Isaiah 53 sets forth THE GOSPEL PROVIDED through the suffering Saviour. Isaiah 54 sets forth THE GOSPEL PROMISES that are sure and certain (Vs. 10, 16-17). Isaiah 55 sets forth THE GOSPEL PROCLAIMED to the needy. The mercies of God in Christ are a proclamation to all men (Mark 16:15) and an effectual call to His sheep (John 10:27-29).
(Vs. 1) "Ho, everyone that thirsteth," not in a natural sense as the woman at the well first thought; but everyone whose soul thirsts for fellowship with God (for mercy, forgiveness, and life) is called to the fountain of life.
"Come to the waters." Come to the water of life that cleanses and refreshes,, to the WINE that makes the heart glad and to the MILK which gives life and health. It's FREE to those who are poor and have nothing to pay; it's already paid for by the blood of Christ (Rom. 3:24).
(Vs. 2) Why do men spend, time, energy, and strength in pursuing a false religion which is not the bread of life and can never satisfy? Salvation by works is not bread, it is chaff; it is not nourishing, it is harmful; it will not satisfy, only condemn! "Listen to me," saith the Lord, and feed upon Christ; and your soul shall rest and delight itself in His fulness (Col. 2:9-10).
(Vs. 3) Here are two precepts and two promises.
THE PRECEPTS:
1. "INCLINE YOUR EAR." Is this asking too much of beggars? of guilty sinners? The body is fed through the mouth, and the soul is fed through the ear. You can hear the error of the world and poison your soul, or you can hear the precious word of God and live. "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."
2. "COME UNTO ME" (Isa. 1:18; Matt. 11:28; John 7:37-38). Don't turn to religion, to law, nor to men. "Come to me."
THE PROMISES:
1. "AND YOUR SOUL SHALL LIVE." There is power and life in the gospel (Rom. 1:16; James 1:18). All that God has for sinners is in Christ. Those spiritual blessings are ours through a union with Christ; that union with Christ comes by faith; faith comes by hearing the word of truth (Eph. 1:13-14).
2. "I WILL MAKE AN EVERLASTING COVENANT WITH YOU, EVEN THE SURE MERCIES OF DAVID." Peter calls these "precious promises." This is the everlasting covenant which David (on his dying bed) called "all my salvation and all my desire" (II Sam. 23:5). Here are five of those sure mercies of David.
a. "I will be their God and they shall be my people" (jer. 31:33).
b. "They shall all know me" (Jer. 31:34).
c. "I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sins no more" (Jer. 31:34).
d. "I will give them one heart and one way" (Jer. 32:39).
e. "I will not turn away from them and they shall not depart from me" (Jer. 32:40).
(Vs. 4) This everlasting covenant is made with our Surety, that great Shepherd of the sheep, Christ Jesus (Heb. 13:20-21). The Lord has given Him for a WITNESS, for He is that Prophet who manifests and reveals the Father (Deut. 18:18-19). He is a LEADER, for He is our great High Priest after the order of Melchisedec; He is our SHEPHERD, who leads us in the paths of righteousness; and He is COMMANDER, or King of kings!
(Vs. 5) We do not look to nor follow Him in vain, for He shall not fail (Isa. 42:1-4). He shall call and save the Gentiles, who shall WILLINGLY run to Him because of the power of God (Psalm 110:3). All that Christ is, does, and will do for His people shall be for the glory of God (John 17:1-4; I Cor. 15:27-28; Eph. 1:6, 12, 14).
(Vs. 6) Are you thirsty? Are you poor? Have you inclined your ear and heard? Have you beheld the great Messiah, Christ Jesus? Then "seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near." Bartimaeus did; the woman with the issue of blood did; the thief did! What is it to seek the Lord?
(1) It is to discover that by nature I do not have Him and I need His grace.
(2) It is to desire His mercy and fellowship with Him more than all.
(3) It is to be made willing to be saved on His terms that He might be just and justifier.
(4) It is to be willing to part with all that is opposed to Christ.
(5) It is to HIM, not His. If we have Him, we have that which is His.
(Vs. 7-9) Our thoughts are not God's thoughts, and our ways are not God's
ways. This is evident in all things. But the main reference here is concerning God's thoughts and GOD'S WAY OF REDEEMING SINNERS! Our thoughts and ways, which seem right to the natural mind, are the ways of works and will lead to death. Naaman, when confronted with God's way, said, "I thought." Do you think that God can accept our imperfect righteousness or pardon a sinner without justice being fully honored? Suppose He did. Suppose that without Christ's righteousness and blood God accepted you. What peace could you have?
(1) A god who could pardon without JUSTICE may one day condemn without REASON.
(2) A god who could set aside his RIGHTEOUSNESS may one day set aside his MERCY.
(3) A god who could deny his LAW may one day deny his GOSPEL.
(4) A god who could change his CHARACTER may one day go back on his PROMISES.
But the God of glory is never unjust in order to be gracious. He saves and accepts sinners, but not until Christ has honored His law and satisfied His justice. This is God's way, and it is the way of peace and assurance!
(Vs. 10-11) As the rain and snow falls from heaven in its season and makes the corn, wheat, and vegetables to grow and is not drawn up again into heaven but abides for a time on the earth to do the work for which it is sent, "SO SHALL MY WORD BE THAT GOETH FORTH OUT OF MY MOUTH." His word of truth, His gospel of, Christ, our Lord, and the sure mercies of David, which are contained therein, are sent forth into this world and shall not return until that word has accomplished that which He pleased and that for which He sent it—THE SALVATION OF HIS SHEEP (Isa. 46:9-11).
(Vs. 12-13) God's people shall go out of bondage with joy and be led forth in peace without fear of ever being retaken by their enemy. Even the creation shall rejoice with them and for them. Their land, once subject to the same bondage of sin, shall be freed and partake in their redemption (Rom. 8:19-23). In all this His name shall be exalted and glorified.