I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading.
Today, I am reading and commenting on Isaiah 52-56.
I love today’s passage. It contains many elements which are preached and written about often, but usually as individual themes. For me we start with verses which declare praise to God, and to God’s messenger. How lovely are those who bring the news that God reigns! That transitions right into what is often called the “Suffering Servant” prophecy, a prophecy which is an amazingly close portrayal of Jesus’ trial, execution, and burial. Isaiah describes how He was unjustly condemned by everyone, including us. Isaiah described how His guilt was assumed by those who were truly guilty of the sins of which He was accused should serve as an object lesson for us. Isaiah is describing a phenomena known as projection, wherein someone sees someone else as being guilty of the wrongs which they themselves have committed.
I am not quite sure how the verses between Isaiah’s description of the Suffering Servant and his description of God’s bounty in Chapter 55 connects to those two sections, but its placement means that it is connected. We start today’s passage with the messenger and then in Chapter 55 we have the message: “Come and drink, even if you have no money!” God invites everyone to come and enjoy His bounty. And this is where it gets complicated. God’s thoughts are not like our thoughts, so we should not be surprised that we do not understand what He is doing. However, we can be sure that God’s words will accomplish what He intends. It will not fail to produce the fruit which God sent it forth to produce. Share God’s love with those around you, even when you don’t understand why you should. Share the words God gives you, even when you do not understand what they mean. One of the things Isaiah says here is both a message we should heed and a message we should share: Seek the Lord while He can be found. The time is coming when we will no longer have that opportunity.