Page 115 - Isaiah Student Worktext

The point of all that is that there are many people who are on the outside, looking in on the bounty, but
not making any attempt at becoming a part of it.

V. 1-2 This is an invitation to a feast. It’s not the wealthy who are invited… all those who are ‘thirsty’.
Don’t worry if you have no money…

Of course this is not talking about an actual feast of food and drink. The thirst is not a lack of water, it is
a spiritual thirst.

First, water is offered, then milk and wine. Milk represents nourishment. (1 Peter 2:2) Wine represents
celebration. There are plenty of admonitions about the overuse of alcohol (Ephesians 5: 18, 1 Peter 4:
3)

While the price for the incredible banquet we are offered is free to us, it came at a great price, paid for
by Jesus.

V. 3-5 This great banquet is a result of God’s covenant with David that a descendant would always be on
the throne of Israel. The coming of the Messiah, His life and death and resurrection will be a sign to the
nations. The result of that is that nations will ‘run to you’.

In the US, we are seeing that to some extent. Of course, people come for a variety of reasons, but we as
Christians need to see that God is bringing the nations to us.

V. 6-7 this passage shows us that there is an expiration date to the invitation. The opportunity to come
into the banquet hall doesn’t go on forever. It is an invitation that we need to respond to while we can.
(2 Corinthians 6:2)

It also comes with these conditions: forsake the old ways. Pardon and mercy follow our obedience.

V. 8-9 One of the clearest explanations for things we don’t understand. His thoughts are not like ours,
and His ways are not our ways. I have often found that MY plans did not bring the anticipated results. I
would wonder why God was doing what He was doing, why He didn’t do it my way. Of course in the
end, it becomes clear.

All that shows that we need to trust what He is doing and know that He is in control.

V. 10-11 God compares His word here to the rain and the snow. It’s in a continuous cycle…moisture
falls, evaporates, condenses and falls again. It never disappears and never ‘falls’ without having some
impact. God’s word goes forth from the mouth of God, from the mouths of His messengers and never
returns void. We may not see the results ourselves, but there will be results. God’s word will never
return to Him having accomplished nothing. (Romans 9: 18) God’s word will either change hearts or
harden hearts.

V. 12-13 this speaks to those who go out to spread the word. We are to go out with joy, we are to be
led by peace. The results of this particular obedience are that ‘the mountains and hills’ and the
trees…God’s creation…will rejoice.

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