Isaiah 55 An Ancient Parable

There is an plethora of God's activity in this short chapter of Isaiah.  However I want to focus on two verses of hope Isaiah invites us into:

¹⁰ For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,

   and do not return there until they have watered the earth,

making it bring forth and sprout,

   giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 

¹¹ 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 succeed in the thing for which I sent it.(Is. 55)

At first read this sounds like a simple analogy about the growth on the earth designed by God.  And basically it is.

This entire chapter is to be read like on of Jesus' parables.

The rain and snow bring water to the earth and the growth in return send back precipitation to the skies.

making it bring forth and sprout,

   giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 

¹¹ 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 succeed in the thing for which I sent it.(Is. 55)

We who listen to God’s creative word are to become conduits  — instruments — of God’s purpose, God’s intentions in the world.

As Steed Vernyl Davidson puts it: 

“The hearers embody the word of God in the world, and through them God speaks transformation to the world.  They in turn witness to the power of God.  Their presence speaks of a God whose word brings creation into being, sustains it, and transforms it.  Their presence also speaks to a God who intervenes in history.  A real live audience testifies that they have seen the effect the word of God has in the world.” (p.223 Feasting on the Word Year A, Volume 3)

In plain language,  It is called the “water cycle of nature."  We all studied about it in grade school.  

It the precipitation — rain and snow — evaporates from the surface of the earth, rises into the atmosphere, cools and condenses in to rain or snow in the clouds, and falls again to the surface of the earth.

What God wants us to hear is the precipitation and evaporation cycle is our participation in the water cycle of God’s will working in us. 

Ho, everyone who thirsts,

   come to the waters;

and you that have no money,

   come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

   without money and without price. 

² Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

   and your labour for that which does not satisfy?

Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,

   and delight yourselves in rich food. 

³ Incline your ear, and come to me;

   listen, so that you may live.

I will make with you an everlasting covenant,

   my steadfast, sure love for David. 

⁴ See, I made him a witness to the peoples,

   a leader and commander for the peoples. 

⁵ See, you shall call nations that you do not know,

   and nations that do not know you shall run to you,

because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel,

   for he has glorified you. 

⁶ Seek the Lord while he may be found,

   call upon him while he is near; 

⁷ let the wicked forsake their way,

   and the unrighteous their thoughts;

let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,

   and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 

⁸ For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

   nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. 

⁹ For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

   so are my ways higher than your ways

   and my thoughts than your thoughts. 

¹⁰ For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,

   and do not return there until they have watered the earth,

making it bring forth and sprout,

   giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 

¹⁰ For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,

   and do not return there until they have watered the earth,

making it bring forth and sprout,

   giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 

¹¹ 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 succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 

¹² For you shall go out in joy,

   and be led back in peace;

the mountains and the hills before you

   shall burst into song,

   and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 

¹³ Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;

   instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;

and it shall be to the Lord for a memorial,

   for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. (Isaiah 55).