
An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 47Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. 48Then he said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.” (Luke 9:46-48)