Isaiah 55:6 - Come To God While You Still Can.
Isa. 55:6; Come To God While You Still Can.
CONTENT; What's in the verse; Translations; Paraphrase; Word
Study:
Isaiah 55:6 (NIV) Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on
him while he is near.
CONTEXT; What's around the verse; Overview; Topic:
Overview
God will restore Zion (54:1-17). He invited all to share in that
coming celebration (55:1-13). These blessings are for the righteous
(56:1-8) rather than the wicked (v. 9-57:13); for the contrite (vv.
14-21), whose faith is a matter of doing justice rather than keeping
ritual fasts (58:1-14). [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
55:1-13 Invitation To Taste Salvation
God offered salvation to all who would respond, whether Jew or
Gentile. The word "thirsty" is used throughout Scripture as a metaphor
for spiritual longing (cf. Ps. 42:1; John 4:14). The "everlasting
covenant" (Isa. 55:3) or new covenant (Jer. 31:31) is associated with the
Davidic covenant of 2 Samuel 7:12-16 ("my faithful love promised to
David," Isa. 55:3). Both are unconditional and are founded on God's
promise to Abraham (Gen. 12:1-3). God's prophetic "word" will most
certainly be fulfilled, for it rests on the character of his own person
(55:11; 40:8). [New Bible Companion]
An Invitation to Abundant Life
Invitation to the LORD's Salvation
Buy Without Money (55:1-13)
CROSS REFERENCES; What's in verses elsewhere.
Psalm 14:2 (KJV) The Lord looked down from heaven upon the
children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek
God.
Psalm 145:18 (KJV) The Lord is nigh unto all them that call
upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
Jeremiah 29:13 (KJV) And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye
shall search for me with all your heart.
Amos 5:6 (KJV) Seek the Lord, and ye shall live; lest he break
out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be
none to quench it in Bethel.
Matthew 7:7-8 (KJV) Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and
ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: [8] For
every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to
him that knocketh it shall be opened.
John 12:35-36 (KJV) Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little
while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest
darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not
whither he goeth. [36] While ye have light, believe in the light, that
ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and
departed, and did hide himself from them.
2 Cor. 6:1 (KJV) We then, as workers together with him, beseech
you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2 Cor. 6:2 (KJV) (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time
accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now
is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
Hebrews 2:3 (KJV) How shall we escape, if we neglect so great
salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was
confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
2 Chron. 7:14 (KJV) If my people, which are called by my name,
shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from
their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive
their sin, and will heal their land.
Psalm 66:18 (KJV) If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord
will not hear me:
Proverbs 28:13 (KJV) He that covereth his sins shall not
prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
Isaiah 1:16-18 (KJV) Wash you, make you clean; put away the
evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; [17]
Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the
fatherless, plead for the widow. [18] Come now, and let us reason together,
saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white
as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Ezekiel 33:11 (KJV) Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord
God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the
wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil
ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Matthew 9:13 (KJV) But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I
will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the
righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Acts 3:19 (KJV) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that
your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come
from the presence of the Lord;
Acts 26:20 (KJV) But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at
Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the
Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for
repentance.
1 Tim. 1:15 (KJV) This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all
acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I
am chief.
James 4:8-10 (KJV) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to
you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye
double minded. [9] Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter
be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. [10] Humble
yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
COMMENTARY / APPLICATION: Moving From The Head To The Heart
What is God teaching here? What does it teach about Jesus?
The invitations, first addressed by the Lord to the exiles, are
now held out to everyone (Rev. 21:6; 22:17). [Nelson SB]
Isaiah tells us to call on the Lord while he is near. God is not
planning to move away from us, but we often move far from him or erect a
barrier between ourselves and him. Don't wait until you have drifted far
away from God to seek him. Later in life turning to him may be far
more difficult. Or God may come to judge the earth before you decide
to turn to him. Seek God now, while you can, before it is too late.
[Life Application SB]
God offers a free pardon to those who repent. Repentance is an
inward reversal of life, a radical change of thought and conduct. The
gospel of repentance does not contradict the gospel of grace. [Disciple
SB]
Food costs money, lasts only a short time, and meets only
physical needs. But God offers us 'free' nourishment that feeds our soul.
How do we get it? We come (55:1), listen (55:2), seek, and call on
God (55:6). God's salvation is freely offered, but to nourish our
souls we must eagerly receive it. We will starve spiritually without
this food as surely as we will starve physically without our daily
bread. [Life Application SB]
God was in a special sense "near" to His people Israel (Deut.
4:7; Ps. 148:14), but He is also "near" to all who call upon Him (Ps.
46:1; 145:18). The time comes, however, when stubborn rejection of the
pleadings of God's Spirit closes the door of mercy and drives the divine
presence away (Isa. 1:15; Hosea 5:6; Matt. 25:10-12; cf. John 7:34;
8:21). [SDA Commentary]
All who enter the City of God will enter through the strait
gate--by agonizing effort; for "there shall in no wise enter into it
anything that defileth." Revelation 21:27. But none who have fallen need
give up to despair. Aged men, once honored of God, may have defiled
their souls, sacrificing virtue on the altar of lust; but if they
repent, forsake sin, and turn to God, there is still hope for them. He
who declares, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a
crown of life," also gives the invitation, "Let the wicked forsake his
way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto
the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He
will abundantly pardon." Revelation 2:10; Isaiah 55:7. God hates sin,
but He loves the sinner. "I will heal their backsliding," He
declares; "I will love them freely." Hosea 14:4. PK84
God does not deal with us as finite men deal with one another.
His thoughts are thoughts of mercy, love, and tenderest compassion.
He says, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man
his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have
mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." "I
have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a
cloud, thy sins." Isaiah 55:7; 44:22. "I have no pleasure in the death
of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves,
and live ye." Ezekiel 18:32. Satan is ready to steal away the
blessed assurances of God. He desires to take every glimmer of hope and
every ray of light from the soul; but you must not permit him to do
this. Do not give ear to the tempter, but say, "Jesus has died that I
might live. He loves me, and wills not that I should perish. I have a
compassionate heavenly Father; and although I have abused His love, though the
blessings He has given me have been squandered, I will arise, and go to my
Father, and say, 'I have sinned against heaven, and before Thee, and am
no more worthy to be called Thy son: make me as one of Thy hired
servants.'" The parable tells you how the wanderer will be received: "When
he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion,
and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." Luke 15:18-20. But
even this parable, tender and touching as it is, comes short of
expressing the infinite compassion of the heavenly Father. The Lord
declares by His prophet, "I have loved thee with an everlasting love:
therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee." Jeremiah 31:3. SC53,4
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