"Come to the Water"

Through Isaiah, Jehovah speaks prophetically to the Jewish captives in Babylon:  "Hey there, all you thirsty ones!  Come to the water. And the ones that have no money!  Come, buy and eat.  Yes, come, buy wine and milk even without money and without price." (Isaiah 55:1)  These words are rich in symbolism.  For example, consider the invitation:  "Come to the water."  Without water, life is impossible.  Without that  precious liquid, we humans can survive only for about a week.  Hence, it is fitting that Jehovah uses water as a metaphor for the effect that his words will have upon the Jewish captives.  His message will refresh them, like a cold drink on  a hot day. It will lift them out of their despondent state of mind, quenching their thirst for truth and righteousness. And it will infuse them with hope of freedom from captivity.  Still, to benefit, the Jewish exiles will have to drink in God's message, pay attention to it, and act upon it.

Jehovah also offers "wine and milk."  Milk strengthens young bodies and helps children to grow.  Similarly, Jehovah's words will strengthen his people spiritually and enable them to fortify their relationship with him. What, though, of wine?  Wine is often used on festive occasions.  In the Bible, it is associated with prosperity and rejoicing.  (Psalm  104:15)  By telling his people to "buy wine," Jehovah is assuring them that a wholehearted return to true worship will make them "nothing but joyful." - Deuteronomy 16:15; Psalm 19:8; Proverbs 10:22.

How merciful of Jehovah to offer such spiritual refreshment to the exiled Jews!  His compassion is all the more remarkable when we remember the Jews' history of waywardness and rebellion.  It is not that they are deserving of  Jehovah's approval.  However, the psalmist David wrote centuries earlier:  "Jehovah is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness.  He will not for all time keep finding fault, neither will he to time indefinite keep resentful."  (Psalm 103:8, 9)  Far from cutting off this people, Jehovah is taking the first step toward reconciliation.  Truly, he is a God "delighting in loving-kindness." -Micah 7:18.

Next time: Misplaced Trust

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, Volume II, 2001