Notes on Isaiah 55

(Isa 55:1 KJV) Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

True salvation and eternal life cannot be bought with money and secular things. It cannot be bought by our own efforts and good deeds. It comes freely by our heavenly Father's mercy. All we have to do is believe and receive the gift of salvation which He offers. His invitation is to come. We cannot obtain this salvation if we do not want to. If we prefer to live our own lives, to remain in sin, to go our own way then salvation is not ours. Instead verse two apples:
2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

He tells us to harken diligently. Listen, and receive that which is eternal. Living for the here and now, the things of this life only, and the things of the world cannot bring eternal life. Faith and trust in Jesus Christ is our way to eternal life. Coming to Him, repenting of sin, and allowing His Holy Spirit to cleanse the inner soul of all unrighteousness and replacing it with His righteousness is the only thing that can save. He already paid the price for our salvation, we have to believe that and receive that which feeds the soul and quenches the thirst. Those who learn this good way will begin to delight in the Lord and feed upon the word.

Living for God is not just giving up having a good time like some would have you believe. The Lord becomes a delight. Joy, peace and comfort are available for believers in Jesus Christ. Yes there are trials, troubles, and some have experienced terrible persecution because of the gospel but through it all they have peace and comfort in the presence of the Spirit of God within their lives which no one can take away. They have everlasting life already abiding within their souls. The ones that neglect their souls, reject God's gift of salvation and choose to remain in sin, will be lost forever if they continue in that way until their natural time of death. Those that freely accept the price Jesus Christ paid for their sins and receive Him into their lives will have eternal life with a new body that cannot suffer anymore.

Moses was a good example of making a good choice. He could have been rich in this world's goods. He could have probably been king of Egypt. Instead he chose to identify with his own people who were at that time slaves in Egypt. As a result Moses inherits an eternal life rather than being famous, rich and a king in his temporary life on earth. That life, had he chosen that way would have been over in his short life span and then nothing. He chose however to believe in God and His promise of a savior. He chose to identify with God. At the time of Moses' death, only his body died. His soul abides forever and is now in heaven awaiting the resurrection when we all receive new bodies that cannot die any more. Remember when James, Peter and John was on the Mount with Jesus and they saw a vision of Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus.

28 And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.
29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.
30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

Moses who died back in the Old Testament was alive talking with Jesus. There actually is no death to a believer in Jesus Christ. To be absent in this body (what we think is death) is to be present with the Lord.
That is why Jesus referred to Lazarus as sleeping instead of dead.

11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well.
13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.
14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.

(Isa 55:3 KJV) Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Your soul shall live. This is speaking of eternal life. If he was just speaking of a longer life here on earth than even unbelievers sometimes get that. I'm sure there have been many who live to be 90 to 100 who are not believers in Jesus Christ. The soul lives forever either in eternal life or eternal death which is hell.
The sure mercies of David is that believers in Jesus will inherit the promises made to David. An everlasting kingdom that cannot be taken away. King David is not really dead.

(Isa 55:4 KJV) Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.

This is speaking of the Son of David that inherited His throne. Through the lineage of David came forth the Son of God, Jesus Christ who not only became our high priest interceding on our behalf in heaven but inherited the right to become king through the lineage of David.
He is a witness, leader and commander and will be in the literal future kingdom of God.

(Isa 55:5 KJV) Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.

Let us rejoice for this is not just for Israel and the children of the promise but for other nations who believe and receive the King of Kings and Lord of Lord, Jesus Christ.
Israel will be an exalted nation one day, no longer despised and hated. Other nations will actually run to them because they will have Jesus Christ, the Holy One of Israel reigning and ruling forever.

(Isa 55:6 KJV) Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

This is something we need to heed right now and not delay. The day of seeking the Lord is now. There is never a time when we should not seek the Lord. Seek Him first and other necessary things will take care of itself.
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

(Isa 55:7 KJV) Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

This is another important part of salvation that many ignore. You don't just come to Christ and then believe and expect to have eternal life. You repent, you receive Him as Lord of your life. Here is says, "Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts."
When we truly repent of sins, we receive another way. We receive Him as Lord of our lives. This is more than turning over a new leaf that we try to do in ourselves. This is turning our lives over to Him and receive His Holy Spirit which comes within us to help. He will enable us to begin to desire good things, eternal things and the things of the Spirit instead of the flesh. We should daily yield to the Holy Spirit to lead us instead of trying to live good lives on our own strength.

When we truly, sincerely come to Him to be free from sin and receive eternal life, He pardons all our past.
We become just as if we never sinned.

(Isa 55:8 KJV) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

We have to realize that we need God. Our thoughts dreams and hopes are not like His. We can begin to pray for the mind of the Lord in all that we do. Help me think as you think Lord and not as man thinks.

(Isa 55:9 KJV) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

To seek His ways to replace our own, to seek the mind of the Lord in all things would probably keep us out of a lot of trouble.

(Isa 55:10 KJV) For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

God's word will prosper and bring forth fruit. His will ultimately will be done. Let the word go forth and not return empty. What God says will come to past. All the ACLU's, evil regimes and works of human beings will never stop it.

(Isa 55:12 KJV) For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

This prophecy could only refer to the future reign of Christ. This has not taken place yet. What a day to look forward to. With scandals, abortion, the war in Yugoslavia, Ireland, Iraq, the middle East and other places, it is comforting to think about the future peaceful reign of Jesus Christ upon the earth. What a day that will be.

(Isa 55:13 KJV) Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Not only will the reign of Jesus Christ be one of true peace, but it will be fruitful. The deserts will blossom, the animals will not hurt anyone, and there will not be any violence after the Lord defeats the enemies of righteousness and rules the earth.
There may be many that try to come before Him promising these things but peace will not come until the literal reign of Jesus Christ. He will come with clouds and every eye shall shall Him. As lightening shines from one end of heaven to the other, so shall His coming be. He will be the same Jesus who was crucified, died and rose again. Even so come Lord Jesus.

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