Devotional Thoughts Based on the Glory to God Hymnal

Isaiah 55:1-7

The call of God in the words of the prophets is for God’s people to return to the God who loves them. That call is sounded in Isaiah 55:

Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters;
and you that have no money, come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
² Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.
³ Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.
⁴ See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.
⁵ See, you shall call nations that you do not know,

and nations that do not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.

⁶ Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near;
⁷ let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

The call of the prophets still echoes in our world today. When we have drifted away from God’s will for our lives, the call is there for us to return. When we feel that we have lost our way and lost it all, God invites us back to the feast as guests. God wants to seek that relationship with God that gives us contentment and true peace.

That sentiment is reflected in Glory to God Hymn 494 Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts:

 O Jesus, joy of loving hearts,
thou fount of life, thou light of men,
from fullest bliss that earth imparts
we turn unfilled to thee again,
we turn unfilled to thee again.

 We taste thee, O thou living bread,
and long to feast upon thee still;
we drink of thee, the fountainhead,
and thirst our souls from thee to fill,
and thirst our souls from thee to fill.

 Our restless spirits yearn for thee,
where’er our changeful lot is cast,
glad that thy gracious smile we see,
blest that our faith can hold thee fast,
blest that our faith can hold thee fast.

The call remains for us to come back, to come home for refreshment.

Prayer

God, in the times when I feel that I have lost my way, let me hear your never-ending call for me to come home, where I find nourishment for my soul, rest for my spirit, and grace to fill my faith. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.