come to the waters // a devotional, pt. 2

Hey y’all!

I hope you have all had a fantastic week so far! I’m really busy as of late, but still keeping my head afloat! 🙂

Enjoy part two of my devotional!

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Listen and Live. (Is 55:3-5)

3 Pay attention and come to Me;

listen, so that you will live.

I will make an everlasting covenant with you,

the promises assured to David.

4 Since I have made him a witness to the peoples,

a leader and commander for the peoples,

5 so you will summon a nation you do not know,

and nations who do not know you will run to you.

For the Lord your God,

even the Holy One of Israel,

has glorified you.”

There is way more meaning and more hidden references packed into these three verses than might be recognized from the first read-through. They are part of the aforementioned invitation that has been extended to us because of the cross. Our birthright in Christ is access to His Holy Spirit, completely free and unhindered. Because of this, we can be assured that we hear Him. As simplified and easy as it seems, that is the truth. The main kicker is whether or not we have tuned our ears enough to listen to His voice.

My version of the Bible (HCSB) phrases it “pay attention”. Other versions say “give ear” or “incline your ear”. In this instance, pay attention is an addition to incline your ear and vice versa. You must listen but do so intently and obediently. He says to “listen so that you will live.” Not just survival mode, floating through life. True living.

Not only that, but He promised that He is keeping a covenant with us that is the same one made with King David back in 2 Samuel. 

8 “Now this is what you are to say to My servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture and from following the sheep to be ruler over My people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a name for you like that of the greatest in the land. 10 I will establish a place for My people Israel and plant them, so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not afflict them as they have done 11 ever since the day I ordered judges to be over My people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies.

“‘The Lord declares to you: The Lord Himself will make a house for you. 12 When your time comes and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He will build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to Me. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a human rod and with blows from others. 15 But My faithful love will never leave him as I removed it from Saul; I removed him from your way. 16 Your house and kingdom will endure before Me forever, and your throne will be established forever.’”

2 Samuel 7:8-16

Basically, this is what is happening here: God has spoken through a prophet to King David, establishing the Davidic Covenant. This covenant is very similar to the covenant God made to Abraham in Genesis. 

Broken down, here are the high points of what was promised in the Davidic covenant. 

1. The reaffirming of first two covenants (Abrahamic and Mosaic) to Israel, this being “I will establish a place for My people Israel…” This is seen in 2 Samuel 7:10.
2. God’s promise that David’s son (this being Solomon) will follow him as king and that he would rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem. 2 Samuel 7:12-13.
3. In v.16, he promises, “Your house and kingdom will endure before Me forever, and your throne will be established forever.” This is a reference to Jesus, way down the line.

When we read the next couple of verses, it is clear that they flow together for a reason. Verses 4 and 5 provide clearer context, as well as a continuation of the blessings that come from accepting the invitation. But who is the “him” referred to in verse 4? Skipping back up to verse 3, it’s referring to the promises made to David. The next couple of verses after the third are simply saying, “Hey, remember the Davidic covenant? It was for David, yes, but it still stands for you, Ancient Israel.” In the mind of an Israelite, this would have triggered the memory of the promises God had made. 

This is the same message God is giving us today. These verses describe God’s glorification process for those who follow Him intently. The best part of this is that He hasn’t stopped doing this. He is continually lifting people up. Whether this is in positions of leadership or just working in normal everyday people, He is keeping His promises and raising up the faithful.

God, once again, we say yes to listening and obeying. Thank you for Your invitation into Your realm of living. We are paying attention, and we are waiting with expectation. Thank you for the freedom you died for. We say yes to freedom and claim it for day-to-day life. Show us where You are at work in the mundane patterns. Give us Your eyes, Jesus. Give us more of you. You are free to work in and through us. Change us. Thank you for Your promises, Abba. We love you.

Next Steps

• God, am I listening to You on an everyday basis?
• God, do I truly believe that You will keep Your promises? Grow my faith, Abba.
• God, how do I continue to say yes to Your invitation into more?

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song of the week:

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Now go forth, mis amigos and amigas, and smile. Your day is just beginning. Make the best of it. Don’t procrastinate. Work hard. Make me proud. 🙂

Love you all,

Madeleine