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Isaiah 55:1-13
(Isaiah 55:1-5)
(Isaiah 55:1-9)
(Isaiah 55:1-11)
(Isaiah 55:10-13)
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• Reading the Text:
  • NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
  • Hebrew Interlinear Bible, WLCv, WLC5, CHES, AV.
  • The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
  • The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Hebrew text with concordance, commentaries.
  • The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
• Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
  • Chapter XII, Chapter XIV, Dialogue With Trypho, Justin Martyr. (c 160)
  • II.XIII.3, Adversus Haereses, Irenaeus of Lyons. (c. 180)
  • Chapter VIII, Chapter XIII, Adversus Judaeos, Tertullian (c. 198)
  • Chapter X, Exhortation to the Greeks, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • I.1, Stromata, Clement of Alexandria (c 200)
  • III.20, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 209)
  • IV.1, Against Marcion, Tertullian (c. 210)
  • Rashi's Commentary, c. 1075. chabad.org.
  • From the Geneva Notes.
    • "Christ by proposing his graces and gifts to his Church, exempts the hypocrites who are full with their imagined works, and the Epicureans who are full with their worldly lusts, and so do not thirst after these waters."
  • From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
    • "Here is a gracious offer of pardon, and peace, and of all happiness. It shall not be in vain to seek God, now his word is calling to us, and his Spirit is striving with us. But there is a day coming when he will not be found. There may come such a time in this life; it is certain that at death and judgment the door will be shut."
  • From Wesley's Notes.
    • "Thirsteth - For the grace of God and the blessings of the gospel. This thirst implies a vehement, and active, and restless desire after it."
  • From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
    • "We are bought, but not with a price paid by ourselves. In a different sense we are to "buy" salvation, namely, by parting with everything which comes between us and Christ who has bought it for us and by making it our own."
  • "The Need and Nature of Conversion; Isaiah 55:7," Charles H. Spurgeon, 1902.
• Contemporary Commentary, Studies and Exegesis:
  • The Truett Pulpit, Stephen B. Reid, 2016.
  • Commentary, Isaiah 55:1-9, W. Dennis Tucker, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2016.
    • "Lent is an invitation and a reminder that this surprising work of God is open to us all -- wicked and unrighteous alike -- if we will return to the God who abundantly pardons..."
  • "A Covenant of Neighborly Justice: Break the Chains of Quid Pro Quo," Walter Brueggemann, ON Scripture, 2016.
  • "A Plain Account"Stephen P. Riley, 2016.
    • "The text opens with an invitation to all who are thirsty to come and ends with a reminder that God's ways are higher than our own."
  • The Center for Excellence in Preaching, Doug Bratt, resources from Calvin Theological Seminary: Comments & Observations, Textual Points, Illustration Ideas, 2016.
  • Pulpit Fiction, podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2016.
  • Commentary, Isaiah 55:1-5 Samuel Giere, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2014.
    • "God's outrageous abundance, the center of the everlasting covenant, spills out of any boundary that anyone might place upon it..."
  • "God's Promised Word and the Dispossessed," Rick Fry, 2014.
  • "The Politics of God's Plenty," Alastair Roberts, Political Theology Today, 2014.
  • Commentary, Isaiah 55:1-5 (Pentecost 7), Brent A. Strawn, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2011.
    • "So, back to the beginning: "Hey, you! Come buy and eat!  No money necessary!"
  • Commentary, Isaiah 55:10-13 (Pentecost 9), Juliana Claassens, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008.
    • "The job description of the prophet contains among other less than coveted tasks the ability to speak a life-giving word of hope when all the events seem to point to the contrary."
  • Isaiah 55:10-13 (Pentecost 8), Isaiah 55:1-5 (Pentecost 11), Studies on Old Testament texts from Series A, Ralph W. Klein, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
  • "God Works!" (Sunday 15A) Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Lectionary Resource for Catholics.
    • "When was the last time God worked in your life? How did he act? How did he raise your hopes?"
  • "Isaiah 55:1-13," exegetical notes by Peter L. Haynes, Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren, Glen Arm, Maryland.
    • "Originally addressed to those who have been torn from their homeland and forced to live in exile in Babylon, this "word" is still alive and active for any exile who longs for home, for those who hunger and thirst for righteousness..."
  • Are You Thirsty? Then, Come: God’s Gracious Covenant of Life in Isaiah 55, by Greg Herrick at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
    • "But what about when calamity strikes and its our fault, because of our own sin? Does God abandon us? Does he wait for us to get out of it and “cleaned up” before he will help?"
  • Commentary, Isaiah 55:1-5 (Pentecost 12), Juliana Claassens, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2008.
    • "Nothing in life is free. Particularly if one has grown accustomed to the harsh policies of the empire that is set to exploit the peasants by means of heavy taxation."
  • "My Ways Are Not Thy Ways," sermon discussion from Frederick Buechner, Frederick Buechner Blog.
    • "Think of it, Antonio--this thing I've been dreaming about come true at last. I threw out the life-line, and the one caught it was Herman Redpath in all his wealth and power. And now the lock-up. But my ways are not thy ways, saith the Lord. Antonio, you take a man's been in prison a couple years, and he's ready for Jesus like he's never been ready any place else."
  • Commentary, Isaiah 55:1-9 (Lent 3C), Patricia Tull, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2013.
    • "What would happen if we were to take seriously the graceful cornucopia of this passage, offering nutritional gifts not just for ourselves, but for all for whom God cares?"
  • "Rich Food for Lent," Katie Munnik, Presbyterian Record, 2013.
    • "It is a good season to wonder together about food."
  • "The Gospel According to Isaiah," John C. Holbert, Opening the Old Testament, 2013.
    • "The context of Isaiah 55 is crucial. We are at the very end of the long Israelite exile in Babylon. Many, if not most, of these exiles have been born in the foreign place, having only heard about the old land of promise and its capital, Jerusalem..."
  • "A Drop in Your Cup," Beth Scibienski, A Thousand Words of Inspiration, 2013.
    • "The difficult part is to discern which part of the agenda is ours and which is God's."
  • Radical Gratitude, lectionary-based stewardship, Northwest United Methodist Foundation. (.pdf)
  • Commentary, Isaiah 55:1-9 (Lent 3C), W. Dennis Tucker, Jr., Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2010.
    • "In some sense, Lent is an invitation to thirst."
  • Isaiah 55:1-9, Lent 3C, Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
  • Isaiah 55, Commentary, Background, Insights from Literary Structure, Theological Message, Ways to Present the Text. Anna Grant-Henderson, Uniting Church in Australia.
  • Isaiah 55:1-9 (10-13), The Old Testament Readings: Weekly Comments on the Revised Common Lectionary, Theological Hall of the Uniting Church, Melbourne, Australia.
    • "All that one needs to accept the invitation is a thirst."
  • Isaiah 55:1-9 (Lent 3), Studies on Old Testament texts from Series C, Ralph W. Klein, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
  • Kairos CoMotion Lectionary Discussion, Isaiah 55:1-9, Wesley White. "A place of conversation regarding Progressive Christianity."
    • "In just how much of the image of G*D are we made? Are we partners with G*D or just associates? Co-creators? Just how much higher are G*D's ways and thoughts than our own?"
  • "Yahweh's Invitation," Larry Broding's Word-Sunday.Com: A Lectionary Resource for Catholics.
    • "When and where has God invited you to a closer walk? How does his invitation to "eat and drink without cost" appeal to you? How can you renew a relationship with him?"
• Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
  • Akinade, Akintunde E., "On Sacred Trust: Covenant from an African Perspective," The Living Pulpit, 2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Bloomer, Nancy, "Starting Over," The Living Pulpit, 2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Boyce, Richard N., "Expository Article, Isaiah 55:6-13," Interpretation, 1990.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Brenner, Daniel S., "Late-Night Covenants: A Jewish Perspective on Sinai and Study," The Living Pulpit, 2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Gentry, Peter John, "Rethinking the 'Sure Mercies of David' in Isaiah 55:3," Westminster Theological Journal, 2007.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Kaiser, Walter C., Jr., "The Unfailing Kindnesses Promised to David: Isaiah 55.3," Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 1989.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Korpel, Marjo C.A., "Metphors in Isaiah 55," Vetus Testamentum, 1996.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Lamborn, Amy Bentley, "Covenant Signs Abound," The Living Pulpit, 2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Paganini, Simone, "Who Speaks in Isaiah 55.1? Notes on the Communicative Structure of Isaiah 55," Journal for the Study of the Old Testament, 2005.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Polan, Gregory J., "Preaching at the Easter Vigil: The Paschal Mystery in the Old Testament Texts,"  Liturgical Ministry, 2004. (Section on this text begins on page 157.)
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Sanders, James A., "Expository Article: Isaiah 55:1-9," Interpretation, 1978.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
  • Steinke, Peter L., "Free Meal," The Christian Century, 2007.
      EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
      EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
• Sermons:
• With Children:
  • Worshiping with Children, Lent 3C, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2016.
  • "Storypath Lectionary Links: Connecting Children's Literature with our Faith Story," 2016, Union Presbyterian Seminary.
  • "And All the Trees of the Field Shall Clap their Hands," Sunday School Lessons: Family Bible Study, art projects, music, stories, etc.
• Drama:
  • "Money Can't Buy..." Andre Harden, dramatix.
• Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
  • Clip Art, Isaiah 55:7, Isaiah 55:8, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators.
• Hymns and Music:
  • "God, You Call Us to the Waters." Text: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, Tune: W ZLOBIE LEZY 4.4.7.4.4.7.4.4.4.4.7 ("Infant Holy, Infant Lowly"). A new hymn based on Isaiah 55:1-9 and Psalm 63:1-8 was written for The Presbyterian Outlook magazine for Lent 2016 and available with the music.
  • 'All You Who Thirst, Gather Here at the Waters,' Text: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, Tune: O QUANTA QUALIA 11.11.11.11 ("God of Compassion, in Mercy Befriend Us"). A new hymn based on Isaiah 55 was written for The Presbyterian Outlook magazine for Lent 2013 and available with the music.
  • Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
  • Isaiah 55:6-11 set to music (BLAENHAFREN) by Rosemary Beales, student of Dr. Stephen L. Cook, Virginia Theological Seminary.
  • At Oremus Hymnal:
    • From all the wind's wide quarters
    • Glorious things of thee are spoken
    • I heard the voice of Jesus say
    • I'll praise my Maker while I've breath
    • I hunger and I thirst
    • Joyful, joyful, we adore thee
    • Let all the world in every corner sing
    • Let us with a gladsome mind
    • My God, how endless is thy love
    • Praise, my soul, the King of heaven
    • Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation
    • Rock of ages, cleft for me
    • Thou hallowed chosen morn of praise
    • We would extol thee, ever-blessed Lord
    • What wondrous love is this
    • Word of God, come down on earth
  • Hymns with Scripture Allusions: Isaiah 55:1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8. The Cyber Hymnal.
  • "God Loves the World," Brenton Prigge, NewHymn, a new, relevant hymn set to traditional tunes.
• Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
  • Isaiah
• Study Links and Resources for the Book of Isaiah

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