It may not be so obvious, but this is
at the heart of Isaiah 55.1-9.
I love that the author of the last chapter of Second
Isaiah portrays the Divine as a comforter, provider,
and liberator. The invitation in the text may seem
out of place for those of us in the throes of Lent,
a season typically dedicated to abstaining from food
and similar practices. Yet, we must situate
ourselves within the context of those to whom Isaiah
was writing.
Biblical scholars refer to the first thirty-nine
chapters of Isaiah as First Isaiah. These chapters
recount significant events from a critical period in
the history of the southern kingdom of Judah. Uzziah
is acknowledged as one of the greatest kings of
Judah; his reign signified a time of great
prosperity for the kingdom. However, as prosperity
surged, the gap between the rich and poor widened,
while the threat of invasion from Assyria increased.
The situation escalated when King Uzziah contracted
leprosy, forcing him to pass Judah's throne to his
inexperienced son, Jotham, who failed to inspire
confidence. This political climate set the stage for
Isaiah's prophetic work, believed by scholars to
focus on social justice and the welfare of the poor
amidst the growing wealth gap. A major theme
highlights how the people and their leaders relied
on temporary kings instead of the Living God.
Isaiah's prophetic message aimed to awaken the
people from their dependence on the empire and guide
them back to the covenant with the Living God.
However, Judah's sins are numerous: the rich oppress
the poor, resources are wasted on military spending,
idolatry prevails, people cheat their neighbors, and
many dissociate from the reality of their crumbling
empire and government. Goodness, this sounds eerily
familiar.
Second Isaiah, which includes
chapters 40-55, was written after the fall and
during the exile. The final chapter of this section
serves as an invitation. Isaiah 55 calls out to all
who are thirsty and hungry, as well as to anyone
without money, to partake in God’s abundance at no
cost. There will be wine and milk, along with rich
food that will delight and satisfy us. We are
invited to come just as we are, to listen to the
Living God so that we may live.
The invitation asks the people, “Who do you want to
become?” Chapter 55 reminds the people of the
everlasting covenant of God, who, despite the
peoples’ best attempts to abandon the Divine for
their emperors and material gains, moves toward them
with … empathy!
If you are thirsty, come to the waters. Like their
ancestors who wandered in the wilderness, the Divine
will provide water for them. The Living God desires
for God’s people to know rest and experience
renewal, just as anyone does after drinking a glass
of water when parched.
In this chapter, the author highlights the Divine’s
chosen favor for the impoverished. Those lacking
wealth or resources, marginalized by exile and
empire, will receive blessings in the Divine’s new
order. They will enjoy wine and milk, symbolizing
that the land of milk and honey still belongs to the
people. The Divine will now restore this inheritance
to them. A redistribution of resources so that all,
including the land, will flourish.
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Despite the centuries between us, we
aren’t much different from the people in Isaiah.
Like them, we labor and expend energy and strength
on things that won’t last. As Malaysian theologian,
Ee Yan Tan notes, “War, conflict, and colonial
economic systems (all experiences of the exilic
period) are key contributing factors to scarcity of
food, soaring inflation rates, and lack of access to
daily necessities. In the weariness of exile, God
invites the people of God to finally rest at the
feast, where they can eat what is good and delight
themselves in rich food. In communion with God,
there will be satisfaction and true life.” In what
is to come, the mantra “it is what it is” can be set
aside to embrace the covenant of love that remains!
The community mentioned in Isaiah 55 continues to
show the wounds of exile. They are those who hunger
and lack resources. They are those seeking
nourishment. They are those who have faced hardship
and deprivation due to forced relocation. They are
at a threshold, the place between what was and what
will be. So, who will they become?
You might wonder whether the text refers to
metaphorical or physical sustenance and nourishment.
It addresses both, as each is integral to the
message. The socio-historical backdrop of exile and
repatriation highlights the importance of this
text's material aspects. Food, drink, and financial
resources are crucial for the community’s survival.
For many years, the empire's economy has deprived
them of these essentials. Despite this, the Living
God of abundance assures them they will endure and
flourish under God’s care.
As the cost of living rises at unprecedented rates,
along with threats to national security among many
nations and the unpredictability of modern empires'
governing practices, we are also invited to “listen
carefully” to the Living God. If we take this text
seriously, listen to the invitation extended to us,
and embrace the call to become the mystical Body of
Christ in the world, we can join the Living God in
their empathy by doing whatever we can so that all
who thirst and hunger shall have access to food for
their well-being.
We have enough, and then some, to embody the Living
God’s hopes for the world. Spiritually speaking, if
we allow the fruits of the Spirit to grow – the
fruits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control
– we have what we need to become what we pray: God’s
reign of love come on earth as it is in heaven.
So, who do we become?
As a follow-up to this question, what voices shape
our answers?
Hopefully, the one that leads all of life toward the
fullness of Love here and now.
[The Rev. Dr. Adam R. Quine,
M.Div, MAS]
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