Read & explore together
Invitation to the Needy
Isaiah 55:1-13 is a broad invitation from Yahweh. It calls needy people to come, listen, seek, and return. The passage also explains why this call can be trusted: Yahweh’s thoughts are higher, and his word achieves his purpose.
Understanding the passage
The setting of this message
This passage is prophecy and teaching spoken in direct calls and promises from Yahweh. It uses pictures of water, food, rain, plants, joy, and peace. The movement is from invitation, to mercy and turning back, to confidence that Yahweh’s word will do what he sends it to do.
Isaiah 55:1–13Main takeaway
This passage teaches that Yahweh calls needy people to come to him, turn from wickedness, and trust that his word accomplishes his purpose.
Explore the message
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Come and receive what truly satisfiesThe opening call is for everyone who thirsts. Even the one with no money is invited to buy and eat, so the stress is on receiving rather than earning.
Explanation
The opening call is for everyone who thirsts. Even the one with no money is invited to buy and eat, so the stress is on receiving rather than earning. Yahweh contrasts spending on what is not bread with listening to him and delighting in what is good and rich for the soul.
02Hear, live, and receive covenant mercyYahweh says to turn the ear, come, and hear so that the soul may live. He promises an everlasting covenant and the sure mercies of David.
Explanation
Yahweh says to turn the ear, come, and hear so that the soul may live. He promises an everlasting covenant and the sure mercies of David. The passage then speaks of a witness, leader, and commander, and says that nations will run to “you” because Yahweh has glorified “you”.
03Seek Yahweh and return to himThe response is urgent: seek Yahweh while he may be found and call on him while he is near.
Explanation
The response is urgent: seek Yahweh while he may be found and call on him while he is near. The wicked must forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Returning to Yahweh brings mercy, and the text says that God will freely pardon.
04Yahweh’s ways are higher, and his word worksYahweh explains why his call should be trusted. His thoughts and ways are not the same as human thoughts and ways, but are higher, like the heavens above the earth.
Explanation
Yahweh explains why his call should be trusted. His thoughts and ways are not the same as human thoughts and ways, but are higher, like the heavens above the earth. His word is like rain and snow that water the earth and make it fruitful. It does not return void, but accomplishes his purpose.
05Joy, peace, and an enduring signThe closing picture is full of joy and peace. Mountains and hills are described as singing, and trees as clapping their hands.
Explanation
The closing picture is full of joy and peace. Mountains and hills are described as singing, and trees as clapping their hands. Thorn and brier are replaced by cypress and myrtle. This transformed picture makes a name for Yahweh and becomes an everlasting sign that will not be cut off.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What repeated actions does this passage call people to take?
Notice the commands to come, listen, seek, call, forsake, and return, and see how they fit together in the passage’s invitation and warning.
02How does the passage describe the difference between human thinking and Yahweh’s thinking?
Look at the comparison between earth and heavens, and connect it to the call to trust Yahweh’s mercy and purpose.
03What pictures show that Yahweh’s word is effective?
Focus on the image of rain and snow producing growth, then link it to the statement that his word will accomplish what he pleases.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Isaiah 55:1–13
1“Hey! Come, everyone who thirsts, to the waters! Come, he who has no money, buy, and eat! Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which doesn’t satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in richness.
3Turn your ear, and come to me. Hear, and your soul will live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
4Behold, I have given him for a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander to the peoples.
5Behold, you shall call a nation that you don’t know; and a nation that didn’t know you shall run to you, because of Yahweh your God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he has glorified you.”
6Seek Yahweh while he may be found. Call on him while he is near.
7Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to Yahweh, and he will have mercy on him, to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,” says Yahweh.
9“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10For as the rain comes down and the snow from the sky, and doesn’t return there, but waters the earth, and makes it grow and bud, and gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11so is my word that goes out of my mouth: it will not return to me void, but it will accomplish that which I please, and it will prosper in the thing I sent it to do.
12For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace. The mountains and the hills will break out before you into singing; and all the trees of the fields will clap their hands.
13Instead of the thorn the cypress tree will come up; and instead of the brier the myrtle tree will come up. It will make a name for Yahweh, for an everlasting sign that will not be cut off.”