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English Standard Version Chapter 55

“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.

Intro

The book of Isaiah is often refered to as the messianic book or the messianic prophet. There are many passages which reveal God's plan of restauration being carried to completion through his Annointed One.

It is not without reason that the Lord talks of hope through the prophet Isaiah. The story of Israel had reached a dramatic period at the time of Isaiah.

The kingdom of Israel was divided in North and South, and the North side was wiped from existance throught the Assyrian exile, from which the people never returned.

Just as much as we do today, people needed hope.

And just as much as there is today, there was sin amongst the people of God.

There was desperation everywhere, and still people would go and reject the covenant of the Lord and his Law, bringing judgement towards themselves.

God, then, states that the Southern Kingdom would also go to exile, through the hands of the Babylonic people. They would be the instrument of judgement.

Once the invasion happens, the taste of the prophecies change. The Lord stops warning people of judgement, since it had come through Babylon. Now the Lord speaks of restauration. Speaks of renewal.

Restauration through a man

Isaiah would go and prophecise that one man would be the vessel of restauration for the world. One man.

Isaiah chapter 7: the virgin will give birth to this man

Isaiah chapter 9: this man will be called Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace and Mighty God. He will have reign and dominion over the creation.

Isaiah chapter 53: this man will bear the sins of the people. The wrath of God, directed towards iniquity is going to be satisfied in crushing the Son, in crushing the Servant, in crushing our Lord Jesus.

However, the story is not over. One would be ill advised to think that salvation is promised only to the Israelites, to the sons of Jacob. No.

Our passage of today, Isaiah 55 tells us otherwise.

All who are thirsty are invited. All who are in need are invited. All who suffer are invited. All who run after the wind are strive for purpose in life.

All are invited to the covenant of the Lord. Which covenant?

Let us read again!

English Standard Version Chapter 55

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.

The covenant of David, which promises a great leader is extended to all who come hither.

God promised to David, in 2 Samuel chapter 7, a everlasting king to make all things right.

Fast forward some centuries and we se all of those things coming to completion:

Mary the virgin gives birth, a son is born, root of Jesse and son of David.

He lives a sinless life, perfect in all senses. He does what no other could do: carry the Law of God to completion.

And he is crushed under God's wrath in cross.

But the cross does not represent

This servant then receives all authority from the Lord

English Standard Version Chapter 28

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Once he receives all authority, he commands his disciples to gather his people. Gather this kingdom.

Church is not a normal gathering of people, but is a showcase of a spiritual truth:

the triumph of our God over paganism, over death, over sin. We

English Standard Version Chapter 1

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

English Standard Version Chapter 5

Worthy are you to take the scroll

and to open its seals,

for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God

from every tribe and language and people and nation,

10  and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,

and they shall reign on the earth.”