Written by Paul J Bucknell on January, 04, 2023
Isaiah 55:1-13, Study Questions, The Call For Salvation
God loves the world. The words have been overused, yet, when deeply understood, the words wonderfully express God’s way of reaching out to us sinners. God blesses any person delighting in Him. Let’s see how God calls us to Himself.
Our Welcome (Isaiah 55:1-5)
1 Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters;
And you who have no money come, buy and eat.
Come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without cost.
2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And delight yourself in abundance.
3 Incline your ear and come to Me.
Listen, that you may live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
According to the faithful mercies shown to David.
4 Behold, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
A leader and commander for the peoples.
5 Behold, you will call a nation you do not know,
And a nation which knows you not will run to you,
Because of the Lord your God, even the Holy One of Israel;
For He has glorified you. (NASB unless noted)
1. Are you invited to come (1)? Where?
2. Is the phrase, “The better things in life cannot be bought,” true (1-2)?
3* How can these verses help us share the gospel?
4. What part of salvation do these verses describe?
5. What kind of covenant will the Lord make with those coming to Him (3)?
Some interpret verse 3b as God being as merciful with us as He was with David. A better interpretation, ignoring the italics, promises that we can be part of God’s precious covenant that He made with David. Read the Davidic covenant in 2 Samuel 7:8-17.
5. In what way was David a leader and witness (4)?
6. How did David show his concern for witnessing to the nations (Ps. 18:49-50, 57:9)?
David is “the final personal realization of the idea of Israel, both in its inward nature, and in its calling in relation to the whole world of nations” (Keil-Delitsch p.356). Note that “nation” is literally “mass of people.”
B. His Call to Return (Isaiah 55:6-7)
6 Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the Lord,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
1* What does the phrase “Call upon Him while He is near” mean (6)?
2. What change is God expecting from those seeking His help (7)?
3* The word “return” is significant (7). God does not need to change, but man needs to return to his Maker. Describe a situation when you had gone astray.
C. His Confidence (Isaiah 55:8-11)
God’s Certain Blessing Upon His People
8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
(1). God exceeds man in many ways (8-9)
1* List some ways God from man (8).
2* How would a typical man respond to another’s hate, dislike, cheating, unfaithfulness to contract, etc. (8)?
3* By thinking of what God did through Christ, list a few ways God’s ways and thoughts are higher than man’s (9).
(2). Mercy for His people and judgment for others (10-11)
1. Write out the meaning of verse 10 in your own words.
2* God uses His Word to carry out judgment and mercy. According to these verses, is it possible for God’s Word to be shared in vain?
3. God emphasizes his mercy to us in this chapter. Do you think mankind, at some point, will enjoy His grace (11)?
D. Our Eternal Joy (Isaiah 55:12-13)
A Sure Blessing, An Eternal Blessing
12 For you will go out with joy
And be led forth with peace;
The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you,
And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up,
And instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up,
And it will be a memorial to the Lord,
For an everlasting sign which will not be cut off.”
1. How does God describe the blessing upon His people (12)?
2* How does a thorn bush differ from a cypress (13)?
3* Christ was cut off (i.e., killed), so we might have eternal life. The transformation of our lives is the best sign of His gift of eternal life. In what ways has God transformed your life (13)?
Summary
Jesus Christ completed God’s salvation on the cross. This love shown by God does not preclude our response. We must come to Him. God doesn’t care where we are from or what we are like; His grace is sufficient. He desires us to be filled with His peace and joy.
