A God Who Calls Us – Isaiah 55:1-9

A text – Isaiah 55:1-9

55:1  Hear, everyone who thirsts; come to the waters; and you who 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 earnings 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  Now 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.

A reflection:

Old Testament scholars will say this portion of the Book of Isaiah has a pivotal place in Israel’s exile in Babylon. They, who know far more than I will ever know about this book, can discuss the word choice and references to King David. They can say what was meant by the writer and delivered to the Hebrew people at a very particular time in their history. I don’t have the knowledge of these scholars.

I simply want us to look at the assurances God is making to God’s people who have suffered and who are thirsty and who have no money or means to solve their problems. The Lord is telling them to pay attention and listen carefully to the Lord who is calling them.

Come to me – I am making a covenant with you. I keep my promises. I love you. Don’t waste your time on anything else – it cannot satisfy you. I am bigger than you and can see farther than you, and I know what you need and am giving it to you. Just come to me and be mine.

God comes to us today and asks us to do the same. If we are impoverished or thirsty or discouraged, why not listen to God’s call and come to God – even cling to God? More on that on Friday…

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for your call to us to come and be fed and cared for. Help us to see that you, oh Lord, are the one who can satisfy us and give us peace. Amen.