1WAIT and listen, everyone who is thirsty! Come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Yes, come, buy [priceless, spiritual] wine and milk without money and without price [simply for the self-surrender that accepts the blessing].
2Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your earnings for what does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness [the profuseness of spiritual joy].
3Incline your ear [submit and consent to the divine will] and come to Me; hear, and your soul will revive; and I will make an everlasting covenant or league with you, even the sure mercy (kindness, goodwill, and compassion) promised to David.
4Behold, I have appointed him (Him) [David, as a representative of the Messiah, or the Messiah Himself] to be a witness [one (One) who shall testify of salvation] to the nations, a prince (Prince) and commander (Commander) to the peoples.
5Behold, you [Israel] shall call nations that you know not, and nations that do not know you shall run to you because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you.
6Seek, inquire for, and require the Lord while He may be found [claiming Him by necessity and by right]; call upon Him while He is near.
7Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and He will have love, pity, and mercy for him, and to our God, for He will multiply to him His abundant pardon.
8For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord.
9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.
10For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth and sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
12For you shall go out [from the spiritual exile caused by sin and evil into the homeland] with joy and be led forth [by your Leader, the Lord Himself, and His word] with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name of renown, for an everlasting sign [of jubilant exaltation] and memorial [to His praise], which shall not be cut off.
Footnotes:
Isaiah 55:5 The identification of the one here addressed is uncertain. A proportionately large number of authorities believe it to be Israel, as here indicated, but other interpreters think it is the Messiah [the second David], or David as His representative.
Please, all;
Remember, take special care and effort throughout the Season, to give what won't break, or get sand in the gears, rust at the bottom of the pool, or shatter when accidentally kicked; won't fade if left in the sun, crush if backed over, explode if microwaved, or bring tears of horror -when sawed in two during a 'mini-magic show'; what will never runaway through a hole in the fence, make you wish you had read the instructions, bought the extra warranty, or payed attention to the 'do not cut','place near heat source',or 'may cause dizziness' label; I will say, not much in this world is worth an apology to the store manager at the duress of a spouse, and even less is worth using the rationale -'they'll appreciate it when they're older'- just so you can use it in the mean-time; and the answer to buying 'two just in case...' is to 'buy none, and wait'.
So in the intrest of high bloodpressure, athsma, nervous stomachs, tiny innocent minds, vast amounts space that have long since been filled, consider taking time to give your loved ones a good story or two, enjoy things like studying how intricately your very own hand is made, the gift of stars that shine brighter than city lights, (each with their own name)...
Ps. 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars
and calls them each by name.
5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power;
his understanding has no limit.
-(NIV)
And also, the gift of a limited time here on our planet earth, which I am understanding how to appreciate more and more with every wasted hour.
Shine brightly forth,
for the wonder of our Lord
is not a thing rightly concealed,
held tightly, or considered lacking in worth.
Merry Christmas
-Joel K
