Isaiah God s Call Isaiah 55 Come unto me, you who are thirsty. So many are thirsty, and so many refuse to drink from the living water. Now he had to go through Samaria. So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, Will you give me a drink? (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink? (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water. Sir, the woman said, you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds? Jesus answered, Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. The woman said to him, Sir, give me this water so that I won t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water. He told her, Go, call your husband and come back. I have no husband, she replied. Jesus said to her, You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true. Sir, the woman said, I can see that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem. Jesus declared, Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. The woman said, I know that Messiah (called Christ) is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us. Then Jesus declared, I who speak to you am he. Just then his disciples returned and were surprised to find him talking with a woman. But no one asked, What do you want? or Why are you talking with her? Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ? They came out of the town and made their way toward him. Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman s testimony, He told me everything I ever did. So when the Samaritans came to him, they
urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. And because of his words many more became believers. They said to the woman, We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world. (John 4:4-30, 39-42). I Introduction II God s Call to the Thirsty Verses 1-5 III God s Call to the Wicked Verses 6-7 IV God s Call is Confirmed Verses 8-13 V Conclusion O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. ~ Psalm 63:1 Introduction: God has been reassuring Israel of her future hope. But as we have seen, even the future hope of the nation is dependent on the repentance of the individuals who make up that nation. And so in this section God calls to the individual. There is an expansion of the call which is not limited to the Jew, but is applicable to all. Dr. McGee explains it this way: The work of the suffering Servant in chapter 53 makes possible the offer of salvation in this chapter. In chapter 54 the invitation was confined to Israel. In this chapter the invitation is extended to the entire world. The gospel went first to Israel, and then the Gentiles. This does not mean that the Jew has top priority today, but he shouldn t have bottom priority either; he is on the same par as everyone else. The Jew did receive the gospel first. Peter on the Day of Pentecost preached to an all-jewish congregation there wasn t a Gentile in the lot. Now this invitation goes out to the world. This is remarkable because there have been very few religious leaders who have had a global view. The work of the suffering Servant in chapter 53 makes possible now the offer of salvation to a lost world. God s invitation has yet to find its complete fulfillment in Israel. This is not a mechanical offer locked in the airtight compartment of God s election, but it rests upon the free-flowing will of each hearer. He is urged in fact, he is commanded to seek the Lord. 1 Verses 1-5: Humanity is spiritually thirsty. Those who have tasted God should understand this better than anyone. The problem is, most try to assuage that thirst with everything but the water of life. And so God calls, but the call is only to those who are thirsty. Only those desiring God s salvation can be saved. Those who go elsewhere are lost. We know scripture uses water in a number of ways. It refers to God s word. It refers to the Holy Spirit. And, it can refer to the life that flows from God, salvation. Bruksbazen states: The water, wine, milk and bread of which the prophet speaks are the various aspects of the Word of God. Water is essential to life, without it life is impossible. Wine is exhilarating, and in the lands of the Bible was frequently used to nourish and to strengthen the sick. Milk is basic to growth and health. Bread is the staff of life. All these are offered by a gracious God, freely and without any cost. 2 1 McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, Vol. 3, Isaiah, Thomas Nelson Inc., Nashville, TN 1982, p. 318. 2 Buksbazen, Victor, The Prophet Isaiah, In Two Volumes, The Spearhead Press, Collingswood, NJ, 1971, p. 429. ) 420 (
Wine is used in scripture to symbolize joy. This of course is what we find in our relationship with God, joy. And we should find joy being in His Word. Or as one motto puts it. Joy is the flag that is flown in the heart when the Master is in residence. 3 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. We write this to make our joy complete (1 Thessalonians 1:6; 1 John 1:4). God is the source of the water of life, the wine of joy, and milk. Milk, being a source of growth and development, may in this context also speak of God s word. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation ( 1 Peter 2:2). So, God provides for the needs of those who seek Him, But Judah and Israel had been looking everywhere but God. They had looked to Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, and to themselves. Modern man looks to spirituality, to drugs, to power, to everywhere other than God. But nothing satisfies a soul created to be in relationship with God, other than God. And it is eternal satisfaction which God offers. He calls men to listen to His words. He reminds them of His promises. The NIV Study Bible notes: everlasting covenant. David had been promised an unending dynasty, one that would culminate in the Messiah. faithful love. Assuring the continuation of the nation.. Christ s resurrection was further proof of God s faithfulness to David (see Ac 13:34, which quotes from this verse). 4 The fact that God raised him from the dead, never to decay, is stated in these words: I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David. (Acts 13:34). So God is providing a witness. This witness can be either David or the coming Messiah. Actually there is no reason it can t be both because the Messiah continues the service of God, started by his father. But the call Isaiah presents could only be fully completed by the Messiah because it is he who reaches beyond Israel to the nations of the world. Verses 6-7: This call goes beyond a call to rebellious children to return to their God. It is a call to the wicked among all peoples to repent and turn to God for their salvation. God is the one who provides mercy, and it is available to any who would come to Him. Wiersbie asks? What is involved in seeking the Lord? For one thing, it means admitting that we are sinners and that we have offended the holy God. It means repenting, changing one s mind about sin, and turning away from sin and to the Lord. We must turn to God in faith and believe His promise that in mercy He will abundantly pardon. Repentance and faith go together: repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). 5 3 McGee, p. 319. 4 NIV Study Bible Notes, Zondervan Interactive Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1999 5 Wiersbe, Warren W., The Bible Exposition Commentary, Old Testament The Prophets, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1971, p. 64. ) 421 (
The idea of seeking God when He may be found reminds the listener of the immediacy of opportunity for repentance. Billy Graham describes this as the hour of decision. There is always the danger of rejecting God s open hand of mercy, that it might be withdrawn. Jesus replied: A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, Come, for everything is now ready. But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me. Another said, I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I m on my way to try them out. Please excuse me. Still another said, I just got married, so I can t come. The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame. Sir, the servant said, what you ordered has been done, but there is still room. Then the master told his servant, Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet. (Luke 14:16-24). Verses 8-13: Too often people argue with God. Religion itself, if not Christianity, is an argument with God. It says we know better than He does when it comes to what is best for us. It says God should be willing to accept whatever man has to offer. The world says the wisdom of man is supreme. In fact in our society those who hold to the wisdom of God are, at least according to the intellectually elite, the true primitives, the foolish, the superstitious. But the Bible s answer to all of this is to say The problem people have today, notes Dr. McGee, is not mental. You may say, I have great intellectual hurdles to surmount before I can come to Christ. No, you don t You have only one that is sin in your life that you don t want to give up. That is the one thing that keeps men from God. Let the wicked forsake his way and when you do, then you will be ready to turn to Him. 6 Anticipating these arguments, God says We are incapable of understanding His ways. By this he is primarily referring to His moral/spiritual ways, standards, values, in other words, righteousness. And the lack of godly wisdom has reflected the human condition since the fall. It is essentially foolishness that leads to the rejection of salvation. The fool says in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good (Psalm 14:1). The importance of God s Word is the focus of these last verses. It is compared with His blessings in nature. It flows from on all, but it isn t accepted by all. God makes it clear when He sends out His word it always accomplishes His will. This is the case when it is accepted because it provides the way of salvation. This is also true when rejected because rejection is the evidence of the hearer s fallenness. God s word always accomplishes His purposes. Buksbazen notes: 6 McGee, p. 320. ) 422 (
The word of God has the same effect on the soul of man as the rain has on earth. Only the Word of God has the power to revive and to provide food for the hungry and fainting soul. Only those who have been fed by the Word of God are able to feed others. Jesus said: 7 Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life (John 4:13-14). There is an explicit promise here that God s Word will everlastingly perform its appointed mission of bringing new life to man regardless how inauspicious and unpromising the momentary situation may seem. 8 And with the acceptance of God s word comes great blessing. For Israel the expectation was and still is a restored nation. This will come! What God will bring about in the blessedness of the Millennial Kingdom will have a twofold effect: it will tell forth His glory and will be a constant reminder to His people of His attributes and actings of grace and power. 9 But Isaiah looks well beyond the coming Millennial Kingdom. He looks to the blessings that come with an ever deepening relationship with God. This is the true blessing. Conclusion: With these verses we come to the end of the second section of Isaiah. Leupold speaking of verses 12 and 13 summarizes the verses and section this way. This section (chaps 40-55) and Chap. 55 very appropriately come to a close on a note of joy, joy over the impending Return from Babylonian Captivity, a point of view that has been continually appearing and reappearing. The language descriptive of this great event is borrowed from the account of the Exodus from Egyptian bondage. As there was joy then, there shall be join again. So also this Exodus shall be in peace, not in panic or in haste but in the full assurance of faith in the God who has often redeemed his people. That figure of a band of men released and coming back free is replaced by the language of a festal procession, where men keep a feast and mark the occasion by jubilant shouts. To catch the exuberance of the festival spirit, we must note that the expressions of joy are so overwhelming that even the trees of the field are wept along into it and clap their hands for joy as a king of rhythmic accomplishment to the swelling chorus of joy. The trees of the field are the wild trees that grow promiscuously here and there; even they feel that they must join this happy chorus. 10 Joy comes from the truths found in God s Word. It provides what is necessary to understand His gift of salvation. His Word provides what we need to grow in the Christian life. His Word provides the hope of eternity in His presence. God gives us His Word for Justification, Sanctification, and Glorification. As we meditate on all God has done, is doing, and will do, we too will experience joy. And out of that joy should come an increasing desire to be in the Word and to give it to others. Understanding all the blessings of God should be a great motivator to use the opportunities He gives us to share His truth with others. Encourage one another within the body, and offer the message of salvation to those without. 7 Buksbazen, p. 431. 8 Ibid., p. 432. 9 Vine, W. E., Isaiah, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1971, p. 181. 10 Leupold, H. C., Exposition of Isaiah, Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI, 1971, p. 256-257. ) 423 (
So let us look forward to the day when we can rejoice with all creation, looking to our Lord and Savior, giving Him all praise, praise to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace. The mountains and the hills will break forth before you; There ll be shouts of joy, and all the trees of the field will clap, will clap their hands. And all the trees of the field will clap their hands, the trees of the field will clap their hands, The trees of the field will clap their hands and you ll go out with joy. 11 ~~~~~~~~ For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; Strength and glory are in his sanctuary. Psalm 96:4-6 11 Dauermann, Stuart, and Steffi Geiser Rubin, Avodat Y shua, Trees of the Field, Purple Pomegranate Productions, San Francisco, CA, 1991, #141. ) 424 (
Isaiah God s Call Isaiah 55 I Introduction II God s Call to the Thirsty Verses 1-5 III God s Call to the Wicked Verses 6-7 IV God s Call is Confirmed Verses 8-13 V Conclusion I Introduction: (John 4:4-30, 39-42; Psalm 63:1) II God s Call to the Thirsty: (1 Thessalonians 1:6; 1 John 1:4; 1 Peter 2:2; Acts 13:34)
III God s Call to the Wicked: (Acts 20:21; Luke 14:16-24) IV God s Call is Confirmed: (Psalm 14:1; John 4:13-14) V Conclusion: (Psalm 96:4-6) Personal Application: Meditate on God s Word, especially passages of joy and praises, God s love, grace, and mercy. Prayer for the Week: Lord, we praise You for the gift of our salvation, and the work You are doing in our life, conforming us to the image of Your Son. In His name, amen.