Isaiah 55 explained: A Free Feast and a Sure Promise

Come and eat for free (vv. 1-2)

God calls out like a market seller, but offers water, wine and milk at no cost to anyone who is thirsty. Many scholars think this was first spoken to Jewish exiles in Babylon, asking why they spend money and effort on things that never truly satisfy.

A lasting promise like David's (vv. 3-5)

A covenant is a binding agreement, and God promises the listeners a lasting one rooted in the faithful love once pledged to King David, with distant nations coming to them. Readers differ on who 'him' in verse 4 is: some see the people taking up David's role among the nations, while Christians have long read it as a promised king from David's line, Jesus.

Turn back while he is near (vv. 6-7)

People are urged to seek God now and to leave behind both wrong actions and wrong thinking. The promise is that God will show mercy and forgive generously.

God thinks differently (vv. 8-9)

In context, this explains the generous forgiveness just promised: God does not hold grudges or measure out pardon the way people do. The gap is as wide as the sky is above the earth.

A word like rain (vv. 10-11)

Rain and snow do not go back up without first making crops grow. In the same way, what God says will not fall flat but will do what it was sent to do.

A joyful journey home (vv. 12-13)

This is likely a picture of the exiles leaving Babylon in peace, with mountains singing and trees clapping as they pass. Thorns and weeds give way to evergreen trees and fragrant myrtle, a lasting sign of what God has done.

Key verse: Isaiah 55:1

Where Christians differ

Christians differ on whether the promise to David in verses 3 to 5 speaks directly about Jesus or speaks first about the people of Israel and was only later applied to Jesus.

Something to think about

What have you spent time or money on hoping it would satisfy you, and what has actually left you feeling filled?