My wife and I were able to enjoy some very sweet time together this evening. It was a sort of replacement birthday for last friday, when my lady was quite sick. Aunt Cindy and Marlea and Harmony came over to give her the present they would have brought a week ago, then Grandma watched Noah while the two of us spent an evening out. We got to go first to the wedding rehearsal of some good friends from church, and then use the last of a gift certificate to share dinner at our favorite restaurant.
As we were talking, Laura shared how she had recently been encouraged in reading the book of Isaiah, particularly the second half, and more particularly chapter 55. As we read it together, I began see why. It is a remarkable passage, full of hope and mercy, pleading for us to come and see that the Lord is truly all-sufficient. There are many familiar verses, ones I have heard used to prove any number of Christian ideas, but I'm not sure if I have seen them in the overall context found here. This is a picture of grace, of a God who will satisfy and bless His people, not because they have anything great - they have nothing (v.1-2) - or because they are morally or intellectually great - they are not (v.7-9). But because of His greatness, He will give life to our souls; in spite of ourselves, He will satisfy us with his words, and grow His life in us like a seed into a plant. It is God, from beginning to end, who will do this - "I will make with you.." - v.3, "because of the Lord your God." -v.5, "He will abundantly pardon," -v.7, "So are my ways higher than your ways," -v.9, "It shall accomplish that which I purpose," -v.11, "you shall...be led forth in peace," v.12, "and it shall make a name for the Lord," -v.13.
As we talked, we realized that is really quite freeing to know that His thoughts are far beyond our own (v.8-9). We don't have to have everything figured out, or consider ourselves great for having read a lot of books, because no matter how much we know, it will be a drop in the bucket compared to the knowledge of our Lord. This not to denigrate the value of learning and knowledge - I'm rather addicted to books - but to remind myself of the greater perspective, and be freed from an unhealthy drive for self-importance.
In addition, those verses are immediately after - and directly related t0 - beautiful verses on the mercy and forgiveness of God. Our thoughts toward grace are nowhere near His! We cannot fathom what it means to "abundantly pardon" the way the Lord does. Yet He calls us come to come and see - "come to the waters", "buy and eat", "listen diligently", "incline your ear", see what great provision there is for your soul! Then a great phrase - "delight yourselves in rich food." Enjoy it! This passage should not produce greater consternation and graveness at the task of trying to please God, but He rather calls us to delight! In fact, the more we understand that we cannot gain this soul-changing life on our own, but that God does it all, the greater our joy will be - "For you shall go out in joy, and be led forth in peace."
Lastly, this is all in the context of what Isaiah started talking about 3 chapters previous. With man these things are all impossible, but there is one coming who will bring salvation, bring joy, redeem His people - all the things that chapter 55 expounds. The servant of God whom Isaiah talks about is Jesus, the one who will change everything and do all this for us. Now He has, and we can rejoice; we can drink and eat, with nothing to bring but our broken souls, and He will restore us.
I need this, my family needs this, my ministry needs this every day, and I am thankful to my wife for reminding me of the Lord's love and mercy.
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