Isaiah 55-60
Have you heard men call in the streets for people to come and buy fruit or other articles which they carry in baskets or carts? Some men use a bell, others make a special call for people to notice them; those who go to buy, take money to pay. Here is a call which Isaiah was to tell, but no money was needed:
“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye buy and eat: yea, come, buy wine and milk without Money and without price.” Isaiah 55:11Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (Isaiah 55:1).
It was the Lord Who told Isaiah to give this call: He had already freely given water and food for the needs of all the world, yet sometimes persons are in distress from thirst or hunger. But this offer was for people in greater distress than those without water; it was for those hi trouble about their sins, and without, joy in their hearts.
They could not get this offer with money, but there were two things they must do: they must listen, and they must “come”; that meant, they must believe God’s offer. It was a Person, a Leader, Who would take the distress from their hearts.
The Lord told how sure His words and promises are; He said:
“As the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud that it give seed to die sower, and bread to the eater: So shall My word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10,1110For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10‑11).
So God’s words about that great Leader would surely come true. It was not until many years after Isaiah wrote this call, that at last One stood in Jerusalem where many people could hear Him, and called to them words, much the same as the offer in Isaiah:
“Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink:” “He that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst.” John 7:37; 6:3537In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. (John 7:37)
35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (John 6:35).
So it was a person, Christ, Who would take away their sins and give them joy in heart, as “wine and milk” do to the body, if they would come to Him to “buy”; to “come”, they must believe Him.
The same loving offer is still made in the Scriptures for us; we too, have sins. to trouble us, and if we had much money, we could never pay the Lord Jesus.
ML 02/01/1942