Futility

The Problem

Isaiah 17: 10, 11

For you have forgotten the God of your salvation 

And have not remembered the rock of your refuge.

Therefore you plant delightful plants 

And set them with vine slips of a strange god.  

In the day that you plant it you carefully fence it in, 

And in the morning you bring your seed to blossom;

But the harvest will be a heap 

In a day of sicklinessand incurable pain.

Hosea 4:10

They will eat, but not have enough; 

They will play the harlot, but not increase, 

Because they have stopped giving heed to the LORD.

Isaiah 65:12-14

Because I called, but you did not answer; 

I spoke, but you did not hear. 

And you did evil in My sight 

And chose that in which I did not delight.

Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD, 

"Behold, My servants will eat, but you will be hungry. 

Behold, My servants will drink, but you will be thirsty. 

Behold,My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame.

Behold, My servants will shout joyfully with a gladheart, 

But you will cry out with a heavy heart, 

And you will wail with a broken spirit.

God's Answer

Lord, I thirst.

Ho!  Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters!

I am hungry and broke.

You who have no money, come buy and eat!  

Buy wine and milk, without money and without cost.

I crave fulfillment and meaning.

Why do you spend money for what is not bread, 

and your wages for what does not satisfy?

What should I do?

Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good.  

Delight yourself in abundance.  

Incline your ear and come to Me.  

Listen, that you may live!  

I will make an everlasting covenant with you, 

according to the faithful mercies shown to David.

Isaiah 55:1-3

Isaiah 55:10-13

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, 

And do not return there without wateringthe earth 

And making it bear and sprout, 

And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;

So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; 

It will not return to Me empty, 

Without accomplishingwhat I desire, 

And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

For you will go out with joy 

And be led forth with peace; 

The mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, 

And all the trees of the field will clap their hands.

Instead of the thorn bush the cypress will come up,

 And instead of the nettle the myrtle will come up, 

And it will be a memorial to the LORD, 

For an everlasting sign which will not be cut off.