Isaiah 55

Invitation to an Abundant Life

1“Listen! Are you thirsty for more?

Come to the refreshing waters and drink. # 55:1 See Ps. 23:2; John 4:14; 7:37–39; Rev. 22:17.

Even if you have no money,

come, buy, and eat. # 55:1 See Matt. 4:4.

Yes, come and buy all the wine # 55:1 See Song. 2:4; Neh. 8:10. This wine can symbolize the joy-filled blessings of God. and milk # 55:1 See 1 Peter 2:2. This milk can symbolize the spiritual nourishment we receive from God’s Word. you desire—

it won’t cost a thing.

2Why spend your hard-earned money

on something that can’t nourish you # 55:2 See Ps. 107:9.

or work so hard for something that can’t satisfy? # 55:2 Matthew 11:28–30 is Jesus’ commentary on this verse.

So listen carefully to me

and you’ll enjoy a sumptuous feast,

delighting in the finest of food. # 55:2 See John 6:48–63.

3Pay attention and come closer to me,

and hear, that your total being may flourish. # 55:3 Or “listen to me so that your soul may live.”

I will enter into an everlasting covenant with you, # 55:3 See Heb. 13:20.

and I will show you the same faithful love

that I showed David. # 55:3 See Acts 13:34.

4See! I made him a witness to the nations,

an example of leadership,

as prince and commander of peoples.”

5Look! You will summon nations you’ve never heard of.

Nations who have never heard of you

will come running to follow you # 55:5 See 2 Sam. 22:44–46; John 12:19.

because Yahweh, your God, the Holy One of Israel,

has glorified you!

God’s Mercy Greater than Man’s

6Seek # 55:6 “Seek” (Hb. daresh) has the idea of visiting frequently more than trying to find something. the Lord Yahweh when he makes himself approachable; # 55:6 Or “while he lets himself be found.” See 1 Tim. 6:16: “the immortal God, living in the unapproachable light of divine glory!” In Jesus, the Anointed One, God makes himself approachable (see 1 Tim. 2:5). This is the Hebrew word ehimase’u, a Niphal infinitive. It has the idea of obtaining or finding knowledge. The infinitive form would suggest an overwhelming amount or an abundance of knowledge can be found.

call # 55:6 The Hebrew word for “call” is qara’, which has two meanings. One is “to call or shout,” the other is “to fall into.” So this could be read “Fall into him while he is near.” upon him when you sense he is near.

7The wicked need to abandon their ways,

and sinful ones need to banish every evil thought. # 55:7 See 2 Cor. 10:3–6.

Let them return to Yahweh,

and they will experience his compassionate mercy.

Yes, let them return to God,

for he will lavish forgiveness upon them.

8“For my thoughts about mercy # 55:8 In the context, the thoughts of God refer to his compassion, mercy, and forgiveness. Man’s thoughts of mercy are not God’s. Man’s mercy runs out, but God’s mercy is higher than the heavens. God’s mercy and forgiveness are generous and abundant. are not like your thoughts,

and my ways are different from yours.

9As high as the heavens are above the earth,

so my ways and my thoughts are higher than yours.

10“As the snow and rain that fall from heaven # 55:10 In the language of biblical metaphor, snow is a picture of mercy blanketing the earth. Rain is a frequent symbol of revelation-teaching that soaks the heart (soil) and makes us fruitful. Note the six terms for God’s Word in vv. 8–10: thoughts, ways, snow, rain, seed, bread. These same terms can be used to describe the Lord Jesus. He is the seed of the woman, living Bread, the Way and the Life that sprouts in us. He is the Word that was sent (as our Apostle; see Heb. 3:1), and he will not return to heaven without accomplishing all God’s pleasure.

do not return until they have accomplished their purpose,

soaking the earth and causing it to sprout with new life,

providing seed to sow and bread to eat.

11So also will be the word # 55:11 In the context, God’s word is his promise to show love, compassion, and forgiveness to all who turn to him. that I speak;

it does not return to me unfulfilled. # 55:11 Or “empty.”

My word performs my purpose

and fulfills the mission I sent it out to accomplish.” # 55:11 The Septuagint adds a phrase not found in the Hebrew: “And I will make your way prosperous.”

12For you will leave your exile with joy # 55:12 See Rom. 14:17.

and be led home wrapped in peace.

The mountains and hills in front of you will burst into singing

and the trees of the field will applaud! # 55:12 Isaiah was a master poet. With beautiful metaphors he described the return of God’s people out of captivity. What once limited God’s people as a barrier (mountains and hills) now celebrates with singing as the redeemed leave their captivity and come into God’s full purpose for them. See Rom. 8:19–21.

13Cypress trees will flourish where there were only thorns # 55:13 Thorns are a symbol of the curse of sin. See Gen. 3:18; Matt. 27:29; Gal. 3:13–14.

and myrtle trees instead of briars. # 55:13 There is a hint of the Lord Jesus in these trees. Jesus is the blessed man who is like a tree (see Ps. 1); he replaces the briars and thorns of our flesh with the flourishing Tree of Life in us.

These will stand as a testimony to Yahweh’s renown,

everlasting signs # 55:13 Or “a memorial [as a reminder].” that will not be cut off.

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Isaiah 55: TPT

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Isaiah 55

Invitation to True Rewards

1“Ho! Everyone thirsty, come to the waters!

And whoever has no money, come, buy and eat,

and come, buy without money,

wine and milk without price!

2Why do you weigh out money for what is not food,

and your labor for what cannot satisfy?#Literally “what is not for satiation”

Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,

and let your soul take pleasure in rich#Literally “fatty” food.

3Extend your ear, and come to me!

Listen so that#Or “and” your soul may live,

and I will make#Literally “cut” an everlasting covenant with#or “for” you,

the enduring proofs of the mercies shown to#Literally “mercy of” David.

4Look! I made#Or “gave” him a witness to the peoples,

a leader and a commander for the peoples.

5Look! You shall call a nation that you do not know,

and a nation that does not know you shall run to you,

because of Yahweh your God,

and the holy one of Israel, for he has glorified you.”

6Seek Yahweh while he lets himself be found;#Literally “in his letting himself be found”

call him while he is#Literally “in his being” near.

7Let the wicked forsake his way,

and the man of sin his thoughts.

And let him return to Yahweh, that#Or “and” he may take pity on him,

and to our God, for he will forgive manifold.#Literally “make numerous to”

8“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

and your ways are not my ways,”

declares#Literally “declaration of” Yahweh.

9“For as the heavens are higher#Literally “high” than the earth,

so my ways are higher#Literally “high” than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10For just as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,

and they do not return there

except they have watered the earth thoroughly

and cause it to bring forth and sprout,

and give seed to the sower

and bread to the eater,

11so shall be my word that goes out from my mouth.

It shall not return to me without success,

but shall accomplish#Or “do” what I desire

and be successful in the thing for which I sent it.

12For you shall go out in joy,

and you shall be led in peace.

The mountains and the hills shall break forth before you, rejoicing

and all the trees of the field shall clap hands.#Hebrew “hand”

13Instead of the thorn bush, the juniper shall go up;

instead of the brier, the myrtle shall go up,

and it shall serve as a memorial to Yahweh,

for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

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