Sermon for the 10th Sunday after Pentecost, 2026,
from Isaiah 55:1-5
Pastor Peter Ziebell
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
The text for our sermon today is Isaiah 55:1-5, our Old Testament Reading read before.
1“Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has 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 labour for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
3Incline your ear, and come to me;
hear, that your soul may live;
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.
4Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander for the peoples.
5Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,
and a nation that did not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel,
for he has glorified you.”
Lord God, heavenly Father, sanctify us through Your truth, Your Word is truth. Amen.
Dear friends in Christ,
Australia is an arid continent, recognised as the driest inhabited landmass on Earth. Approximately 70% of the Australian mainland consists of arid, semi-arid, or desert regions characterised by minimal annual rainfall. It is often remarked that Australian farmers are among the best in the world because they have to deal with diverse climatic conditions, including droughts and floods. In the commercial sector, escalating operational expenses pose significant challenges, particularly in light of the trend of relocating manufacturing industries overseas to benefit from lower employment costs. Furthermore, in the political realm, well, let’s just say it takes ‘all sorts.’ Over the years, we have had good governments with good leaders and less effective ones. Nonetheless, whether one is a farmer, entrepreneur, politician, or a member of any other profession, complete satisfaction and happiness are seldom achieved.
It’s no wonder, really, because a truly satisfied life isn’t something we can find through earthly things like clever investments, hard work, government programs, science, medicine, higher wages, environmental efforts, or new possessions like a house or car. The real key to genuine satisfaction comes from God’s grace through faith in the Saviour—that’s the only way.
People often say that the best things in life are free, and today, God gently reminds us of this truth through Isaiah. He invites us: “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” These words point to spiritual blessings, which are more valuable than anything material, as shown in the next verse where the Lord asks, “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.” The imagery of ‘water, wine, and milk’ beautifully symbolises blessings that nourish the soul—because our soul is the most precious part of us, far more significant than our physical body. Jesus emphasises this when He asks, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26). The apostle Paul also reassures us with these uplifting words: “Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16), and he finds joy in this profound truth.
This invitation from God is addressed to everyone who thirsts, to every human who desperately needs His blessings, not just to His Old Testament people. Just as Jesus invited “all you who are weary and burdened” (Matthew 11:28), so the Lord God invites “Everyone who thirsts.”
Sin and death make us weary of life here and thirsty for God’s blessings. This is a spiritual thirst, as Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matt. 5:6). The waters offered are the waters of eternal life through Christ. When Jesus spoke to the woman at the well in Samaria, He said, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:13-14). This is the water that satisfies. It satisfies the soul-longing of a sinner who knows he is unworthy of God’s goodness, heaven, and every blessing, whose sins trouble his conscience, and who feels spiritually dry, empty, and troubled. The water is the water of the Gospel, the good news of forgiveness from God in heaven, forgiveness earned for us by our Saviour, who felt our sins for us and suffered on the cross, saying “I thirst,” with a thirst such as the world has never known since.
This good news of the Gospel is lively and satisfying in our hearts, always refreshing and giving peace and calm. Remember those words David wrote in Psalm 23, “He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul” (v. 2).
The same is true of the wine and milk the Lord graciously offers to us. Just as water—the simplest and most essential element for life—is given freely, so too does God have the very best and finest for us, perfectly meeting our spiritual needs—and our physical needs as well. Wine and milk are delightful—they taste wonderful, fill us with contentment, and bring joy. They were cherished in Old Testament times, appreciated deeply. But the real point is that God’s blessings are never limited; instead, He is rich and abundant in His generosity. We can see this not only in the physical world, where the Lord blesses us with more than just the basics—layering in many luxuries that delight our senses of sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch—but also in the beauty around us: the delicious food, the fragrant flowers, and the colourful, vibrant world. Everything is filled with His goodness and beauty. Still, all of these earthly delights would hold little meaning if our spirits remained empty and starving. Above all, God offers true satisfaction for our spirits—the deep comfort of knowing we are accepted, loved, and forgiven because of His grace, as His beloved children.
But there is no satisfaction for anyone who does not thirst for these things. Those who think they have no guilt; those who don’t care what God thinks of their lives; those who suppose God will overlook their wicked deeds and reward them for their good deeds; those who think they do well enough on their own to earn God’s blessings and eternal life; as well as those who doubt that God is good or that He even exists—for them there is no satisfaction in store, but only a terrible disappointment and dissatisfaction.
This is what people today are suffering from. The world is full of dissatisfied people who are disenchanted with life. They don’t know what it is all supposed to mean. Where is purpose in life? Why can’t life be full of happiness, contentment, and peace? Why must there be strife, poverty, sickness, and death? “If God is so good,” they say, “why can’t we see His goodness?” The only answer we can give is that their eyes are blinded by looking for the wrong things and striving for them.
Sadly, many sincere believers spend their lives trying to do good so that God will love and reward them. They are like the Jews whom Paul said in Romans, “For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (10:3-4).
No! God says, “he who has no money, come, buy and eat!” There is no price or conditions attached. Remember, there’s nothing you need to do, say, or pay to gain heaven. Though there was a price, it’s already been paid by our Saviour, who obeyed the Commandments on our behalf and suffered innocently for our disobedience. Here, God reminds us that His obedience is a gift freely given. He offers it to us without asking for anything in return—no money, no good works. Heaven is truly ours—purchased and paid for by Jesus Christ. All we have to do is want it, confess that we cannot earn it ourselves, and accept His grace.
God says, “Incline your ear, and come to Me; hear, that your soul may live; and I shall make with you an everlasting covenant, My steadfast, sure love for David. 4 Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.”
“Just listen,” He says. “Listen to My words. Listen to My forgiving message of peace for you, and simply by hearing and believing it, your soul will live. I shall make with you an everlasting covenant.” God has made a solemn promise that will last through all eternity, and He will never go back on it. The mercy, the peace, the comfort, the satisfying water of life is not just for a while. When you have drunk it, you will never thirst again, for you have the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, and He has received you as His own. He will hold, shield, shelter and nourish you. You will have such bliss in heaven that you cannot even imagine it now. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Cor. 2:9). God offers you the same steadfast, sure love that He had for David. This love shows forth in the mercies promised to David in the promise of the Messiah, His Son, who is also the new and true David, the eternal King and Shepherd of your souls. He has been given as a witness to the people, a preacher of salvation and of God’s grace, and He still preaches to you through the words of His apostles. He is the faithful witness who is both God and man, and with His words tells you of heavenly things, since He Himself is in heaven. He is also “a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples.” He is our one Lawgiver and Ruler.
All the commandments in the Bible are His loving guidelines for us, designed to protect us from harm and to bring Him glory as we follow them. He’s not a harsh ruler but a gracious one who loves us dearly, having obeyed these commands Himself and even dying for us so we can enjoy everlasting life without any burdens or conditions. Instead of resisting or resenting His commandments, let’s gladly obey them for His sake, knowing He has given us this gift. Without a wise leader and guide, we would drift back into our old, sinful ways, but God, in His endless love, has given us Jesus to lead, rule, and keep us safe in His eternal kingdom. When we follow and obey Him in faith, we shall find a deep sense of joy and fulfilment that the world simply cannot offer. In fact, our lives will become a shining example that others may envy.
Finally, Isaiah writes, “Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you.”
These words were, of course, first written to the Jews. The Lord promised that they would not all perish, but a remnant of them should be renewed and live before God, to be missionaries to the world. Those first Jewish disciples were the beginning of the Church, who went out to call all nations to repentance.
Through the Gospel, all nations learn that God has sent His Son, the world’s Saviour, to be born King of the Jews. He has glorified us by forgiving our sins, making us righteous in His sight, and dwelling within us. He renews us through faith—through His Word, the free and precious water of Baptism, and the bread and wine of the Holy Supper, which are the body and blood of Christ. The holy Christian Church shines brightly in the world because it possesses these wonderful gifts that no other can offer. What greater glory on earth could there be than to be called children of God and heirs of the Most High, to receive forgiveness through the Word and Sacraments, and to have eternal life? Surely, there is nothing more satisfying! Amen.
The peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.