Isaiah 55 (v6-9)

Only 2 chapters after the amazing song of the Suffering Servant we are again compelled to say we have here one of the most glorious chapters in all Scripture.

Having said “forsaken for awhile but forever loved” God offers the gospel, calling everyone to Himself (v1).  The “thirsty” are beckoned to come buy what is not for sale for money.  In  words every generation must hear God asks why they continue to spend their lives on that which does not satisfy (v2)!  “Seek the Lord … let the wicked forsake his way … for He will abundantly pardon” (v6f)!  

Israel believes that God’s judgment signals the end of His love for them.  In fact they simply do not and cannot understand His ways (v8-9).  The promise is: He will keep His word to them (v10-11).  The time of joy will come (v12-13).

What “word” is it that God will keep?  Is it the promise He made to Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3)?  He has already made that clear that He will honor that covenant.  But there is mentioned in this chapter another “covenant” God made, the one with David.  God promised that David would have a Son to sit on his throne for eternity (2 Sam. 7:16).  God told David that if his (David’s) sons were disobedient He would judge them.  But He would not permanently remove David’s descendants from the throne.  That sounds like God’s promise to Israel, that though He would remove them from the land in judgment, yet He would not permanently forsake them.  For meditation and encouragement consider these additional passages that tie the Davidic Covenant to the faithfulness of God.

·        Psalm 89:28-37 gives a great commentary on this everlasting covenant.  The Psalmist prays for God’s deliverance for Israel based on the promise to David.

·        Jer. 33:19-21: God says if you can break His covenant with the day and night then His covenant with David can also be broken.  If God does not keep His word to a restored Israel, how can we depend on Him to keep His word to us?

·        Ezek. 37:24-25: David will be king over Israel, in the land that He gave to Jacob.  “My servant David shall be their prince forever.”

This chapter brings together the suffering and glory of the Messiah.  God promises to those who come to him “mercy” in that He will “abundantly pardon” (v6-7).  He does this through the suffering Servant (Isa. 53).  But God also promises “the sure mercies of David”, One to sit on David’s throne (v3).  He will do this through the glorious Servant.  Paul understood this when he proclaimed to the “men of Israel” the “sure mercies of David” (Acts 13:16, 34).  He equated the certainty of God’s promise to David with the resurrected Christ.  The suffering Servant provides pardon for sin at the cross.  The same Servant rises from the dead to be the exalted Son of David.  

Perhaps you will want to re-read this chapter, remembering that God calls “everyone” to come to the waters, to seek the Lord while He may be found.