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ISAIAH 55

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects (reading cycle #3). Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS

1. To whom is this chapter speaking? (the covenant people in Exile or all humans)
2. What is it offering to them: (restoration to the Promised Land or spiritual salvation of all repentant believers [i.e. Ibn Ezra, Radak])
3. This is where two hermeneutical principles collide!
   1. Every passage should be interpreted in light of the original, inspired author's intent. The way to judge a proper interpretation is, "What would the original hearers (i.e. the target audience) have understood?" Every text has only one meaning.
   2. The NT is the proper fulfillment and interpreter of the OT (cf. Matt. 5:17-48). Jesus is the goal and purpose of the OT promises. In Him and in Him alone should the OT be interpreted. The NT is about Jesus and universal redemption, not about national Israel. Paul used OT texts like this to refer to Gentiles (i.e. Rom. 9:24-26; Eph. 2:13). The NT gives the proper understanding to OT texts. The NT reveals the mind of the Spirit who is the true author of revelation.
4. Notice that the return from exile is not specifically mentioned (unless Isa. 55:12a,b) or even alluded to. The invitation is more general, more broad!

CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS

1. This setting is either the
   1. Messianic banquet, Matt. 25:6-8; Luke 14:15-24; 22:16,18; Rev. 19:9, which I have come to believe is the wedding feast of Jesus and the church. See my new (2024) exegetical commentary on the book of Revelation.
   2. market place of Jerusalem
   
   
2. The OT Prophets often used the historical events of their own day to foreshadow eschatological events.
   SPECIAL TOPIC: PROPHECY (OT)
   
   
3. As a Great Commission Christian (i.e. Matt. 28:18-20; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8) who believes in the priority of evangelism and discipleship, this chapter holds a dear place in my heart and ministry. YHWH, through His prophet, pleads for fallen humanity to return to Him so that He can give them full and free forgiveness (cf. Isa. 55:1-5; also note the universal invitation of Jesus in Matt. 11:28; Rev. 22:17). This is the goal of Gen. 3:15 (i.e. a restored Garden of Eden; see SPECIAL TOPIC: EDEN)!
    However, there is a mandated covenant response (cf. Isa. 55:6-7, see SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT). Humans must repent, believe, obey, and persevere.
    YHWH has an eternal redemptive plan (cf. Isa. 55:8-11). See SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN! God's revelation through Abraham's seed was a message for the whole world. Abraham's seed is now all believers in Christ (cf. Rom. 2:28-29; 9:6; Gal. 3:7-9,29; 6:16; Eph. 2:11-3:13; 1 Pet. 3:6).
   
   
4. Notice the speaker in the poem is YHWH (or Personified Wisdom of Prov. 8:22-9:6). Only the invitation of Isa. 55:6-7 is spoken by the prophet who was overwhelmed at the mercy of YHWH.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ISAIAH 55:1-5
¹"Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters;
And you who have no money come, buy and eat.
Come, buy wine and milk
Without money and without cost.
²Why do you spend money for what is not bread,
And your wages for what does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,
And delight yourself in abundance.
³Incline your ear and come to Me.
Listen, that you may live;
And I will make an everlasting covenant with you,
According to the faithful mercies shown to David.
⁴Behold, I have made him a witness to the peoples,
A leader and commander for the peoples.
⁵Behold, you will call a nation you do not know,
And a nation which knows you not will run to you,
Because of the Lord your God, even the Holy One of Israel;
For He has glorified you."

55:1-3 YHWH's invitation to humanity (i.e. "everyone who thirsts," cf. Isa. 55:1a) has many commands which are mostly emphatic divine invitations.

1. come to the waters ‒ Qal IMPERATIVE (BDB 229, KB 246)
2. come ‒ same as #1
3. buy ‒ Qal IMPERATIVE (BDB 991, KB 1404)
4. eat ‒ Qal IMPERATIVE (BDB 37, KB 46)
5. come ‒ same as #1 and 2
6. buy ‒ same as #3
7. listen carefully ‒ Qal IMPERATIVE and an INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE of the same root (BDB 1033, KB 1570) for emphasis
8. eat ‒ same as #4
9. delight yourself ‒ Qal IMPERFECT (BDB 772, KB 851) used in a JUSSIVE sense
10. incline your ear ‒ Hiphil IMPERATIVE (BDB 639, KB 692)
11. come to Me ‒ same as #1,2,5; notice the personal element
12. listen ‒ Qal IMPERATIVE (BDB 1033, KB 1570; see SPECIAL TOPIC: LISTEN/HEAR)
13. that you may live ‒ Qal JUSSIVE (BDB 310, KB 309)
14. I will make an everlasting covenant with you ‒ Qal COHORTATIVE (BDB 503, KB 560)
    SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT
    SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam and aiōnios)

55:1 "Every one" This speaks of the universal invitation of God (cf. Isa. 55:4-5; Gen. 3:15; 12:3; Exod. 19:5-6; John 1:12; 3:16; 4:42; 1 Tim. 2:4; 4:10; Titus 2:11; 2 Pet. 3:9; 1 John 2:1-2; 4:14).

Oh, how I love, "everyone," "whosover," "all," "as many as"! He loves and pursues humans made in His image. He paid a very high price for restitution. What a great God we have. What a selfless, giving Messiah we have. What a constant, ever present companion we have in the Spirit!

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

▣ "thirsts" This seems to relate to a sense of spiritual need. This is always the first step a fallen human must take (cf. Isa. 41:17; 44:3; Ps. 42:1-2; 63:1; 84:2; 143:6; Matt. 5:6; John 7:37; Rev. 22:17).

▣ "the waters" The early church interpreted this as baptism. This is a good example of eisegesis (reading into a text to back up what currently we believe). For desert people, water was a symbol of life and prosperity (cf. Isa. 41:17; 44:3).

SPECIAL TOPIC: BAPTISM

"Bible Interpretation Seminar"

▣ "you who have no money. . .for what does not satisfy" This refers to lack of personal resources. Grace, not merit, is mankind's, even Israel's, only hope (cf. Ezek. 36:22-36; Eph. 2:8-9).

▣ "eat" A meal was a very significant act in the Middle East. Covenants and friendships were sealed over food.

▣ "buy. . .without cost" This is obviously a paradoxical statement meant to highlight mankind's search for peace with God.

1. it cannot be bought but a price must be paid
2. humans often desperately try to find peace and happiness, but to no avail (cf. Ecclesiastes 1-2)
3. God has provided a way through a new "David" to come to Him
4. there is still a cost, but it is now to repent and receive what God has freely offered in the Davidic Messiah

55:2 "Why do you spend money. . .for what does not satisfy" This reflects mankind's continuing search for happiness in things, pleasure, or power (cf. the book of Ecclesiastes). Hear my audio sermon, "Where Is Happiness Found?"; second green box on www.freebiblecommentary.org, tape #2014.

▣ "delight yourself in abundance" God wants humanity made in His image to be happy and content in fellowship with Himself (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 27-28; John 5:11). The earth with its beauty and abundance is for mankind's enjoyment! But, the Fall of Genesis 3 turned this wonderful gift into "greed."

SPECIAL TOPIC: NATURAL RESOURCES

55:3 "come to Me" Personal relationship is the key to biblical faith! YHWH Himself is the goal, not just truths about Him!

SPECIAL TOPIC: KNOW

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE GOSPEL

▣ "Listen" This is from the word Shema (BDB 1033, KB 1570, Qal IMPERATIVE, cf. Deut. 6:4-5). It means "listen and do." All OT promises to Israel and individuals are conditional covenants.

SPECIAL TOPIC: LISTEN/HEAR

▣ "that you may live" I agree with the NET Bible footnote #7, sn, p. 1272, that "to live" (BDB 310, KB 309, Qal JUSSIVE) would refer, in this context, to

1. prosperity
2. security

These were part of YHWH's covenant promises (i.e. Lev. 18:5; Deut. 30:6,15,19-20; Rom. 10:5) to David (v. 3d promises).

▣ "an everlasting covenant" "Everlasting" (BDB 761, see SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam and aiōnios) is used to describe many things in Isaiah 40-66. This is parallel phrasing to the "new covenant" of Jer. 31:31-34 described in Ezek. 36:22-36.

SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT

▣ "faithful mercies" This is from the word hesed (BDB 338 I, KB 336 II). It means "covenant loyalty."

SPECIAL TOPIC: LOVINGKINDNESS (hesed)

▣ "David" This is an example of God's love and care even to the undeserving (cf. Psalm 32,51). Also this reference has Messianic implications (cf. 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17), which have an eternal aspect. God's promises related to the salvation of Adam's seed are unconditional (i.e. Gen. 15:12-22).

The MT has three functions for this new David for "the peoples."

1. a witness to the peoples (BDB 729)
2. a leader (BDB 617)
3. a commander (BDB 845)

This points beyond David to the Messiah (cf. 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17) because the object is the Gentiles (i.e. "to the peoples," cf. Isa. 55:4-5).

The MT and LXX have "him" referring to David's seed (i.e. the Messiah), but for some reason, the Syrian versions have "you." This is the same theological issue of who is the "Suffering Servant"? (cf. Isa. 52:14).

See full notes in Contextual Insights to Isa. 52:13-53:12.

55:4-5 "the peoples. . .a nation" Gentiles are included (notice the PLURALS, cf. Isa. 2:2-4; 12:4-5; 25:6-9; 42:6-12; 45:22-23; 49:5-6; 51:4-5; 56:6-7; 60:1-3; 66:23)!

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

55:5 The nations will come to the God of Israel and honor His people (cf. Isa. 45:14,22-25; 49:6,12,23; Zech. 8:20-23). The question remains: Is this a reference to a believing, restored Israel (not the secular state of modern Israel) or is this an eschatological reference to the Great Commission?

▣ Notice the names of Israel's Deity

1. YHWH (see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, D.)
2. your Elohim (see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C.)
3. the Holy One of Israel (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE HOLY ONE)

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: ISAIAH 55:6-13
⁶Seek the Lord while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
⁷Let the wicked forsake his way
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
And let him return to the Lord,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
⁸"For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor 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.
¹⁰For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
¹¹So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
¹²For you will go out with joy
And be led forth with peace;
The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you,
And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
¹³Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up,
And instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up,
And it will be a memorial to the Lord,
For an everlasting sign which will not be cut off."

55:6 "Seek the Lord while He may be found" "Seek" is a Qal IMPERATIVE (BDB 205, KB 233). This VERB is often used of seeking God in a personal sense (cf. Deut. 4:29; Isa. 58:2; 65:10). This seeking is described well in Deut. 30:1-3,10; Jer. 29:13-14; and Amos 5:14-15.

SPECIAL TOPIC: Seek the Lord

▣ "while He may be found" No one can come to God unless He draws them (cf. Isa. 45:22; John 6:44,65), but when He draws, humans must respond. God never forsakes His creation (cf. Ps. 103:8-14), but there is a time to choose. If that time passes, a hardness of the human heart develops into an inability to hear God and respond to Him.

Salvation involves God's initiation and mankind's appropriate response.

1. repentance (see SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE [NT])
2. faith (see SPECIAL TOPIC: FAITH, BELIEVE, OR TRUST)
3. obedience (see SPECIAL TOPIC: KEEP)
4. worship (see SPECIAL TOPIC: WORSHIP)
5. service (growing toward Christlikeness)
6. perseverance (see SPECIAL TOPIC: PERSEVERANCE)

▣ "Call upon Him while He is near" "Call" is also a Qal IMPERATIVE (BDB 894, KB 1128). This line of poetry is parallel to the line above. This language denotes a worship setting, as does Rom. 10:9-13 or John 1:12. Humans must respond in repentance and faith (cf. Jer. 3:12-13; 4:1-4; Joel 2:12-13; Amos 5:4-7,14-15; Mark 1:15; John 3:16; Acts 20:21). This appropriate covenant response is true for the OT as well as the NT. YHWH desires a fellowship, a people! A people who reflect His character, so as to attract the whole world to Himself!

SPECIAL TOPIC: CALL ON HIS NAME

SPECIAL TOPIC: "THE NAME" OF YHWH

SPECIAL TOPIC: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO "RECEIVE," "BELIEVE," "CONFESS/PROFESS," "CALL UPON"?

55:7 "Let the wicked forsake his way" Lifestyle repentance is crucial. Biblical faith is an initial, personal decision followed by lifestyle faith and repentance. Eternal life haas observable characteristics!
SPECIAL TOPIC: REPENTANCE (OT)

The term "wicked" (BDB 957) is parallel with "unrighteous" (BDB 19, cf. Isa. 10:1). These two terms describe the spiritual state of unbelieving mankind. The second term has two possible origins (i.e. Robert Girdlestone, Synonyms of the OT, p. 83).

1. from root "to desire"
2. from root "nothingness"

The first dentoes the selfish tendancies related to the Fall (see SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FALL OF MANKIND). The second denotes the superstition and resulting idolatry of human beings.

1. SPECIAL TOPIC: IDOLATRY
2. SPECIAL TOPIC: EMPTY, VAIN, NOTHINGNESS (i.e. different root ‒ BDB 996)

▣ Notice the parallelism between the first two lines. Evil is described in two ways.

1. lifestyle actions
2. the thought life

The rabbis have a helpful thought about this. They describe the thought life as a garden ready for seed. What we let in through our eyes and ears falls on that ready soil. If we choose to dwell on it then it becomes who we are. Sin begins in the thought life, but in time reaches the hand/foot/mouth! Guard your thought life (cf. 1 Pet. 1:13)!

The first three VERBS of Isa. 55:7 are JUSSIVES.

1. forsake ‒ Qal IMPERFECT (BDB 736, KB 806) used in a JUSSIVE sense
2. return ‒ Qal JUSSIVE (BDB 996, KB 1427, cf. Isa. 31:6; 44:22
3. will have compassion ‒ Piel IMPERFECT (BDB 933, KB 1216) used in a JUSSIVE sense, 49:10,13; 54:8

▣ "He will have compassion. . .abundantly pardon" When God forgives, He forgets (cf. Ps. 103:12; Isa. 1:18; 38:17; 43:25; 44:22; Micah 7:19). What a wonderful truth of the love and forgiveness of God (cf. Heb. 9:14; 1 John 1:7). YHWH is willing, ready, and able to accept, forgive, and restore His fallen creation made in His image!

SPECIAL TOPIC: FORGIVENESS IN THE OT

▣ "He will abundantly pardon" Wow, I love this chapter! It is a wonderful invitation to spiritually hungry people who are being aggressively sought after by a loving, forgiving, creator God!

Notice the powerful VERBALS.

1. "He will abundantly" ‒ BDB 915, KB 1176, Hiphil IMPERFECT
2. pardon ‒ Qal BDB 699, KB 757, INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT. This word is always used of God's forgiveness. Notice its usage:
   1. in the context of YHWH's characteristics ‒ Exod. 34:9
   2. in a negative sense related to idolatry ‒ Deut. 29:19-20
   3. part of Moses' intercession for Israel ‒ Num. 14:20
   4. part of the promise of a "new covenant" ‒ Jer. 31:34
      SPECIAL TOPIC: FORGIVENESS IN THE OT, #1

Those who have experienced God's love and forgiveness have a powerful, wonderful message to share with a frightened, confused, hurting, discouraged, sinful world!

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT)

55:8-11 These verses have a unified theme, YHWH's redemptive purposes! The parallel lines of Isa. 55:8 speak of the uniqueness of His gracious character. Humans deserve death but He gives life, peace, and His personal presence! He is totally different from humans, but He loves humans. He created them like Himself (cf. Gen. 1:26-27) for fellowship (cf. Gen. 3:8; Lev. 26:12). He will not let us go! He is pursuing us in mercy and in Christ!

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

55:11 "My word. . .will not return to Me empty" God is sovereign (cf. Isa. 40:8). God's spoken word had great power in the OT (cf. Genesis 1; Isa. 53:11). In this chapter His powerful, purposeful word is for mercy, forgiveness, and fellowship (cf. Isa. 14:24; 25:1; 45:23; 46:10; 59:21; Matt. 24:35)!

SPECIAL TOPIC: LOGOS (WORD)

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHRISTIAN ASSURANCE

55:12-13 In this OT context the visible sign of God's presence and blessing was agricultural abundance (i.e. Isa. 55:1-2). Creation is often personified as rejoicing at the presence of God. The idyllic fellowship of the Garden of Eden (see SPECIAL TOPIC: EDEN) is restored!

An interpreter must ask, was this fulfilled in the return under Zerubbabel, Joshua, Ezra, Nehemiah? The answer clearly is, it was not (cf. Dan. 9:24-27)! Therefore, this must be viewed as an eschatological setting, not just the return from Neo-Babylonian exile.

1. go out with joy ‒ Isa. 51:11; 52:9; Ps. 105:43
2. led forth in peace ‒ Isa. 54:10,13; Jer. 29:11

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