Isaiah chapter 55 - 2nd Timothy

“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” (Isaiah 55:1)

What in the world is Isaiah writing about here? He is calling to all the thirsty, telling them to come and consume something for free. They don’t have to pay to eat and drink; just come eat and drink.

What does he mean? It will help us when we realize that the one who is actually speaking here is the Holy Spirit and not Isaiah. What would the Holy Spirit mean by inviting people to come and partake for free? I wonder. Not really.

When God speaks of something that is ours without “price”, without any expenditure on our part, it can only mean one thing; His offer of eternal life which we call His grace. Isn’t that what we read about in 2nd Timothy 2:1-2?

“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (2nd Timothy 2:1-2)

Here, Paul is doing the writing, but once again it is the Holy Spirit speaking, and He is telling Timothy to be strong in what? Grace. And, verse two says to invite everybody else to come and partake of His free gift, and then they can pass the invitation along to others.

“ Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.” (Isaiah 55:2)

He wonders why men spend money and effort for something that isn’t nourishing, for something that isn’t satisfying. They are spending their time looking in the wrong place. And Paul says:

“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” (2nd Timothy 2:4)

What does “The affairs of this life” mean? That is the world. That’s the wrong place to be looking, and it does not please God for us to do so.

Is it just a coincidence that after both Isaiah and Paul speak of God’s grace (that which is without price) that they both mention David?

“Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.” (Isaiah 55:3)

“Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel” (2nd Timothy 2:8)

In Isaiah 55:7 the Holy Spirit speaks of the wicked and of the unrighteous. Through Isaiah He says that these people can repent and be pardoned, but the point we want to observe is that He is speaking of the wicked here.

“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.” (Isaiah 55:7)

In the first nine verses of the third chapter of 2nd Timothy, Paul speaks exclusively of wicked men and the nature of their existence.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.” (2nd Timothy 3:1-9)

In Isaiah 55:10-11 the Holy Spirit turns to the subject of God’s Word and how it will always accomplish His intent, and how it will always be effective.

“For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11)

It should come as no surprise that some familiar passages about God’s written word can be found in the text of 2nd Timothy chapters two and three.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2nd Timothy 2:15)

“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2nd Timothy 3:14-17)

This is Isaiah chapter fifty-five and 2nd Timothy is the fifty-fifth book of the Bible. They are connected.