Talk:Isa 55:1-5

Buy without price

I have a couple of questions about the first verse in Isaiah 55. I was sitting in Sunday school today and Isaiah was the lesson. We read Isaiah 55:1 but some thoughts lingered on in my head I thought I would through them out here so I can see or gain a little more understanding. In the first verse it states "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price" is there any significance in the way that Isaiah puts this? Buy wine and milk without price? How do we buy without price? in the 1828 Webster's dictionary it states the word buy as "To negotiate" do we negotiate? What it feels like to me is that we negotiate through our service and actions and sacrificing to God's kingdom for this milk and wine or eternal salvation. Can anyone give me more insights into this verse?--Jeff Batt 19:28, 29 Oct 2006 (UTC)

Jeff, I think this is a great question. And I think this is importantly related to the notion that God's grace is "free"—that is, that we don't really earn salvation, rather we accept God's grace and then, through the change of heart that occurs in this process, we keep the commandments, not because we are trying so hard on our own, but because God has changed our nature and given us the desire to do good. I'll try to find some scriptures to back up some of these claims/connections. In particular, I'm thinking of one (in Alma 32?) that talks about praying for desire. It hit me pretty hard once on my mission when I was feeling burned out and I realized that the very desire to do missionary work—which I had previously taken for granted—is itself a gift of God. It was very humbling for me to realize. Previously, I think I had been inwardly self-righteous about my desire to be a good missionary.... (Notice that 2 Ne 9:51 is a good cross-reference for thinking about this verse.) --RobertC 14:45, 30 Oct 2006 (UTC)

I apologize that I have not gotten around to thinking this verse along with you, Jeff. I've had an incredibly busy week or so. I'm still about two days behind, but I think things will settle out a little bit this afternoon, and I will get back to my "real" work by Thursday. It might be worth taking a look at the Hebrew text here, and I haven't the time this morning, but I will get back to it. --Joe Spencer 15:59, 31 Oct 2006 (UTC)

That's ok Joe take your time. Robert brings up an interesting point. It makes sense that we we accept salvation rather than earning salvation. If we had to earn it I think we would all fall short, but through Christ we accept it which still comes with conditions, like how do we shor in our daily acts that we have accepted Christ.A scripture comes to mind, I do not know it off the top of my head nut it is where I beleive Nephi is talking about Moses and how all the people needed to do was to look upon the serpant and live but still some did not. --Jeff Batt 16:03, 31 Oct 2006 (UTC)