September 21: A Word That Shall Not Return Empty

Isaiah 54-55, Proverbs 28:15-28, Luke 24:1-12, Hebrews 11:32-40 Isaiah 54-55: In these chapters there is given a multitude of reasons to sing for joy. Throughout all is the conviction that God will restore the fortunes of his people through the promised salvation—ultimately through the Christ. Listen to some of these promises:

For the children of the desolate one will be more  than the children of her who is married,” says the Lord. (Isaiah 54:1)

It is too easy for us to think that natural situations, ability, character, family will determine spiritual fruitfulness. Not so, says the Lord. Therefore:

Enlarge the place of your tent (Isaiah 54:2)

And:

For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. (Isaiah 54:7)

What is more:

O, afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires. (Isaiah 54:11)

And perhaps even more wondrously:

no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord. (Isaiah 54:17)

Given all these promises (and many more listed in this chapter), then the invitation goes out for us to come and enjoy God and these promises:

Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (Isaiah 55:1)

Such an invitation will not stand for ever:

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:6-7) 

And these promises, and this word, are sure and certain, and will accomplish that for which God has designed them:

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 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. (Isaiah 55:10-11)

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