Our text for today is from the book of the prophet Isaiah who was known to be one of Judah’s greatest and longest serving prophets. The prophet is known to have prophesied for at least forty years through the reigns of at least four kings of Judah including the reign of King Ahaz and King Hezekiah who were two of Judah’s most influential kings. At the time, the rise of the Assyrian empire was the greatest threat to Judah’s survival in a political sense but the nation also faced spiritual decline and Hezekiah in particular sought to return the nation to a full dependence on God. Indeed, the message throughout Isaiah’s prophecy especially to the nation under the threat of the rising Assyrian threat was to not try to resist by forming military alliances but to depend on God for its rescue. It is very interesting that Isaiah’s name itself in the Hebrew means ‘The Lord saves’, a very appropriate name for the subject of his writing and his message to God’s people in his time.
Our text for today takes us to one of the more well-known and often quoted passages of Isaiah which most Bible versions entitle “Invitation to the Thirsty”. It begins fittingly with the words “Come all who are thirsty…” or as the King James version translates it, “Ho everyone who thirsts…” As we read through this text it is important to note the historical context of Isaiah’s prophecy to a people where he is prophesying both the demise and the restoration of God’s people centuries after his time. Isaiah saw what would happen to the nation as God’s judgement on a wayward and disobedient people took effect if they did not return to him before it was too late. The Assyrian threat which continued for many years was Isiah’s proof that danger was outside the door and God’s people needed to turn to him before it was too late. Even as Isaiah prophesied of the doom and gloom that was threatening the nation, he also saw the revival and restoration of the people that was also a part of God’s plan.
Our current text is one of several texts in the latter part of Isaiah’s writing that tell of the period of restoration that God had in store for his people after they were overwhelmed by the Assyrians. It highlights the importance of depending on the Word of God as spoken through his prophets.
The first few verses tell us or for some, remind us of two things today. First, it reminds us that God’s invitation to those who are weary and in need remains an open invitation.
Who are the ones who are thirsty and hungry? Who are the ones among us who have no money or insufficient money to satisfy their needs? These questions could apply to most of us who live on the planet as the constant cry among humans is the insufficiency of food and water all over for the vast majority of the world’s peoples. I know that here in North America, food security is not the biggest problem we have and very likely most of you here do not know much recent memory of what it is like to have uncertain food and water supply on a daily basis, but it reminds us that a significant number of the world’s population go hungry and thirsty day after day.This is their lived reality. Being hungry and thirsty is not just a physical reality but also a spiritual one as well. This spiritual hunger and thirst is what is common in every nation whether it be an economically wealthy or an economically depressed nation or region of the world.
The more important question today is what are you hungry and thirsty for? The text today reminds us that all of us face hunger and thirst and some of you might not even realise how hungry and how thirsty you really are because it is not because of a physical lack of food and water but a spiritual deprivation that many people face even here and in some of the wealthiest countries in the world.
Secondly, the second part of the opening verses remind us too of the insufficiency of our own resources to supply what we truly need.
We live in a world that is not much different from Isaiah’s time when you really think about it. We humans when we face our challenges do try to use our own initiatives or we do try to work our own ideas and plans to solve our problems. We forget that it is only God who can bring about meaningful and lasting change to our situation or remedy to our problem or supply our needs. We rely on ourselves and we put God firmly in the background. God becomes an afterthought until when our human ideas collapse or come to nothing then we cry out to him. We are being reminded today that our human effort and our resources are nothing without God being front and centre in all that we seek to do. It is only God who can really provide for our needs and rescue us from the sticky situations in which we often find ourselves.
At verse three (3) we are being told what is required of us in order to see a restoration of our circumstances and a revival in our lives. We must listen to God. The text says, “Give ear and come to me.” In the biblical context the term ‘give ear’ or ‘listen’ carried the idea not just of hearing what someone was saying but more importantly responding positively to it as well. The call in verse three (3) to “Give ear to me.” is a call for us to respond to by doing something. Listening is not just hearing whether audibly or in the mind, and going away without responding to it in a serious way.
We are being reminded from the words of Isaiah today that our human difficulties and needs can only be addressed when we listen to God. After all, if we don’t listen then how will we hear his invitation? In fact much of what is wrong with our world is simply because humans have stopped listening to God. We have completely ignored the voice of God. Whether it is the still whisper in our hearts or it’s the loud ringing in our ears, we have stopped listening to God and are instead listening to human voices, often our own voices, and those voices that tell us what we want to hear and so we ignore the voice of God, even when it is very real and clear in our hearts and our consciences.
Listening to God or hearing God’s Word not only replenishes hungry bodies and quenches thirsty souls but it brings us into a lasting relationship marked by good health and vitality and fruitfulness. This happens for us physically but even more so spiritually. This is what the prophecy of Isaiah reminds us of about the power of God’s word in the latter part of the chapter from verses 10-13
In this section of the text we are reminded or being told, for those who don’t know already, that God’s Word is sure and reliable and effective. As the rain and snow water the ground, so too is the Word of God a certainty to accomplish whatever God wills for humanity and all of creation. In the book of Hebrews it is described as being “sharper than any double-edged sword”. (Hebrews 4:12 NIV)
We live in a time when we are led to follow all kinds of voices and ideas and religious thinking and philosophies believing that they know how to lead people into good health and wealth and prosperity. There is always to be found someone or some group who claim to know what humanity needs to solve the world’s issues. Some offer political ideology as a solution. Some offer theological perspectives, some offer so-called famous and great human beings who we must listen to and many people look only to themselves. Even among those who look to religion, especially the Christian faith, we get carried away into distorted and inaccurate interpretations and beliefs about who God is and our expectation of God is oftentimes equally flawed.
We are being told today that the only sure way to experience the revitalizing power of God in our lives is to listen to him. We must daily allow ourselves to shut out the noise and busyness of our lives so that we can truly hear that voice speaking, telling us that God is not far away. He is right here with us wanting so much to reestablish a relationship with you that has been diminished for some time or in other cases calling out to you because he wants to strengthen the relationship he has with you.
Think about your life’s trajectory right now. Are you truly flourishing? Have you inaccurately judged physical worldly accomplishments as evidence that you are flourishing and doing very well? Many have made that mistake and are still doing so. They have come to believe that a life that is flourishing is one that is filled with worldly accomplishments. Yet these same persons may be withering and dying of thirst spiritually. The Word of God that Jesus told the devil at his temptation reminds us that we humans do not live on bread alone but on the Word of God. (See St.Matthew 4:3) or as Jesus reminded some people in St. John chapter 6 who were following him only for the physical food, “Do not work for food that spoils but for food that endures to eternal life…” (See St. John 6:27 NIV)
The revitalizing of the human soul which is first necessary for humans to really flourish can only happen by our obedience to the Word of God. It is that word that supplies the spiritual food and water that feeds and quenches those who come to Jesus.This revitalizing power comes through an ongoing relationship with God as Isaiah points out when he says, “I will make an everlasting covenant with you” (Isaiah 55:3a) God doesn’t want to only satisfy your needs He wants a full and lasting relationship with you. That is the only way we humans are really revitalized and renewed.
Thereafter the soul that is quenched and the spirit that is filled will go out in joy and be at peace. Isaiah seems to be hinting that even the world around you will reflect the restored and refreshing state of newness and vitality that comes from the transforming and revitalizing power of God in your life.
I know that for many people this may all sound like fantasy. Their reality has been so filled with pain and suffering and the lack of basic needs. For many people in the world the struggle to survive through each day is an ever-present reality. Year after year nothing has changed. Many people can say too that we have pleaded with God for a change to our circumstances to no avail. Many have given up entirely and believe that only death can be their solution or escape. Why should I listen to God who has never answered my cry, they will ask.
Perhaps the time is now to cease from calling out to God but listen for His response, however it might come. Maybe the answer did come but you were so engrossed in your pain and suffering that you did not hear it or did not perceive it. Maybe the answer is still in your inbox waiting for your response but you have been too busy or too worn out to check your spiritual mail lately. Maybe it is time for you to hear that song again saying to you, “Be still my soul, the Lord is on your side…”
No one, not even God is minimizing your pain, your suffering, your thirstiness and your hunger both spiritually and physically. God knows that these are real. God also knows that there are many who don’t even know how parched they really are and how much they do need him. Some of these parched and hungry souls are right here in church and a whole lot more are outside of the church walls. To thirsty souls in a world that is so chaotic and imbalanced our God is offering that invitation today. Come and be quenched not with what the world can supply but with real spiritual drink. Jesus reminds us that he is the ultimate thirst quencher when he said in St. John chapter 7, “If anyone is thirsty let him come to me and drink…” (See St. John 7:37 NIV) Thirstiness withers the soul and the body like nothing else can but when that person is quenched he or she will find not only his body is refreshed but his spirit revitalized. God is offering this to all who need it today. Just listen and if you don’t hear it the first time keep listening. Then you will hear that voice inviting you to come to God. Let those words begin to flow through your body and your spirit like living refreshing waters to a parched land and feel the power of his revitalization as you become a new person or a renewed person because you made the effort and the time to listen to God and accept His invitation for a new and lasting relationship with God.
Please go from here into this week committing yourself to listening for God’s word to usher into your spirit and your bodies the refreshing and revitalizing power of God for every thirst and hunger that you bear day after day and let His presence renew you day by day now and through to eternity. Amen.