Isaiah 55:1-9
The prophets in Israel were interesting people. In today’s lesson from the Old or first Testament as some scholars prefer to call it, the Prophet Isaiah opens our passage for this morning by mimicking the cries of the vendors in the marketplace: “Come all you who are thirsty…come, buy, and eat!” But notice that he adds something else; something different from all the other vendors in the marketplace. Isaiah says: “and you who have no money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.”
These verses are an invitation to those who do not have money to buy milk and wine which were for them the basic needs of life.
It is possible that Isaiah is offering this to those who are returning from Babylon, because despite the allowance of Cyrus and the Persian Empire for them to return, this was not a prosperous time in Jerusalem. The city had not been rebuilt since its destruction by the Babylonians, fifty years earlier. Social, and economic structures were weak, and there were struggles for the best land between the returnees and those who had been in the land in the meantime. Later, Nehemiah would report that common farming families were having to borrow money and grain to pay their taxes, and even selling their children into slavery. Nehemiah 5:1-5 says, “Now the men and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. 2 Some were saying, “We and our sons and daughters are numerous; in order for us to eat and stay alive, we must get grain. 3 Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine. 4 Still others were saying, “We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. … yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.”
If Isaiah -with his invitation- is reflecting the conditions of those who returned to the land of Judah; those men and their wives who raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews, then the invitation to eat and drink without paying would have been both gracious and exceedingly welcome. This invitation was without a doubt quite relevant for those who were listening.
God, through the prophet is offering them not just bread, wine, and milk; what he is offering is life; what he is offering is the opportunity to live a better life, a life with their children in their fields, a life without starvation. Verse 3 says, “Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live.” In other words, what God is offering is life, abundant life. God who took them back from captivity is now providing what they need. The promise God did through Moses in Deuteronomy 31:8 was real for them. Here is Moses talking to Israel in the wilderness in front the promise land, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
When God brought His people back to Jerusalem, He was expecting them to learn from the pass and be faithful to Him. However, when they became settled, they forgot their purpose, which was to be faithful and serve only God who gave them freedom, life, and salvation. But the prophet seems to suggest that this was not the case. According to Isaiah, they were “Seeking what does not satisfy.” Consequently, we can conclude that they had neglected their relationship with God, and they were attracted by “their” way, not “God’s” way.
To this people whose ways were far from God as heavens are from earth, God was inviting to “Seek the Him while he may be found; to call on him while he is near. He was inviting the wicked to forsake their ways and to the unrighteous their thoughts. He was offering the opportunity to turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them. To people who did not deserve his care, God extends his mercy and offers free milk, bread, wine, and water. Once again, we can see how merciful our God is. If you notice, even when they were mortgaging their fields, vineyards, and homes to get grain during the famine. And had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax on their fields and vineyards and their children were sold as slaves, they had money to buy things that does not satisfy.
Now, the question is, why was God so merciful with Israel and invited her to eat what is good and delight in the richest of fare. The answer is in verses 3-5, “Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a ruler and commander of the peoples. Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations you do not know will come running to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.” The promise God did to David was the reason. God was being faithful to His Word, to His promise to David.
“Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” God is offering mercy and pardon. Mercy and free pardon equal Grace.
For all of us who are here this morning, God has the same invitation, “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy, and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. This invitation comes to us now that Jesus is walking to Jerusalem where he will take our place and will die for our sins.
Jesus has his version of this invitation, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. Or “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. John 6:35.
Jesus’ bread, water and rest are also free for us, but that does not mean did not cost anything. They are free for us because Jesus paid in full with his life. 1 Peter 2:24, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” Peter reminds us that Jesus by his wounds, took our sins, the obstacle between God and us and made us healed, made us saved. Such a salvation is free, by grace as the bread, milk and wine offered by Isaiah. Ephesians 2:4-5 says, “4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”
This morning once again Jesus is extending his invitation, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” If you are tired and burdened, come dwell and rest at his presence, it is free. Jesus said, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:29-30. Jesus is inviting us to stop practicing our way and try his way. His way is easier and lighter.
If you find yourself weak and in need of strength, come, and get it for free. Remember, Jesus is our source of strength. “You can do all things through him who gives you strength.” Philippians 4:13
If you are in need if Peace; come, get it for free. “For he himself is our peace.” Ephesians 2:14. Today, as in ancient times, Jesus is offering a better life, an abundant life.