Tyndale Open Study NotesIsaiah 55

This is an invitation to participate in the restoration to God’s favor made possible through the ministry of the promised servant.

This final chapter of the prophecies of comfort (Isaiah 40–55) summarizes the section’s main themes:

• Blessing

• Covenant

• Witness

• Word

• Nations

• Glory

• Forgiveness

• Joy

• thirsty … wine and milk: The invitation to eat and drink is like Wisdom’s call in Proverbs 9:5. This image promises to quench thirst not only with water but also with more expensive items like wine and milk.

  John applied a similar theme to Jesus Christ (John 4:14; 6:27, 35; 7:37; Revelation 21:6; 22:17).

• without cost: Reconciliation with God is for anyone and has no cost.

Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good: Responding positively to God satisfies one’s spiritual, social, and physical being (see 1:19; 58:13–14; Proverbs 4:10).

• come to Me; listen, so that your soul may live: Those who obey God's word find eternal life (see also Isaiah 55:11).

• an everlasting covenant … promised to David: God gave King David a special promise to preserve his royal line (see 2 Samuel 7:15–16). God promised that David’s family line would continue forever. This promise is fulfilled in the kingship of the Messiah (God’s chosen king), Jesus Christ (see Isaiah 9:6–7; 11:1–16; Acts 2:22–36; 13:34).

The prophet calls for a response while the time is right.

while He is near: When God kindly offers an invitation to salvation, people must respond (Isaiah 65:1; Jeremiah 29:13–14; Hosea 5:6; 10:12). Those who do not seek him during these times may never have another chance.

• Let the wicked man forsake his way and … return to the LORD: True conversion means changing how we live to follow God's rules (see Isaiah 1:16–17; 30:15; 59:20).

• have compassion: God's compassion reaches those in need, wherever they are.

• He will freely pardon: Forgiveness of sin is key to the good news of redemption (see Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; see also Psalms 32:1; 86:5; 99:8; 103:2–5).

My thoughts are not your thoughts: God's plans are wonderful (Psalm 92:5; compare Psalm 94:11). God's creations, including humans, cannot fully understand the Creator's thoughts. However, his messengers reveal insights and knowledge about some of his actions.

The Creator sends rain, snow, and his word (Hebrew dabar). Here, dabar means his will or plan (see Isaiah 14:24; 40:8). God's written word expresses his plan and achieves his goals. God is successful in all his actions (see Isaiah 14:26–27; 46:10).

The prophet tells the people not to focus on the past. He urges them to leave Babylon and return home.

He also calls them to see things from the viewpoint of the coming age (the new time of salvation that God is about to bring).

• Joy is found in being redeemed from bondage.

• Godly people experience an inner peace not known to the wicked (Isaiah 48:22).

• mountains and hills … trees of the field: Creation participates in the freedom of the children of God (Isaiah 44:23; 49:11, 13; see Romans 8:19–23).

• Redemption is like the transformation from desert to forest (see also Isaiah 35:1; 41:19; 60:13).

• this will make a name for the LORD: God's glory will become increasingly visible to people as his redemption takes effect.