Isaiah 55
Today's Passage: Isaiah 55
I love the study of God’s Word. I love the language, grammar, syntax—to dive deeply into the technical components that yield great insight into the meaning of the author. I love the history and culture, revealing a context distantly removed, yet attainable. I love the greatness of the God who revealed himself offering hope to mankind. I love the wisdom that we may continually learn that everything works better when you do it God’s way. However, what I also love are passages like today, that without an ounce of contextual research, literary analysis, or word studies the Holy Spirit applies salve to a weary soul as we read.
Although every verse is worthy of a Jumpstart post, especially the famous verses 8 & 9, what stood out to me were the opening lines of chapter 55, “Come, everyone who thirsts…”
Fortunately, we live in a place where drinkable water is readily available. However, we all know the feeling of having a dry mouth and throat. We know the feeling of having to wait to quench our excruciating thirst. And then, the feeling of taking that sip of water and feel it rehydrate our body. That’s what the Lord is offering, but in a much greater sense than tap water.
What the Lord is offering in this passage is satisfaction. We’ve all been satisfied here or there, but never entirely or eternally. We’ve never been so satisfied that there wasn’t something that could have made the evening just a little bit better. Likewise, as good as something may have been, the feeling fades and the satisfaction becomes a memory of what was.
Sometimes we’re burdened—weighed down by so many things that are too often out of our control. It’s like a computer screen with many windows open and multiple tabs all vying for our attention. As soon as we start looking at one, we remember all the other responsibilities, concerns, and worries in the other windows and we bring them to the surface. It’s like anytime we give attention to any one thing, we feel like we’re missing something else.
In those moments, I’m convinced, the most important thing is to trade the lies of this world with the truth of God’s Word—Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near. Additionally, we must seek genuine repentance to agree with God about the sin in our lives—let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. And notice the promise—let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God for he will abundantly pardon.
The truth is in Christ, we have hope. What he offers is something beyond anything we will ever achieve for ourselves, satisfaction. 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.
Written By: Tyler Short
I love the study of God’s Word. I love the language, grammar, syntax—to dive deeply into the technical components that yield great insight into the meaning of the author. I love the history and culture, revealing a context distantly removed, yet attainable. I love the greatness of the God who revealed himself offering hope to mankind. I love the wisdom that we may continually learn that everything works better when you do it God’s way. However, what I also love are passages like today, that without an ounce of contextual research, literary analysis, or word studies the Holy Spirit applies salve to a weary soul as we read.
Although every verse is worthy of a Jumpstart post, especially the famous verses 8 & 9, what stood out to me were the opening lines of chapter 55, “Come, everyone who thirsts…”
Fortunately, we live in a place where drinkable water is readily available. However, we all know the feeling of having a dry mouth and throat. We know the feeling of having to wait to quench our excruciating thirst. And then, the feeling of taking that sip of water and feel it rehydrate our body. That’s what the Lord is offering, but in a much greater sense than tap water.
What the Lord is offering in this passage is satisfaction. We’ve all been satisfied here or there, but never entirely or eternally. We’ve never been so satisfied that there wasn’t something that could have made the evening just a little bit better. Likewise, as good as something may have been, the feeling fades and the satisfaction becomes a memory of what was.
Sometimes we’re burdened—weighed down by so many things that are too often out of our control. It’s like a computer screen with many windows open and multiple tabs all vying for our attention. As soon as we start looking at one, we remember all the other responsibilities, concerns, and worries in the other windows and we bring them to the surface. It’s like anytime we give attention to any one thing, we feel like we’re missing something else.
In those moments, I’m convinced, the most important thing is to trade the lies of this world with the truth of God’s Word—Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near. Additionally, we must seek genuine repentance to agree with God about the sin in our lives—let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. And notice the promise—let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God for he will abundantly pardon.
The truth is in Christ, we have hope. What he offers is something beyond anything we will ever achieve for ourselves, satisfaction. 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.
Written By: Tyler Short
1 Comment
Great encouragement this morning Tyler!