Sermon: God the Provider by Rev. Jessica Johnson
Date: March 24, 2019
Key Scripture Passages: Isaiah 55:1-13
Sermon Notes:
Provisions
If I were to tell you that you needed to go home today and gather up provisions, what would you pack? Some are obvious like food, water, and clothing. Some people may make sure they have their phone chargers and other pieces of technology. Those who lean towards survivalist or prepper-type thinking would get things like sleeping bags, tents, matches, and so on. At its most basic meaning, “provisions” means to supply or equip something for some use. Often, when we talk about provisions, we think of things or equipment that we need to survive.
With those connotations, what does it mean when we say that God Provides or God is the Ultimate Provider? Our thoughts may go to Bible stories where God has provided the people with things they needed to survive. The first story that pops into my head is when God provided manna each day for the Israelites to eat as they wandered in the wilderness. All of these thoughts about provisions are about physical survival. Even when we look at our passage today, Isaiah 55:1-13, it is talk about food and drink. But perhaps, we should look beneath the surface of the imagery of the words. What does Isaiah 55 say that God provides?
I encourage you to follow along with me in your Bibles as we look at Isaiah 55:1-13.
What Does God Provide?
The context previous to Isaiah 55 is about how Israel is separated from God by sin and living in spiritual poverty and despair. Yet, in Isaiah chapters 54 and 55, Isaiah writes that God can provide the way out with healing, restoration, and righteousness. Isaiah urges Israel not to miss out on what God has to offer, even if they do not fully understand it. Isaiah 55 is divided into three sections: the call for people to listen and to receive what only God can provide (verses 1-5), the people should accept God’s offer though our understanding is not the measure of what God can do (verses 6-9), and God’s word and promises are dependable (verses 10-13).
The Call (verses 1-5)
Despite Israel’s sinful nature (and our sinful nature for that matter), Isaiah’s tone here is not one of disapproval, but rather one of encouragement and hope. Everyone is invited by God to come for the “water”. No one is beyond God’s redemption.
Yet, verses 1-5 are a bit of a paradox. How can one buy something without money? In our world, anything of value or anything worth having has a price. There is a cost at getting what we want. Or if we look at it another way, at what cost are we willing to pay to get what we want? Yet, the food and drink that Isaiah is talking about is something that can be acquired without price. God is providing everything necessary for Life for free. How is this possible? Because the price has already been paid for us.
Verse 2 represents another aspect of cost, and that is the idea of paying not just for the item or service but also for the labor involved. In a commentary on Isaiah, Oswalt says this about cost:
This contrast between working for nothing and receiving for nothings is that the heart of the Christian understanding. Labor to justify oneself in God’s sight produces only death, but ceasing from one’s own efforts and receiving the free gift of Christ’s atoning death is to have eternal life (Romans 6:23).
We can’t save ourselves. We can’t provide ourselves eternal life. We need God for salvation and life.
How do we “feast upon the food” that God is providing? We do it by listening to God and His word. In verse 2-3, there are 3 words or phrases that emphasize listening: “listen diligently to me”, “incline your ear”, and simply, “hear, so your soul may live”. In that last one, the Israelite concept of soul is a bit different from what we think of it as today. The soul is not something that is separate from the body, rather it refers to the whole person, the fullest of the reality of human life. In other words, listening to God does not just provide us salvation or eternal life, but God also provides us with meaning, what it is to be whole, embracing the whole reality of what it means to be human.
In verses 4-5, Isaiah describes David with a word not seen in any other historical book, and that word is “witness”. King David served as a “witness” for God to all others. Interestingly enough, we have that same call to be God’s witness today. We are to witness to all people about God, Jesus, the Gospel story, and what God is doing in our lives. We are to stand as God’s witnesses to all people. God is glorified when we witness about Him, and as well, He should be. God should be glorified and obeyed, because He holds all the power and authority in His hands. God should be loved and adored, because He is the one who has gone the farthest lengths in order to redeem His people and restore and reconcile us to Him.
Our Understanding (verses 6-9)
Proverbs 9:10 (HCSB) states: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Our understanding of the Lord may be limited, but what understanding we do have comes from God. We can understand or grow in our knowledge of God by seeking Him. In Isaiah 55, Isaiah wants to make certain that the Israelites (and us) understand that we are not merely seeking information about God, but rather God Himself. This is not just head knowledge, but also heart knowledge. We are to go after the whole of God with the whole of who we are. The gift of God is not information or a list of facts. The gifts from the God are His character and His presence.
The reason we cannot fully understand God’s and what He provides us, because our thoughts and ways are not His thoughts and ways. Sin sends us on divergent behavior and thought patterns. God wants to align our thoughts and ways back to His. While it is possible to change either our thoughts or our ways without changing the other, it has to be both. Our thoughts guide our behavior, and, again, God wants the whole of who we are. We need transformation from God of both our thoughts and ways. Oswalt says, in his commentary:
At the same time, genuine change of behavior without an accompanying change of values and perceptions is impossible. Sin is ultimately a matter of attitude.
God’s Word (verses 10-13)
In verses 10-13, Isaiah gives three reasons why we should repent of our evil ways and thoughts and turn towards God. First, that our thoughts are not God’s thoughts. While we may not understand His free gifts of life and salvation or that He could love us that much, we should still answer God’s invitation and call to be in relationship with Him. Second, God’s Word is absolutely dependable and reliable, without exception. Everything God has ever said has been true and reliable, whether it is about Himself, love, the nature of reality, the foolishness of idolatry, the human predicament, or the necessity of repentance.
In Isaiah 55, Isaiah draws a comparison between rain and God’s Word. In ancient times, rain could mean the difference between life and death. A good rain could be a good crop providing food for that year and even seeds for the next year. Just like rain, God’s Word provides blessings and life. While rain is not the sources of life, God Word is the source of life.
Final Thoughts
We can seek and find God through His Word. God’s word could be found in the Bible, His writings to us, or Jesus is also known as the Word of God. Just as Isaiah warned the Israelites, I am warning you: Don’t miss out on what God is offering. Even if you do not fully understand it, have a little faith. Other voices may be clamoring in this world, claiming to be life-changing. Yet, God is only way that leads to life.
Further Suggested Study:
Date: March 24, 2019
Key Scripture Passages: Isaiah 55:1-13
Sermon Notes:
Provisions
If I were to tell you that you needed to go home today and gather up provisions, what would you pack? Some are obvious like food, water, and clothing. Some people may make sure they have their phone chargers and other pieces of technology. Those who lean towards survivalist or prepper-type thinking would get things like sleeping bags, tents, matches, and so on. At its most basic meaning, “provisions” means to supply or equip something for some use. Often, when we talk about provisions, we think of things or equipment that we need to survive.
With those connotations, what does it mean when we say that God Provides or God is the Ultimate Provider? Our thoughts may go to Bible stories where God has provided the people with things they needed to survive. The first story that pops into my head is when God provided manna each day for the Israelites to eat as they wandered in the wilderness. All of these thoughts about provisions are about physical survival. Even when we look at our passage today, Isaiah 55:1-13, it is talk about food and drink. But perhaps, we should look beneath the surface of the imagery of the words. What does Isaiah 55 say that God provides?
I encourage you to follow along with me in your Bibles as we look at Isaiah 55:1-13.
What Does God Provide?
The context previous to Isaiah 55 is about how Israel is separated from God by sin and living in spiritual poverty and despair. Yet, in Isaiah chapters 54 and 55, Isaiah writes that God can provide the way out with healing, restoration, and righteousness. Isaiah urges Israel not to miss out on what God has to offer, even if they do not fully understand it. Isaiah 55 is divided into three sections: the call for people to listen and to receive what only God can provide (verses 1-5), the people should accept God’s offer though our understanding is not the measure of what God can do (verses 6-9), and God’s word and promises are dependable (verses 10-13).
The Call (verses 1-5)
Despite Israel’s sinful nature (and our sinful nature for that matter), Isaiah’s tone here is not one of disapproval, but rather one of encouragement and hope. Everyone is invited by God to come for the “water”. No one is beyond God’s redemption.
Yet, verses 1-5 are a bit of a paradox. How can one buy something without money? In our world, anything of value or anything worth having has a price. There is a cost at getting what we want. Or if we look at it another way, at what cost are we willing to pay to get what we want? Yet, the food and drink that Isaiah is talking about is something that can be acquired without price. God is providing everything necessary for Life for free. How is this possible? Because the price has already been paid for us.
Verse 2 represents another aspect of cost, and that is the idea of paying not just for the item or service but also for the labor involved. In a commentary on Isaiah, Oswalt says this about cost:
This contrast between working for nothing and receiving for nothings is that the heart of the Christian understanding. Labor to justify oneself in God’s sight produces only death, but ceasing from one’s own efforts and receiving the free gift of Christ’s atoning death is to have eternal life (Romans 6:23).
We can’t save ourselves. We can’t provide ourselves eternal life. We need God for salvation and life.
How do we “feast upon the food” that God is providing? We do it by listening to God and His word. In verse 2-3, there are 3 words or phrases that emphasize listening: “listen diligently to me”, “incline your ear”, and simply, “hear, so your soul may live”. In that last one, the Israelite concept of soul is a bit different from what we think of it as today. The soul is not something that is separate from the body, rather it refers to the whole person, the fullest of the reality of human life. In other words, listening to God does not just provide us salvation or eternal life, but God also provides us with meaning, what it is to be whole, embracing the whole reality of what it means to be human.
In verses 4-5, Isaiah describes David with a word not seen in any other historical book, and that word is “witness”. King David served as a “witness” for God to all others. Interestingly enough, we have that same call to be God’s witness today. We are to witness to all people about God, Jesus, the Gospel story, and what God is doing in our lives. We are to stand as God’s witnesses to all people. God is glorified when we witness about Him, and as well, He should be. God should be glorified and obeyed, because He holds all the power and authority in His hands. God should be loved and adored, because He is the one who has gone the farthest lengths in order to redeem His people and restore and reconcile us to Him.
Our Understanding (verses 6-9)
Proverbs 9:10 (HCSB) states: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Our understanding of the Lord may be limited, but what understanding we do have comes from God. We can understand or grow in our knowledge of God by seeking Him. In Isaiah 55, Isaiah wants to make certain that the Israelites (and us) understand that we are not merely seeking information about God, but rather God Himself. This is not just head knowledge, but also heart knowledge. We are to go after the whole of God with the whole of who we are. The gift of God is not information or a list of facts. The gifts from the God are His character and His presence.
The reason we cannot fully understand God’s and what He provides us, because our thoughts and ways are not His thoughts and ways. Sin sends us on divergent behavior and thought patterns. God wants to align our thoughts and ways back to His. While it is possible to change either our thoughts or our ways without changing the other, it has to be both. Our thoughts guide our behavior, and, again, God wants the whole of who we are. We need transformation from God of both our thoughts and ways. Oswalt says, in his commentary:
At the same time, genuine change of behavior without an accompanying change of values and perceptions is impossible. Sin is ultimately a matter of attitude.
God’s Word (verses 10-13)
In verses 10-13, Isaiah gives three reasons why we should repent of our evil ways and thoughts and turn towards God. First, that our thoughts are not God’s thoughts. While we may not understand His free gifts of life and salvation or that He could love us that much, we should still answer God’s invitation and call to be in relationship with Him. Second, God’s Word is absolutely dependable and reliable, without exception. Everything God has ever said has been true and reliable, whether it is about Himself, love, the nature of reality, the foolishness of idolatry, the human predicament, or the necessity of repentance.
In Isaiah 55, Isaiah draws a comparison between rain and God’s Word. In ancient times, rain could mean the difference between life and death. A good rain could be a good crop providing food for that year and even seeds for the next year. Just like rain, God’s Word provides blessings and life. While rain is not the sources of life, God Word is the source of life.
Final Thoughts
We can seek and find God through His Word. God’s word could be found in the Bible, His writings to us, or Jesus is also known as the Word of God. Just as Isaiah warned the Israelites, I am warning you: Don’t miss out on what God is offering. Even if you do not fully understand it, have a little faith. Other voices may be clamoring in this world, claiming to be life-changing. Yet, God is only way that leads to life.
Further Suggested Study:
- Isaiah 54
- Isaiah 55
- Proverbs 9
- Romans 6
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