Come and Feast

Introduction

Today seems to be the day of feasts as we have already looked at one this morning with the wedding feast.

Tonight we are going to look at what God had to say to the people in the Old Testament about the feasts He offered.

Isaiah is often labeled as the 5th gospel because so many of the themes of the gospel are found in it. We see in this passage another theme of the great feast, but prior to this passage, God has been prophesying that they would have a servant who would suffer for them and die and be raised to life again (Isaiah 52-53).

They would be invited to enter into an eternal covenant of peace in Isaiah 54.

In Isaiah 55 we are invited to the feast and in Isaiah 56 the gospel goes out to the nations of the world.

Let’s zoon in on Isaiah 55 as we see this invitation to come and feast more closely.

Isaiah 55 ESV

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. 3 Incline 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.”

1. An invitation to Receive (vv.1-5)

• Come (v.1)

Isaiah 55:1

Isaiah 55:1 ESV

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.

Jesus promised living waters that would flow out of our hearts by the Holy Spirit

• Feast (v.2)

Isaiah 55:2 ESV

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.

How often do we waste our time in pursuit of things that never satisfy

Never enough money

Never enough fame

Never enough power

Never enough time

• Remain (vv. 3-5)

Isaiah 55:3–5 ESV

3 Incline 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.

Promise of David is given to all who come

We have a portion in the Son of David

We have an inheritance in the Kingdom

2. A Warning About Delay (vv.6-9)

• Seek Him While the Offer Is Open (v.6)

Isaiah 55:6 ESV

6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;

There may come a time where God rescinds the offer

• Seek Him No Matter What You've Done (vv. 7-9)

Isaiah 55:7–9 ESV

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.

We have to turn from sin to be genuine

We have to consider the greatness of the grace of God (thoughts not my thoughts)

God will abundantly pardon for those who have abundantly sinned

3. A Promise Concerning the Future (vv 10-13)

The Effectiveness of the Word (vv. 10-12)

Isaiah 55:10–12 ESV

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.

• The Reversal of the Curse (v 12-13)

Isaiah 55:12–13 ESV

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.”

Conclusion

At the end of the Bible we find this invitation given again.

Revelation 22:17 ESV

17 The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.

This is the invitation to the lost through the church

Spirit and Bride

We are called to extend this invitation to others as well.