Step Into Faith

Chapter Reflection

A voice calls out to the thirsty, the hungry, and the poor: come, receive what cannot be bought, and be satisfied with what truly gives life. The chapter contrasts wasted labor on what does not nourish with the simple nearness of hearing, turning, and living; communion is offered as gift, not wage. God’s word is shown as living and effective, like rain that enters the earth and makes it bear fruit, so that what is spoken from above really brings about what it promises below. The result is not bare survival but joy, peace, and a renewed creation, where barrenness gives way to living growth and even the hills and trees seem to rejoice. Human freedom is present throughout: to hear, seek, forsake, return, and enter the covenantal mercy that is already reaching toward all nations.

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← Isaiah
Ho, Every One That Thirsteth

Isaiah 55

1Ho, 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.

2Wherefore 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.

3Incline 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.

4Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.

5Behold, 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.

6Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

7Let 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.

8For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10For 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:

11So 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.

12For 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.

13Instead 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.

Who God is

What kind of God calls the thirsty to come freely, and whose word goes out and truly makes life bloom?

The condition of man

What does it mean that you can spend yourself on what does not satisfy, yet still be called to return and live?