Bible Verses:Isaiah

This week we will conclude our study on Isaiah Chapter 55 and resume in another portion of Isaiah next week. The study on Isaiah will continue for the remainder of September and we will move on to Jeremiah starting in October. We will not begin to cover much of Isaiah, but we will focus on a series of chapters that will challenge us and hopefully change us. May God continue to draw us to the Word and to Himself, and may the Holy Spirit work through the Word to change our hearts and lives.

*Bible Verses is not an exhaustive study and each reader should read the book in its entirety and seek the Holy Spirit alone for interpretation.

Isaiah 55: 10-13

"'For as the rain and the snow come down from
heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the
eater,
so shall my word be that goes forth out from my
mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I
sent it.

"For you shall go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills before you
shall break forth into singing,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their
hands.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall make a name for the Lord,
an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."'

*Authors notes are intended to convey the thoughts and feelings of the author and not interpretation, all readers should seek the Holy Spirit alone for revelation.

Called. This word is perhaps what comes to mind when I read this passage, we are called by God to tell others of his word. To speak of His word and to be uplifted and joyful knowing that God has a purpose to accomplish through His word. There is also a picture of growth in this passage, depicting how the reading of the Word will produce growth. This is true in our lives as well to experience growth we must read, and we must go forth and reach others not for our own purpose, but for the purpose of Christ. This passage is what I believe to be a calling, a calling to follow God where he leads to approach the calling with joy, knowing that God has moved, that He is working, that He is drawing others to Him, and calling them as well. It is a beautiful picture of community. All of us laying our pasts, fears, goals, inhibitions at the feet of the cross, knowing God formed in us those events or things for His purpose, and then picking up our feet and our Bible's and taking the next step forward together.