Isaiah Chapter 55
Isaiah 55, An Invitation to Receive the Glory of the LORD’s Restoration
Isaiah 55 follows the suffering of the Servant in Isaiah 53 and the restoration of Israel in Isaiah 54. The order is important. Because the Servant has borne sin, because He has made His soul an offering for sin, because He has justified many, and because the covenant of peace rests upon His finished work, the Lord now gives a wide invitation. The thirsty are invited to come. The poor are invited to buy without money. The wicked are invited to forsake their way. The unrighteous man is called to forsake his thoughts. The Lord promises mercy, abundant pardon, the sure mercies of David, the success of His Word, and the joy of restoration.
Isaiah 55:1-2
Isaiah 55:1-2, KJV, “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.”
The chapter opens with the urgent cry, “Ho.” This is the sound of a public invitation. The Lord is not whispering. He is calling loudly to sinners, the needy, the thirsty, the poor, the dissatisfied, and the empty. This is the gospel note of grace. God calls men who cannot pay to come and receive what only He can give.
The invitation is to “every one that thirsteth.” The Lord does not invite those who think they are full. He invites the thirsty. Spiritual thirst is the awareness of need. A man must know he is dry before he will come to the waters. The self satisfied man will not come. The thirsty man hears the invitation as life.
Jesus used the same language.
John 7:37-38, KJV, “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”
Christ is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s invitation. The thirsty must come to Him and drink.
The Lord says, “he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat.” This sounds contradictory at first. How can a man buy without money? The answer is grace. The blessings of salvation are received freely, not purchased by human merit. The sinner comes empty handed. He brings no payment, no righteousness, no bargaining power, no spiritual wealth. He receives because God gives.
The invitation includes “wine and milk without money and without price.” Water speaks of life and refreshment. Wine speaks of joy. Milk speaks of nourishment. The Lord provides life, joy, and nourishment freely. Grace is not merely the doorway into salvation, while growth must be purchased later by human effort. The whole Christian life is grace. Salvation is grace. Sanctification is grace. Strength is grace. Fruitfulness is grace.
John 6:35, KJV, “And Jesus said unto them, I am bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”
Christ satisfies hunger and thirst in a way the world never can.
The Lord then asks a searching question, “Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not?” Men spend life, labor, money, attention, emotion, and strength on things that cannot satisfy the soul. Sin promises bread but gives stones. The world promises fullness but produces emptiness. Idols demand payment and never satisfy. The Lord gives freely and truly satisfies.
The command is, “hearken diligently unto me.” The invitation is free, but it must be received by hearing, faith, and response. The soul that will be satisfied must listen carefully to God. Casual hearing will not do. Distracted religion will not do. The Lord calls men to attend to His Word.
He then says, “eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.” The soul must feed on what God gives. It is not enough to be near truth. It must be received, believed, and enjoyed. God offers abundance, but the heart must not cling to the empty food of the world.
Isaiah 55:3-5
Isaiah 55:3-5, KJV, “Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make everlasting covenant with you, even sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given him for witness to people, leader and commander to people. Behold, thou shalt call nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of LORD thy God, and for Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.”
The Lord continues, “Incline your ear, and come unto me.” Listening to God is not passive. The ear must be inclined. The heart must lean toward the Lord. Many hear outwardly but do not incline the ear inwardly. That is why two people can hear the same truth and one is changed while the other remains untouched.
The promise is, “hear, and your soul shall live.” Life comes through hearing God’s Word with faith. The soul dead in sin needs the voice of God. The same Lord who speaks creation into existence speaks life into dead sinners.
Romans 10:17, KJV, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by word of God.”
Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.
The Lord promises, “I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.” This covenant is everlasting. It is not temporary, fragile, or dependent on man’s strength. The phrase “the sure mercies of David” points to the covenant promises God made concerning David’s house, throne, and kingdom, ultimately fulfilled in the Messiah, the Son of David.
Paul connects this phrase to the resurrection of Christ.
Acts 13:34, KJV, “And as concerning that he raised him up from dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you sure mercies of David.”
The sure mercies of David are secured in the risen Christ. Because Jesus rose from the dead and will never return to corruption, the promises of David are certain.
The Lord says, “Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.” David was a witness, leader, and commander in Israel, but the fullest meaning points to the Messiah. Christ is the faithful witness, the true Leader, and the divine Commander of His people.
Revelation 1:5, KJV, “And from Jesus Christ, who faithful witness, and first begotten of dead, and prince of kings of earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.”
Jesus is the faithful witness and ruler of kings.
The promise then expands to the nations. “Thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee.” The glory of the Lord’s restoration is not confined to Israel alone. The nations are drawn because of the Lord God and the Holy One of Israel. This looks toward the kingdom blessing of Israel and the worldwide drawing of the Gentiles through Messiah.
Isaiah 49:6, KJV, “And he said, It is light thing that thou shouldest my servant to raise up tribes of Jacob, and to restore preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for light to Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto end of earth.”
The Messiah is salvation to the end of the earth. Isaiah 55 continues that invitation.
Isaiah 55:6-7
Isaiah 55:6-7, KJV, “Seek ye LORD while he may found, call ye upon him while he near: Let wicked forsake his way, and unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”
The Lord now adds urgency. “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found.” This does not mean God is weak, hidden, or unwilling to save. It means the opportunity to seek Him must not be presumed upon. When God is near, when conviction is present, when His Word is heard, when the invitation is extended, men must respond.
2 Corinthians 6:2, KJV, “For he saith, I have heard thee in time accepted, and in day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now accepted time; behold, now day of salvation.”
Now is the day of salvation. Delay is dangerous.
The command is also, “call ye upon him while he is near.” Seeking and calling belong together. The sinner must not merely admire truth from a distance. He must call upon the Lord.
Romans 10:13, KJV, “For whosoever shall call upon name of Lord shall saved.”
The Lord then defines repentance. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts.” Repentance is not merely feeling bad. It is turning from one’s own way and returning to the Lord. Sin has a way, a path, a direction. The wicked must forsake that way.
But Isaiah goes deeper. The unrighteous man must forsake “his thoughts.” Sin is not only in outward conduct. It is in the mind, desires, imagination, judgments, motives, and reasoning of the heart. A man’s way must change, and his thoughts must change.
2 Corinthians 10:5, KJV, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to obedience of Christ.”
The mind must be brought under the obedience of Christ.
Romans 12:2, KJV, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
Transformation includes the renewing of the mind.
The promise is glorious, “let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” God does not call sinners back so He can refuse them. He calls them back because He delights in mercy. He does not barely pardon. He abundantly pardons.
This is grace for real sinners. The wicked man may return. The unrighteous man may return. The man whose ways have been evil and whose thoughts have been corrupt may return. The Lord will have mercy.
Micah 7:18-19, KJV, “Who God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by transgression of remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into depths of sea.”
The Lord delights in mercy and casts sins into the depths of the sea.
Isaiah 55:8-9
Isaiah 55:8-9, KJV, “For my thoughts not your thoughts, neither your ways my ways, saith LORD. For as heavens are higher than earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
The Lord now explains why His invitation, mercy, and abundant pardon should be believed. His thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways. Man often thinks forgiveness should be limited, reluctant, earned, or impossible after great sin. God says His thoughts are higher.
This verse is often used generally to describe God’s incomprehensible wisdom, and that is true, but in context it especially magnifies His mercy. The wicked man may think, “God could not pardon me.” The self righteous man may think, “God should not pardon him.” The Lord answers both by saying His thoughts and ways are higher.
God’s way of salvation is higher than man’s way. Man would invent religion by merit, payment, self improvement, ritual, or moral achievement. God gives grace freely through the atoning work of the Servant.
Romans 11:33, KJV, “O depth of riches both of wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”
God’s ways are past finding out, yet He reveals enough for sinners to trust and obey Him.
The distance is compared to the heavens above the earth. God remains God. Man remains man. We cannot master God’s thoughts, but we can trust what He reveals. The purpose of this truth is not to discourage seeking. It humbles us as we seek. We come not as judges over God, but as sinners receiving mercy from the One whose ways are higher than ours.
Isaiah 55:10-11
Isaiah 55:10-11, KJV, “For as rain cometh down, and snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to sower, and bread to eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in thing whereto I sent it.”
The Lord now explains the power and certainty of His Word. Rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return without watering the earth. They make it bring forth and bud. They give seed to the sower and bread to the eater. God’s Word works the same way. It comes from Him and accomplishes His purpose.
The Word of God is not empty speech. It carries divine power. When God sends His Word, it does what He intends. It may soften or harden. It may save or judge. It may comfort or convict. But it never fails.
Hebrews 4:12, KJV, “For word of God quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and joints and marrow, and discerner of thoughts and intents of heart.”
God’s Word is living and powerful.
The Lord says, “it shall not return unto me void.” This does not mean every sermon, lesson, or religious speech automatically bears fruit if it contains a small amount of Bible language. The promise concerns God’s Word as He sends it. The preacher or teacher must actually set forth the Word, not obscure it, dilute it, or replace it with personal opinion. When God’s Word truly goes forth, it accomplishes what He pleases.
The Word gives “seed to the sower, and bread to the eater.” This shows the richness of Scripture. The same Word gives seed for future fruitfulness and bread for present nourishment. It feeds the hungry and equips the laborer. It sustains and multiplies.
2 Timothy 3:16-17, KJV, “All scripture given by inspiration of God, and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That man of God may perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
Scripture is profitable and equips the servant of God for every good work.
The Lord also says His Word “shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” God’s Word does not barely accomplish His purpose. It prospers in it. It is effective, fruitful, and unstoppable because the Lord stands behind it.
Isaiah 55:12-13
Isaiah 55:12-13, KJV, “For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: mountains and hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all trees of field shall clap hands. Instead of thorn shall come up fir tree, and instead of brier shall come up myrtle tree: and it shall be to LORD for name, for everlasting sign that shall not cut off.”
The chapter ends with restoration joy. “For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace.” Those who receive the Lord’s invitation, hear His Word, return to Him, and receive His mercy are not led out in panic or despair. They go out with joy and peace.
This applies to the return from exile, but it also points to the larger restoration of God’s people under Messiah. Redemption produces joy. Reconciliation produces peace.
Romans 5:1-2, KJV, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of glory of God.”
Justification brings peace with God and rejoicing in hope.
Creation itself joins the joy. “The mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.” This poetic language shows that redemption is not merely private. The restoration of God’s people is part of God’s larger purpose to renew creation.
Romans 8:21, KJV, “Because creature itself also shall delivered from bondage of corruption into glorious liberty of children of God.”
Creation itself waits for deliverance connected to the glory of God’s children.
The curse is reversed. “Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree.” Thorns and briers recall the curse of Genesis 3. They are signs of barrenness, frustration, and judgment. The Lord promises useful and beautiful trees in their place. Redemption reverses curse conditions and brings fruitfulness.
Genesis 3:17-18, KJV, “And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat herb of field.”
Isaiah 55 shows the Lord replacing the signs of the curse with signs of restoration.
The final purpose is God’s glory, “it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” Restoration is for the Lord’s name. God saves, pardons, speaks, restores, and renews so that His name is glorified. The work is also secure. It is an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.
Isaiah 55 therefore gives the proper response to the work of the Servant and the restoration of Zion. Come thirsty. Come poor. Come without money. Listen carefully. Incline your ear. Seek the Lord while He may be found. Forsake wicked ways and unrighteous thoughts. Return to the Lord. Trust His abundant pardon. Bow before His higher ways. Believe His powerful Word. Then go out with joy and be led forth with peace.
