Isaiah 54-55

Order of Service

• Prayer
• Scripture Reading — Isaiah 54–55
• Sermon

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Sermon Title: Four Invitations to Enjoy What Is Ours

Scripture: Isaiah 54–55

I. Background: The Servant's Work Accomplished and Applied

A. Isaiah 49–55 outlines the ministry of the Suffering Servant, with the climax at Isaiah 52:13–53:12
B. Chapters 54–55 function as the response section: now that the servant has accomplished redemption, the people are invited to enjoy it
C. John Murray's framework of Redemption Accomplished and Applied is helpful here: Isaiah 53 presents the accomplishment; chapters 54–55 present the application
D. Each servant song in Isaiah is followed by a call to respond; chapters 54–55 extend that response across two full chapters

II. First Invitation — Sing

A. The opening word of Isaiah 54:1 mirrors calls to worship following earlier servant songs (Isaiah 42:1, 49:13)
B. The "barren one" is a vivid picture of the spiritual estate of Zion — the church across all redemptive history, beaten down by sin and a fallen world
C. Calvin applies this image to the church; Paul applies it directly to the church in Galatians 4:27, identifying the barren one with the Jerusalem above and the children of promise
D. The expanding tent imagery (Isaiah 54:2–3) pictures the fulfillment of the Abrahamic promise in Genesis 12 — blessing spreading to the nations
E. Worship is the first and immediate response to what the servant has done

III. Second Invitation — Fear Not

A. The picture in Isaiah 54:4–10 is of a widow and unfaithful wife who has been deserted for a season but is now called back with compassion
B. The basis for fearlessness is the Lord's own character: his everlasting love and covenant faithfulness, not the people's merit

1. "Everlasting love" appears in verse 8; "steadfast love" and "covenant of peace" appear in verse 10
2. The Noahic covenant (Isaiah 54:9) is invoked as a model of unconditional, unbreakable promise
   C. The people facing captivity, exile, and upheaval need this anchor: even if mountains depart and hills be removed, his steadfast love will not depart
   D. The adornment of the afflicted city with precious stones (Isaiah 54:11–17) anticipates the new heavens and new earth — partial fulfillment now, full fulfillment in the consummation
   E. God is consistently the one acting — echoing Ephesians 2:4–5: "But God, because of the great love with which he loved us"

IV. Third Invitation — Come

A. Isaiah 55:1–3 pictures a lavish table: wine, milk, rich food — all without cost
B. The theme of table fellowship runs throughout Scripture

1. The garden as a place of abundant provision; the fall involves eating
2. The peace offering in Leviticus — a meal shared within the temple, symbolizing fellowship with the Lord
3. Jesus repeatedly eating and drinking with his disciples and sinners
4. Revelation 19 — the marriage supper of the Lamb
   C. This table requires nothing brought by the guest — it is entirely the Lord's provision
   D. The table is also an invitation to the Word as food: Isaiah 55:3 — "listen diligently to me and eat what is good"
   E. The Lord's Word will not return void (Isaiah 55:10–11) — it will accomplish his purpose
5. This grounds confidence in the ordinary means of grace: the preached Word does the Lord's work
6. No need for spectacle or entertainment — the Word is sufficient

V. Fourth Invitation — Seek

A. Isaiah 55:6–9 — "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near"
B. The hunger and thirst that drives us to the table arise from sin — we are the wicked who must forsake our ways and return to the Lord
C. The Lord promises abundant pardon — his ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8–9), including in the extravagance of his mercy
D. Both sides of the call must be held together: Philippians 2:12–13 — "work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you"
E. The closing vision (Isaiah 55:12–13): the captives go out in joy and peace; creation itself breaks into singing — an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off