Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Tuesday, March 19, 2013 Read – Isaiah 55 We have noticed how Luke is dependent upon the Prophet Isaiah for his understanding of the Messiah. At the inauguration of the ministry of Jesus Luke tells the story of Jesus reading from Isaiah in the synagogue in Nazareth and claiming that Isaiah’s words have been fulfilled today in the coming of Jesus (Luke 4:16-21). When John the Baptist sent messengers to ask if Jesus was the coming Messiah or if they should look for another Jesus tells the messengers to go and tell John what they see and hear – the blind receive their sight, the deaf hear, the dead are raised and the poor have good news proclaimed to them (Luke 7:18-23). These are the things Isaiah envisioned would happen when the Messiah arrived. Clearly Isaiah was important for Luke and for the early Christians. We are going to take a few days to hear more from Isaiah. Today we look at Isaiah 55. We have noticed Luke’s concern about the threat of wealth – that concern is echoed in the words of Isaiah today – “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread?” (Isaiah 55:2). Isaiah invites his hearers to trust in God – and in God’s word. Luke has been proclaiming God’s word to his readers and we can be assured that as Isaiah puts it that word of God will not return empty to God – it will accomplish its purpose. Our study of God’s word works that way in our lives – the more we put into it the more we get in return. Reading the Bible is not easy. It takes work and diligent study – investigation of the world in which the Bible was written and close analysis of the writers. We have God’s promise that our work will not be left empty – God will bless it.