You Who Have No Money, Come
Isaiah 55:1-11
Ho, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and you that have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
2Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
3Incline your ear, and come to me;
listen, so that you may live.
I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.
4See, I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander for the peoples.
5See, you shall call nations that you do not know,
and nations that do not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel,
for he has glorified you.
6Seek the Lord while he may be found,
call upon him while he is near;
7let the wicked forsake their way,
and the unrighteous their thoughts;
let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
8For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
9For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
We are now close to the midpoint of our Lenten journey. We began our forty-day observance in the desert with Jesus’ temptation. Last week we saw the tension building as Jesus’ mourned over Jerusalem. Today our texts come as a word of encouragement on our journey—like an oasis in the desert where we can pause and drink and be refreshed from our arduous journey.
You Who Have No Money, Come Isaiah 55:1-9 March 7, 2010
We’ve all been on the receiving end of unsolicited calls that extend a free offer for a credit card or trial subscription to a magazine. “It will cost you nothing” to try it and of course our common sense kicks in and reminds us “nothing is free.” At best we respond to them: “thank you but I’m not interested.” “But wouldn’t you like a chance to win a free trip?” No—thank you. “Are you sure, it won’t cost a thing?” Yes I’m sure—no thanks. There are no free lunches. There is always a catch.
Today, in our text we find the prophet on the other end of the line, and God speaks through the prophet saying to us: Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. This time it is a spiritual invitation and the prophet says—it’s free for the taking. It is a divine offering—yours for the taking. Sometimes—our circumstances in life determine how it is we hear such an invitation.
Picture the prophet in exile in a strange land among his own people who see no future. Every death among them removed them further and further from their glorious past. They were constantly reminded of their own sin that had led them down this path of destruction. Suddenly, a word of hope comes forth from the prophet’s mouth. This is what the Lord your God promises you. I have prepared for you a table, a feast. I lay before you the best of wine and bread. It is yours for the taking. There are no conditions. Your past will be forgotten. My pardon of you is abundant. Whatever thoughts you have about your past or present—forget them—they are not a barrier because my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways…9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Come and eat. Come and drink freely.
These are words for those who are scared in their boots. This is an invitation to those who never thought they would be invited to the party. This is a word for those who always felt left out. This is hope for all who have failed and messed up in their life. It is a promise of divine favor.
For the early Christians, this text would have resonated with their understanding of Jesus and God’s promise of grace. After all, it was Jesus who referred to himself as the source of Living Water and the Bread of Life. Those who come to Jesus will never thirst or hunger again. Every time they would gather at the Table—these words were front and center as they broke bread and shared the cup. They were symbols of joy and promise, redemption and new life. They spoke and we still speak of a God who loves us as his own children.
C.S. Lewis believed that the deepest longings of the human heart are hints and echoes of the same things God desires for us. We long for the very best for our children—so God longs for us. We long for forgiveness in our lives—so God desires to offer it. We long for restoration in broken relationships—so God desires to heal that which is broken. We long to live in peace with our neighbors and the world—so God desires that all of creation live in peace.
Our parched spirits thirst for hope and healing.

