Come, all who are thirsty...

Isaiah 55 (New International Version)

1 “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.
2 Why spend money on what is not bread,
and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,
and you will delight in the richest of fare.
3 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.
4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
a ruler and commander of the peoples.
5 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.”

6 Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake their ways
and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the LORD’s renown,
for an everlasting sign,
that will endure forever.”

What a beautiful chapter! Full of promise and joy! I recently read an article that stated that the word Bible scholars interpret as "purpose" can also be translated as "delight". Now read verse 11 again and use the word "delight".

Isaiah is speaking these words to the Israelites while they are captive in Babylon. At this point in time they felt lonely, lost and abandoned. Was he wrong to speak this way? A prophet is meant to be the voice of God to the people. He guides and shows them the error of their ways. But why wouldn't God want to remind His people that He delights in them? Even in exile, He loves them.

Perhaps it's a mistake to put ourselves into the stories we read but it is a habit of mine. To try and feel what they feel...to see and taste and experience the story. To me Isaiah 55 is like a breath of fresh air...amidst all the toil, all the tribulation, all the sorrow, God wants them to know that He hasn't forgotten them, He wants to show them what is in store for those who turn and follow Him.