A New Beginning

¹ “Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink — even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk — it is all free! ² Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to Me (the living LORD God), and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food. ³ Come to Me (the living LORD God) with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David….” ⁶ “Seek the LORD while you can find Him. Call on Him now (the living LORD God) while He is near. ⁷ Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the LORD that He may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for He will forgive generously.” Isaiah 55:1-3, 6-7, New Living Translation 2nd Edition

As the Christmas season ends, people turn their hearts to a New Year and new beginnings. With this New Year, let everyone listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah and come to the living LORD God now!

In Isaiah 55, the living LORD God – the Holy One of Israel – invites ALL PEOPLE to come to Him with our whole hearts (see Isaiah 55:1, 3). Coming to the living LORD God is ABSOLUTELY FREE and costs NO MONEY (see Isaiah 55:1). The living LORD God promises that when you come to Him with your whole hearts, He will FREELY give you a new life, heavenly blessings, goodness, and peace for our soul through His Holy Spirit (Isaiah 55:1-2; see also Isaiah 44:3-4; Isaiah 45:21-22; John 3:6; Acts 17:28; Galatians 5:25; 2 Corinthians 3:6, 8). When you come wholeheartedly to the living LORD God, He freely comes to live in your hearts and minds through His Spirit – also known as the Spirit of the LORD or the living Water (e.g., see John 4:10, 14; Revelation 21:6-7; Revelation 22:17). The Spirit of the LORD brings the living LORD God’s blessings, gifts, abundance, and grace into your lives NOW and for all eternity (e.g., see Isaiah 41:17-18; Isaiah 58:11; Matthew 5:6; Luke 6:21; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Revelation 3:18).

Next, the living LORD God urges ALL PEOPLE to listen diligently and obey His instructions (Isaiah 55:2-3; see also Leviticus 18:4-5; Joshua 1:6-8). The living LORD God declares that His life-nourishing instructions and commands are alive, active, eternal, and everlasting (Isaiah 55:10-11; see also Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:18; Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33; Hebrews 4:12). Wholehearted allegiance to the living LORD God and obedience to His Word leads to life, goodness, and an everlasting covenant relationship with the living LORD God (Isaiah 55:2-3; see also Deuteronomy 30:15-16, 19-20; Isaiah 1:19-20; Jeremiah 32:40-41). The living LORD God wants everyone to have a continual relationship with Him. Even more, obedience to the living LORD God and His Word leads to wisdom and understanding (e.g., see Deuteronomy 4:5-6; Psalm 111:10). Through our wholehearted allegiance and obedience to the living LORD God comes an outpouring of His life-giving love, mercy, reward, blessings, and forgiveness that He previously gave to His servant David (Isaiah 55:3, 12-13; see also Proverbs 4:4; Isaiah 49:4; Isaiah 59:21; Romans 5:5).

The living LORD God found David to be a man wholeheartedly devoted and obedient to Him and His commandments (e.g., see 1 Samuel 13:14; 1 Kings 2:1-4; Psalm 63:1-2; Psalm 143:6; Acts 13:22). David sought and served the living LORD God with his whole heart and mind, and he encouraged others to do the same (e.g., see 1 Chronicles 16:8-22; 1 Chronicles 28:8-9; Psalm 27:8; Psalm 145:3). Because of David’s allegiance to the living LORD God, the Spirit of the LORD rested on David, and he enjoyed God’s favor (e.g., see 1 Samuel 16:12-13; 1 Samuel 18:12; 2 Samuel 5:3; Acts 7:45-46). Moreover, David proved the living LORD God’s presence and power in his life when he conquered other nations and giants (Isaiah 55:4; e.g., see also 1 Samuel 17:45-50). Even more, the living LORD God made David a leader for His people, and David became Israel and Judah’s most celebrated king (Isaiah 55:4-5; see also 1 Chronicles 28:4).

Even more important, because of David’s wholehearted allegiance to Him, the living LORD God promised to send His Messiah-King from David’s family, and David’s Seed would become Ruler (Isaiah 4:2; Isaiah 11:1, 10; Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 53:2; see also Jeremiah 30:9; Ezekiel 37:24-28; Matthew 1:1, 17-18; 23; Matthew 2:2; Acts 13:22-23; Romans 1:3-4; Hebrews 7:14; Revelation 1:5; Revelation 5:5; Revelation 22:16). Previously, the living LORD God through His servant Nathan promised David that his Descendent would rule as King forever (Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 11:1; see also 2 Samuel 7:11-16; 1 Chronicles 17:11-14; Luke 1:32-33). Like His servant David, the living LORD God promises you will also become blessed with His power and presence from on high when you wholeheartedly love and obey His righteous commands (Isaiah 55:5; see also 2 Chronicles 7:17-18; John 14:15, 21, 23; John 15:1-5, 7, 10; 1 John 2:5; 1 John 5:3). The living LORD God MUST be the only King and God of your heart (Isaiah 46:9; see also e.g., Joshua 24:14-15; 1 Samuel 12:12).

However, the living LORD God declares if your hearts turn away from Him and His Word, and you walk in continual evil and disobedience the Spirit of the LORD will depart your life, and your life will become dry, thirsty, and dead (e.g., see Deuteronomy 30:17-18; 1 Samuel 15:17-23; 1 Samuel 16:14; 1 Samuel 18:12; 2 Chronicles 7:17-22; Jeremiah 2:13; Romans 6:23). The living LORD God of heaven and His mercy are with those who wholeheartedly seek and love Him, confess their sins, and obey His righteous commands (e.g., see Leviticus 26:40-42; Deuteronomy 4:29-31; 2 Chronicles 15:2, 4; Psalm 103:11; Jeremiah 29:10-14; 1 John 1:5-9). However, if you reject and disobey the living LORD God, He will reject you (Isaiah 1:20; see also e.g., 1 Chronicles 28:9; 2 Chronicles 7:19-22). Rebellion against the living LORD God and His commands lead to the living LORD God’s disfavor and destruction (e.g., see Leviticus 26:14-17; Joshua 24:20; 1 Samuel 12:15). Continual sin and wickedness will lead to your downfall (e.g., see Ezekiel 18:30).

Thus, the prophet Isaiah calls upon EVERYONE to seek and call upon the living LORD God of heaven and seek His righteousness NOW (Isaiah 1:17; Isaiah 51:1, 4; Isaiah 55:6; see also Amos 5:4, 6; Matthew 6:33; Hebrews 3:12-15). Isaiah declares the living LORD God is the only God, and He will answer you when you seek Him (Isaiah 45:22; see also Exodus 20:3-5; Deuteronomy 4:29). As you seek and call upon the Name of the living LORD God, you find the living LORD God’s grace, hedge protection, and salvation from evil and the evil one (e.g., see Psalm 32:6-7; Joel 2:32; Zephaniah 2:3; Romans 10:13).

A clear example of the living LORD God’s protection and grace is found in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, often called the “Prayer of Jabez.” Jabez had a painful beginning in life (see 1 Corinthians 4:9). Despite his painful beginnings, Jabez sought and prayed to the living LORD God to bless him and expand his territory (border) (see 1 Chronicles 4:10). Even more, Jabez prayed to the living LORD God that His presence would be with him in all that he does and to keep him from all trouble, harm, evil, and pain (see 1 Chronicles 4:10). The living LORD God answered Jabez’s prayer request (see 1 Chronicles 4:10). Nothing is too hard nor too impossible for the living LORD God (e.g., see Genesis 18:14; Jeremiah 32:17, 27; Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27; Luke 1:37).

Moreover, the prophet Isaiah encourages everyone to REPENT by turning away from their evil, selfish, false, and wicked deeds and seeking the living LORD God (Isaiah 1:16, 19; Isaiah 55:7; see also Zechariah 8:17; Matthew 3:2; Matthew 4:17). In fact, the prophet Isaiah urges EVERYONE to turn and remove from their minds and hearts the very thought of doing wrong, evil, and wicked (Isaiah 55:7; see also Jeremiah 4:14; James 4:7-8). Instead, the prophet Isaiah encourages EVERYONE to humbly and wholeheartedly REPENT and come to the living LORD of heaven and find the living LORD God’s FREE mercy, grace, salvation, and lavish forgiveness NOW and for all eternity (Isaiah 55:7; see also 2 Chronicles 7:14; Isaiah 56:2). Though our sins may be like scarlet and red as crimson, the prophet Isaiah promises the living LORD God will cleanse our hearts and minds like pure snow as we come to Him (e.g., see Isaiah 1:18; Isaiah 43:25; Isaiah 44:22). The living LORD God freely forgives EVERYONE who turns away from the wickedness they have committed and do what is just, right, and good (e.g., see Ezekiel 18:27-28).

Moreover, the living LORD God declares that His ways, thoughts, and plans are not the same as any human on earth (see Isaiah 55:8). Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, the living LORD God proclaims that His ways, thoughts, and plans are higher and greater than any fragile human (Isaiah 55:9; see also Isaiah 40:13-14). Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but the living LORD God’s purposes and plans always triumph in the end (e.g., see Psalm 33:11; Proverbs 19:21). The living LORD God is not human or mortal, but He is the strong and sovereign Creator of the universe (Isaiah 40:6-8; Isaiah 51:12-13; see also e.g., Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29). Only the living LORD God (Yahweh) is the only true God, and only He knows the end from the beginning of all things (Isaiah 44:6, 8; Isaiah 45:5-6, 18, 21; Isaiah 46:9-11; see also Deuteronomy 6:4).

Finally, the living LORD God throughout His Holy Scriptures calls EVERYONE to love, goodness, and fairness toward one another, particularly toward the oppressed, fatherless, and widows (Isaiah 56:1; see also Genesis 18:19; Micah 6:6-8; Isaiah 1:17; Romans 12:9; James 1:27). Doing what is right, loving, and good is the heart of the living LORD God’s commandments (Isaiah 56:1; see also Matthew 7:12; Matthew 22:37-40; Luke 10:25-37; Romans 13:8-10; 1 Timothy 1:5). Even more, doing what is right and good is more acceptable to the living LORD God than any religious ceremonies, rituals, or sacrifices (e.g., 1 Samuel 15:22-23; Proverbs 21:3; Isaiah 1:11). For the living LORD God loves justice and goodness, and He HATES stealing, lies, and wrongdoing (Isaiah 56:2; see also e.g., Psalm 11:7; Isaiah 61:8). The living LORD God’s very Name and nature is goodness, mercy, TRUTH, holiness; and justice (Isaiah 5:16; see also e.g., Exodus 34:6-7; Leviticus 11:44-45; 1 Peter 1:15-16). Thus, the living LORD God calls EVERYONE to flee and turn from doing anything evil (see Isaiah 56:2).

In His continual faithfulness, the living LORD God rewards and blesses EVERYONE who loves Him, and He makes an everlasting covenant with those who obey His righteous commandments (Isaiah 56:2; see also Psalm 112:1; Isaiah 61:8; Ephesians 6:24). Particularly, the living LORD God blesses those who worship Him and obey His Sabbath days of rest by not working (Isaiah 56:2, 6; Isaiah 58:13-14; see also Exodus 20:8-11; Leviticus 26:2; Deuteronomy 5:12-15). The living LORD God gives His FREE grace, joy, and blessings to ALL PEOPLE – whether young, old, black, white, Jew, Gentile, foreigners, or homosexual – who love, worship, and obey Him (Isaiah 56:3-7 see also Ephesians 2:11-16). The living LORD God’s salvation and grace are for ALL PEOPLE without respect to persons who seek and obey Him (Isaiah 56:8; see also Isaiah 2:2-5).

In the New Testament, the Lord Jesus continued the message of the prophet Isaiah. The Lord Jesus, who is One with His Father the living LORD God of heaven, urged everyone to come to Him and find life NOW and for all eternity (e.g., see John 3:15-17, 36; John 6:26-27, 53-58; John 10:30; John 14:6, 9-11). As we come to the Lord Jesus and His Father, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside our hearts (e.g., see John 3:3-8; John 7:37-39; John 14:23). The Holy Spirit brings heart peace and rest for our souls (e.g., see Matthew 11:28-30; John 16:33).

In summation, the living LORD God through the prophet Isaiah is calling EVERYONE to faith in Him and repentance (turning) from sin and evil. Seek the living LORD God this New Yew, and the living LORD God will come into your hearts through His Spirit – the Spirit of the LORD (e.g., see Isaiah 30:9; Zechariah 1:3; Malachi 3:7; James 4:8). Repent and live (e.g., see Ezekiel 18:30-32)!

References

ESV Study Bible, English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008).

Message Bible (Colorado Springs, CO:  NavPress, 2002).

The Living Bible Paraphrase (Tyndale House, 1971).

Zondervan NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2008).