Pentecost Season · Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time · Year A
Isaiah 55:1-3
Invitation to the Thirsty
August 2, 2026
Overview & Insights
“Seek the Lord while he may be found, call on him while he is near.” (Isaiah 55:6)
An Invitation to Sing: Once again a return to a focus on Ms Jerusalem follows the servant passage, as happened after 49:1–6 and 50:4–11. There were hints there that Ms Jerusalem’s restoration was the correlate of Ms Babylon’s humiliation in chapter 47. Chapter 54 is the systematic exposition of that theme. The prophet takes up five images of Ms Jerusalem which once again resume the themes of the people’s prayers (we are like a childless and abandoned woman, the victim of angry abuse—literally, we are a battered and insecure city) before coming to a striking conclusion.
From Sermons.com: Join Today to access the most scholarly & well written preaching resources anywhere.
Take it further
Commentary
Working Preacher: Commentary on Isaiah 55:1-5 Working Preacher
A preaching focused reading of the free invitation to the feast.
Enduring Word: Isaiah 55 Enduring Word · David Guzik
Verse by verse evangelical commentary on the chapter.
Bible Hub: Isaiah 55:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Multiple commentators lined up on the call to the waters.
Barnes' Notes on Isaiah 55 StudyLight
A concise older commentary on the chapter.
Brant Pitre on the 18th Sunday Readings (Year A) Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre
A Catholic reading of the free banquet set beside the feeding of the crowd.
Background & Word Study
Questions preachers ask
What does Isaiah 55 invite?
The chapter calls the thirsty to come to the Lord for free grace, and here urges seeking him while he is near, for his thoughts and ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8–9). Mercy is held out to all who turn.
Prep at sermons.com
Ready to write?
- Full sermons on Matthew 14:13-21
- Illustrations cleared for use in worship
- Commentary, quotes, and Bible dictionary
Trusted by pastors since 1995.
Free every Tuesday
Illustrations & Sermon Prep in your inbox
The coming Sunday’s readings, a cleared-for-use illustration, and a sermon-prep head start. One email, free.