God's Plan Creates Harmony

 ⁵Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 

⁶ who, though he was in the form of God,
   did not regard equality with God
   as something to be exploited,
⁷ but emptied himself,
   taking the form of a slave,
   being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
⁸   he humbled himself
   and became obedient to the point of death—
   even death on a cross.(Phip.2)

Isaiah’s words in chapter 55 call us to be attentive to the wisdom of Philippines 2.

We are to understand life’s true direction by eliminating self-sufficiency. And instead aligning ourselves with God’s ways; and the power of God’s word. 

Aligning ourselves with God provides us with strong roots that grow deep in the earth of God’s kingdom.

In his commentary, in Feasting on the Word, Stephen L. Cook writes:

Isaiah “reveals a divine game plan for existence reflective of God’s unique way of working.  The word of God speaks to us of God’s personal , programmatic intention for us. Beyond being programmatic, the game plan of God’s for history is fail-safe. Like the sprouting of healthy crops after seasonable weather, the effectiveness of God’s word is assured.  God speaks words that work, on which we can base our lives with confidence….God’s word get results and achieves abundance. Like natural precipitation, it is fully effective apart  from human stress and strain…. God is directing history, and we should get with the program.” (p. 389 Year C, volume 1). 

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.

We are reading about the design for all of life in God’s creation. A life meant to stay close to the way that God intended us to live. 

A life style that produces harmony with God’s life-giving, life-sustaining intentions.  

Isaiah talks about the natural processes for healthy growth in nature. How the rain and snow provide all the earth needs to produce vegetation to sustain human and animal life. 

It is an analogy of how God provide for our needs.

Then there is an extraordinary metaphor of how we, humans, fit into the design: 

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.

God’s word speak to us.  We in turn speak, and live out, that word in the environment we live in

In order for God's word to be fulfilled we are asked to live his word with every thought, feeling and breath out into the world around us.  So that, God's purpose will be accomplish.

When we desire to work out God's plan, then:

 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. 

You see, in order for us to get with God's program we need to be willing to: 

Emptied ourselves, being humble and selfless before others in love, compassion, forgiveness and gentleness.

 That is:  "Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus."

Then and only then will we be able to live in joy and peace together.

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. (Is.55)