Text: Isaiah 55:6-7
Music: John Carter (No, not the one who visited Barsoom)
MSCL#0172
Composer’s Biography:
John Carter and Mary Kay
Beall are not only husband and wife, but they collaborate on a full-time basis
on musical works of all kinds. They have been writing as a team since 1978 and
have created several hundred pieces of music together. John Carter is
recognized as one of the most productive and skillful writers in choral
composition today. Before he and Mary Kay began their collaboration, he had
nearly 200 published works to his credit.
Together, John and Mary Kay
have over 30 years experience writing and directing music for choirs of all
types and of all ages: elementary, junior high, high school, college and
church. Many of their works are commissioned by various groups across the
country to be performed for commemorative occasions. As a team, the Carters
have produced a dozen musicals and a sacred opera in addition to their many
choral works. They have been widely performed, and their music exhibits a broad
versatility in writing styles.
The Carters have been
involved in church music as soloists, Directors of Music and Sacred Choral
Editors. Presently, John is Director of Music at the University
Baptist Church
in Columbus , Ohio
John and Mary Kay are
members of ASCAP and the American Choral Directors Association. They have
received ASCAP awards annually since 1984 for their ongoing contributions to
choral literature. (http://www.alfred.com/Company/Authors/JohnCarter.aspx)
An Offer Ya Canna Refuse
The message of Isaiah 55 is
about being restored into a right relationship with God. It opens with the assumption of hunger and
thirst for the things of God, a characteristic our society currently ignores
being satisfied temporarily by the many diversions our western culture provides
us. Verses 1-4 call for us to come and
receive the free things of God, His water, food, wine and milk that cannot be
purchased, rather than spend our hard earned funds on the things that do not
satisfy.
His message, primarily to Israel who is facing imminent judgment from God,
includes a promise and an encouragement that one day Israel will summon nations they do
not even know of unto themselves. This is
a prophetic picture of the gentiles being grafted into the promises of Israel as the
church. (vs.3-5)
Then, in our key passage the
promise to the wicked and the evil that God can be found “while he is near”. This serves as a reminder to us that
repentance is not on our time table or merely at our convenience. The opportunity for this repentance and
restoration must be grabbed, “while He is near.” The repentance should be characterized by not
only a surrendering of how one thinks, but also how he acts. We must “forsake (our) way” as well as “(our)
thoughts”. Christ said his sheep hear
his voice and respond. Here in Isaiah
the sheep are encouraged to “return to the Lord that He may have mercy on
(them)… for He will abundantly pardon”.
Who can resist this offer? Quit
spending your money to be happy. Come
get free pardon and restoration from God and you won’t need the diversions that
our technology, fads, clothing, cars, and entertainment provide. (vs. 6-7)
Having made an offer you can’t
refuse, the message of Isaiah goes on to explain why the God of heaven would
make such an offer. This fact is a
mystery that confounds all people, but perhaps our age more than any. Why would the Holy God of heaven who is
creator, judge, jury and executioner and hates and despises sin offer
pardon? He offers these things to us because;
He is so different from us. (vs8-9)
How secure can we be of this
incredible offer? If it is too good to
be true, then it probably is, right? But
we have an illustration given in vs. 10-11 that God’s word is as secure and
definite as the water cycle. The agrarian
world knows that the rains and snows come. The waters provide nourishment for the seeds
and plants, thus sustaining life and nourishment. Then and only then does the water return and
do it all over again. God’s Word is even
more dependable than that. As the going
forth of the rains and snows give life, so the going forth of God’s Word gives
life.
Lastly, a celebration is in
order. Vs. 12-13 picture a celebration
of man and nature together worshiping God.
When man gets right with God, the blessings of God are poured out on the
world around him. As the creation fell
with man and is corrupted, so it is blessed when man is in a right relationship
with God.
