Holy Week · Holy Saturday Fifth Reading · Year C
Isaiah 55:1-11
Invitation to the Thirsty
April 15, 2028
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.
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Commentary
Commentary on Isaiah 55:1-11 Working Preacher
Luther Seminary's Easter Vigil commentary on this exact reading, tying God's word that does not return empty to the promise of resurrection.
Isaiah 55:1-9 Center for Excellence in Preaching
A Reformed preaching commentary reading the invitation to buy food without price as God's free offer of soul-nourishing grace.
Isaiah 55 Commentary: An Invitation to Receive the Glory Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse-by-verse evangelical commentary on the whole chapter, from the free invitation to the sure success of God's word.
Isaiah 55:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Aggregates classic commentators (Barnes, Gill, Matthew Henry, Pulpit) verse by verse for the opening call to the waters.
The Easter Vigil (Year B), Dr. Brant Pitre Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre
A Catholic scholar walks the full sweep of the Vigil's Old Testament readings, including Isaiah 55, within salvation history.
Background & Word Study
Isaiah, Enter the Bible Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary's introduction to the book's structure, authorship, and themes to situate the chapter 55 invitation.
Isaiah 55 (Hebrew and English) Sefaria
The Hebrew text alongside English with Jewish commentary layers for close study of the original wording.
Isaiah 55:1 Interlinear BibleHub
Word-by-word Hebrew with Strong's numbers and parsing for the verbs of invitation and abundance.
The Church Fathers
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.
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