Redemption Acquired

Isn't it wonderful when someone pays for something you desperately need? A timely gift comes in the mail and you suddenly have what you formerly thought was impossible to acquire? That's how God has handled your salvation. He purchased it for you. Therefore understand that you cannot purchase it yourself!

Isaiah 53 prophesies the cross and suffering of Christ. Isaiah 54 tells the nation to prepare for expansion because the people of God will occupy the nations. Now in Isaiah 55, the prophet sends out the great invitation. An invitation that is so simple that many people miss it. 

Isaiah 55:1 (ESV) “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

It's easy to miss salvation because it's free. Humans love to complicate things. We are born sinners which means we are born broken and messed up and need to be fixed. Surely anything to do with fixing our soul must cost us great amounts of effort! No. It's free. 

If we are going to accept the invitation we have to rethink our lives. First Isaiah invites us to question what we spend ourselves on. 

Isaiah 55:2 (ESV) Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.

The question, "Why" is so significant. From the prophet's perspective, it's foolish to consider spending your money on anything that cannot satisfy. And even more foolish is to fall for the pre-packaged lies our world incessantly offers as food for our souls. They only leave us empty. 

Isaiah 55:3 (ESV) Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.

Next, after putting our false pursuits into perspective, we are commended to listen. But to listen takes effort. Thus Isaiah calls on us to "Incline" our ears. The word "incline" could be translated as "stretch out". God feeds us when we listen to Him. His Word is true food. 

Then we have to repent. 

Isaiah 55:6–7 (ESV) “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; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Too much of modern preaching avoids this topic altogether. Our problems are always environmental, social, and personal enemies that get in our way. But Isaiah makes it clear - our problem is us. Thus Isaiah speaks to the people that what they perceive as their problem is not their actual problem. 

Isaiah 55:8–9 (ESV) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither 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.

The main ingredient in repentance is changing how we think. But it starts with realizing that God thinks differently than us. God will use those we would not. God will say things we would not. God will command laws that we would not invent. But in that very reality lies the greatest proof of God. He upends our expectations. 

Isaiah is confident of God's invitation. Why? Because this is a man held captive by the power of the Word of God. 

Isaiah 55:10–11 (ESV) “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

I cannot count the number of times this passage has given me great hope in preaching and teaching. God's Word is powerful. It is not our personalities, it is not our abilities. It is not our charisma or our church style. Preach God's Word and God's people will come to eat. Then they will hear the good news that salvation is God's work for them and not their work for Him and joy will abound!

So says Isaiah at the end of this chapter:

Isaiah 55:12–13 (ESV) “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the LORD, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”