Isaiah 55:10

Isaiah 55:10 says, For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:  God said that when the rain and snow came down that they didn’t do so without a purpose.  They fell to water the earth that it might bring forth fruit and vegetables to provide fruit for people to eat.  At times, we may wish it wouldn’t rain because it spoils our plans, but when we see the devastation that drought can bring on crops that we depend on for food, we realize how important rain is. 

Verse eleven adds, So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.  God said that just as the rain and snow fulfilled their purpose of watering the earth so that crops might grow, so His word when it went out of His mouth would not return to Him void.  He said that His word would accomplish what He sent it forth to do.  This does not mean that everyone will do what God calls them to do, but that His word will force people to make a choice.  They either respond to His call or reject it, but His word does not fail in either case.  It is still the truth, even if everyone rejects it.  Since God gives people free-will, His word can only go forth to call us to repentance, but it will never make us repent. 

Verse twelve continues, For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.  God said when people accepted His call to salvation that they would go out with joy and peace, and the hills would break out with singing and the trees would clap their hands if the people didn’t.  As followers of Christ, we are to be a joyous people who are spiritually at peace and we should be singing praises to God wherever we go. 

Verse thirteen concludes, Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.  Isaiah said that there was going to be a time when good things came Israel’s way instead of the bad that they had been experiencing.  Fir trees were going to replace thorns and myrtle trees were going to replace briars.  Matthew Henry says this means the replacement of the evil nature of people with a good nature once they accepted the gospel and put their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord.  God said this was an everlasting sign that those who put their faith in Jesus Christ would never be cut off.  This is still His promise to us today.