55:3Isaiah 55:3

God freely invites everyone to turn toward Him, listen attentively, and come to Him, with the promise that those who truly hear will have living souls and receive His lasting covenant of loyal mercy first pledged to David.PK 695.4+4 To listen in this sense is to take in His word with care, trust and follow Christ as the teacher and sustenance sent from heaven, and keep His commandments in obedience.Ms 131, 1909, par. 12–14+2 The pledge points to the promised descendant of David appointed as witness, leader and commander to draw the nations, and it is made secure because Jesus was raised never to decay, unlike David who saw corruption.AA 223.2+2 It is Christ Himself speaking as the risen Saviour who administers grace and supplies help, strength and blessing as each situation requires.Ms 27, 1890, par. 16+2 Sinners are therefore to come at once exactly as they are without payment or delay, finding pardon, conversion and healing, while those who have heard are to consecrate themselves and carry this saving offer to the world.Ms 81, 1909, par. 1–2+4

The call is to bend the ear toward God, to come to Him, and to hear, and to all who do so the soul is promised life and an everlasting covenant in the sure mercies promised to David.PK 695.4+4 That life and goodness are held out without price and the spiritual blessings are free to everyone who will accept them.PK 695.4+3 Hearing and coming bring life to the soul because God Himself pledges the covenant grounded in what was shown and promised to David.Lt 54, 1898, par. 16–17+2

To incline the ear and hear is to hearken diligently to God.Ms 131, 1909, par. 12–14+1 It is to feed on His Word, to learn the truth, to cherish it and obey it, including obedience to His commandments, and so to meet the conditions on which the promise is received.Ms 131, 1909, par. 12–14+1 That receiving is receiving and believing in Christ as the heaven-sent teacher and the Bread of life, and those who so come and hear eat what is good, let the soul delight itself in fatness, and live.Ms 131, 1909, par. 12–14+2

The invitation carries forward the free offer to the thirsty and moneyless to come to the waters, to eat what is good, to receive what truly satisfies, and to let the soul delight itself in fatness.Ms 15, 1900, par. 10–11+4 It is infinite love and divine mercy pleading for sinners to turn, meeting the brightest hopes and loftiest aspirations with what is complete and noble and exalted.Ms 14, 1889, par. 2+2 Thirsty, weary, oppressed, suffering, lonely, poor and sinful people who need salvation and healing are therefore welcomed to the Lord's table without despair, for God delights to restore and save, to lead into mercy and abundant pardon, and to give the water of life.COL 232.4–234.1+2 To spend money and labor for what is not bread and does not satisfy is waste beside this, while listening closely, coming, and hearing gives life and lets the soul delight in what is truly good with a sure return without disappointment.Ms 14, 1889, par. 2+2

Listening and coming gives life to the soul and brings entrance into an everlasting covenant grounded in the sure mercies promised to David.1MR 120.3–121.1+1 That covenant is made with all who seek God wholeheartedly and meet the conditions of salvation.1MR 120.3–121.1+1 To enter it is to join oneself to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that will not be forgotten, learning to depend on His teaching for strength rather than on human guidance.Lt 92, 1896, par. 8 The promise belongs to the prophecy of the Messiah from David's line, given as a witness, a leader, and a commander for the people, through whom nations that did not know God are called to come to Him.AA 223.2

The sure mercies of David are fulfilled by raising Jesus from the dead as the promised Messiah and heir of David's covenant.AA 171.2–172.1+1 Unlike David, who died and saw corruption, Jesus was raised and will never return to corruption, so the promise of life and salvation through Him is secure.AA 171.2–172.1+1 The invitation is the voice of Christ Himself, the risen and ascended Saviour who secured eternal happiness by His death and holds the administration of grace in His hands.Ms 27, 1890, par. 16+1 He ever lives to dispense blessings in abundant measure, giving grace, power, and help to believers according as their circumstances demand.Lt 26, 1895, par. 19–22+1 His loving call urges sinners to listen, come to Him, and hear, so that by hearing Him their souls shall live under an everlasting covenant.Ms 27, 1890, par. 16+2

That covenant is a sure investment in God, set in contrast to risky worldly ventures and speculations that may bring loss.Ms 114, 1905, par. 14–21+1 Listening closely, coming, and hearing gives life to the soul and lets it delight in what is truly good, as in working the greatest mine ever worked by investing everything in His kingdom.STB 686.3–6 Its return is sure and without disappointment, while spending money for what is not bread and labor for what does not satisfy is waste beside it.Ms 114, 1905, par. 14–21+1 The verse thus gives God's covenant with the people He is seeking to save today, the terms of salvation, and the education of most value today.Ms 92, 1899, par. 10–12 That education is the highest knowledge any human can possess, the knowledge of the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, understanding the laws of His kingdom and learning to live in this world as a citizen of heaven by heeding the instruction of Christ as the greatest of all teachers.Ms 92, 1899, par. 10–12

Isaiah 55:3 belongs to a chapter that calls people to receive God's life-giving offer freely and should be read and studied as part of that chapter.Lt 208, 1906, par. 28–30 Isaiah 55 is to be diligently studied by pastors and people to arouse them from spiritual stupidity.Ms 66, 1910, par. 8–9 It calls those in the cities who profess present truth to wake up and give to others what the Lord has given them, and calls those who have not yet come up to the help of the Lord to arise and shine because their light is come.Ms 66, 1910, par. 8–9 Those who go forth to share that precious light of the gospel will see the glory of God, with angels making impressions on the minds of those for whom they labor.Ms 66, 1910, par. 8–9 Together with the surrounding verses it belongs to the message of Isaiah 55, 56, and 58 spoken publicly to bring help and sustaining strength.Lt 364, 1907, par. 7 With Isaiah 54 and 55 it gives guidance for sharing saving truth, bringing the word of life to others, and lifting up Christ so that people may be converted.10MR 320.1–321.3

With Isaiah 55:3-5 it calls every believer to serve actively as a minister of righteousness rather than merely attending church and listening to a minister.Ms 126, 1909, par. 17–21 It stands among Isaiah 50-58 as reproof from the Lord that His people must study and heed fully instead of accepting only chosen words.Lt 32a, 1910, par. 12–14 This applies especially to those in high positions carrying great responsibilities who have had great light, who must make thorough work and warn His people to understand truth.Lt 32a, 1910, par. 12–14 They are to put away evil works and complaining, and to repent and be converted, so that reformation goes through the congregation and the Lord appears to the conviction and conversion of souls.Lt 32a, 1910, par. 12–14

Joined with Isaiah 58:1-3 it shows how people who seek God daily and delight to know His ways are to seek His favor in His own way so the soul shall live.Ms 48, 1900, par. 1–4 They are not to trust many ceremonies and outward fasting while entering into controversy with God because He gives no special recognition.Ms 48, 1900, par. 1–4 Nor are they to retain objectionable traits of character, injustice, selfishness and oppression, without humbled hearts, cleansing from spiritual defilement, the grace of God, the Holy Spirit, repentance, and faith that works by love and purifies the soul.Ms 48, 1900, par. 1–4 It gives God's covenant with the people He is seeking to save today, the terms of salvation, and the education of most value today, together with Isaiah 42, 49, 51, 52, 58 and Exodus 28, 29.Ms 92, 1899, par. 10–12 That education is the highest knowledge a human being can possess, the knowledge of the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, understanding the laws of God's kingdom and how to live in this world as a citizen of heaven by heeding the instruction of Christ, the greatest of all teachers.Ms 92, 1899, par. 10–12

The verse calls sinners and all who have wandered from God to come back to Him at once just as they are, clinging to the cross and bringing no price in the hand, not waiting until they have made themselves good enough and not remaining separated from the Father.RH Mar 25, 1915+2 To incline the ear and hear is to hearken diligently to God, and those who so come and listen receive life, eat what is good, let the soul delight itself in fatness, and are given an everlasting covenant founded on the sure mercies promised to David.RH Mar 25, 1915+2 Coming to Christ is coming for life instead of being left alone under justice, for pardon for transgressions is offered to all who come.Ms 27, 1890, par. 16 Conversion and transformation come only by following where Christ leads, denying self and taking up the cross, and as sinners lift the cross it lifts them into understanding what Calvary means and into growing wisdom through doing the will of the Lord.Ms 27, 1890, par. 16

The invitation is set before the suffering and spiritually thirsty, that they may come freely, listen, receive what truly satisfies, and live under the everlasting covenant in the sure mercies of David.COL 232.4–234.1 It welcomes lonely, poor, and sinful people who need salvation and healing to the Lord's table, and they need not despair, because God delights to restore and save them.COL 232.4–234.1 Hearing and answering the Lord's call brings life as a personal call back to the heavenly Father given with deep love, urging one like Philip who refuses His voice to stop refusing, return to Him, and resume His service.Lt 34, 1898, par. 14–15

The verse gives comfort and encouragement when discouraged, opening a door to enter and meet with God where earnest seeking finds Him, and it is wonderful uplifting to be read and studied and shared to strengthen God's people.STB 155.2–4+1 It calls for earnest seeking in humility with hungering and thirsting after Him, for the meekness Christ showed in His life and character, humbling the heart before God and standing in right relation to Him, with the promise that when sought in earnest He will be found and will teach His way, so that in coming and hearing the soul lives.STB 155.2–4+1 So received, it gives a deep experience that stands the test, keeps those who love God and keep His commandments from being spoiled by the enemy, and stirs His people mightily for the great work to be done in the short work He will do upon the earth.STB 155.2–4

The verse is a message to all in responsible positions, to be studied and obeyed.Ms 7, 1895, par. 27–30+1 It forbids any worker to consider himself above his fellow workers because greater responsibilities rest on his branch of the work.Ms 7, 1895, par. 27–30+1 Like Daniel, he is to seek power from God alone.Ms 7, 1895, par. 27–30+1 So heard and obeyed, it leads away from pride, self-importance, self-exaltation, and selfish and dishonest imperfections.Ms 7, 1895, par. 27–30+1 Instead he represents not himself but the truth in righteousness and the sacredness of the work, with no vestige of pride or self-importance.Ms 7, 1895, par. 27–30+1 In this way it brings the Spirit of wisdom from God, magnifies truth, and presents before men and angels the holy perfume of the character of Christ, which is the sacred fire of God's own kindling, in contrast to the strange fire of self-importance and self-exaltation.Ms 7, 1895, par. 27–30+1

The call applies to God's people as they consecrate themselves to Him as a distinct people under Christ.Ms 131, 1909, par. 12–14+2 Hearing brings life to the soul only as its conditions are met by feeding on God's Word, learning the truth, and cherishing and obeying it, including obedience to His commandments.Ms 131, 1909, par. 12–14 Understanding what the promised everlasting covenant in the sure mercies of David means requires studying the Word.Ms 131, 1909, par. 12–14 That invitation and covenant promise extend beyond homes and local churches.Ms 81, 1909, par. 1–2 Those pledged to God are to work for the world, carrying the message of salvation, helping people who do not know the truth, and cooperating with heavenly agencies to reach souls in need.Ms 81, 1909, par. 1–2+1 This is an arousing to give the last note of warning to save a perishing world.Ms 81, 1909, par. 1–2+2

Those in the cities who profess present truth are to wake up from spiritual stupidity and give to others what the Lord has given them.Ms 66, 1910, par. 8–9 Those who have not yet come up to the help of the Lord are to arise and shine because their light is come.Ms 66, 1910, par. 8–9 As they give to others the precious light of the gospel message they will see the glory of God.Ms 66, 1910, par. 8–9 Angels of God will make impressions on the minds of those for whom they labor.Ms 66, 1910, par. 8–9