Isaiah 55 – “An Offer for a Covenant Renewal”

Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
God offers to renew the Davidic covenant and insists that his ways are beyond man’s grasp.

II. Photo
God invites the people to a meal: “Ho, all who are thirsty, come for water, even if you have no money; Come, buy food and eat, buy food without money, wine and milk without cost!” (v. 1)

III. Important Verses
1-2: Ho, all who are thirsty, Come for water, Even if you have no money; Come, buy food and eat: Buy food without money, Wine and milk without cost. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, Your earnings for what does not satisfy? Give heed to Me, And you shall eat choice food And enjoy the richest viands.
3: Incline your ear and come to Me; Hearken, and you shall be revived. And I will make with you an everlasting covenant, The enduring loyalty promised to David.
6-7: Seek the LORD while He can be found, Call to Him while He is near. Let the wicked give up his ways, The sinful man his plans; Let him turn back to the LORD, And He will pardon him; To our God, For he freely forgives.
8-9: For My plans are not your plans, Nor are My ways your ways — declares the LORD. But as the heavens are high above the earth, So are My ways high above your ways And My plans above your plans.

IV. Outline

1-5. Oracle #1
    1-2. Invitation to a lavish meal
    3-5. Invitation to renew the Davidic covenant
6-7. The prophet urges the people to follow God
8-13. Oracle #2
    8-10. God’s ways are unknowable
    11. God’s words are fulfilled
    12. Anticipated joy
    13. Trees will bear witness

V. Comment
No comment today. Stay tuned.

VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible,” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
Sweeney, Marvin A. “Isaiah 1-39 with an Introduction to Prophetic Literature” The Forms of Old Testament Literature vol. 16 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans, 1996).
Photo taken from http://shanghaiist.com/attachments/Giacomelli/7.5milk.jpg