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The Tenth Sunday after Pentecost A, August 6, 2023

Advertising tries to convince you to spend the money you have earned with your hard work on the product advertised.  The advertisement places within you a “need”—an anticipation—of having and using the product.  Most often, the reality is that the product falls short of filling the need or living up to the anticipation.

The prophet Isaiah is delivering an invitation from God that is the opposite of all human advertising.  The Lord is NOT trying to convince you to spend your money; there is no price on what the Lord gives you.  The Lord is NOT trying to create a need for something within you; what the Lord is giving will satisfy every need you’ll ever have.  The Lord IS telling you ANTICIPATE!  You should anticipate satisfaction from the Lord.

The thirsty can anticipate waters to quench their thirst beyond all their imagining.  The hungry can anticipate a meal to satisfy their hunger exceeding all other meals.  The poor can anticipate such delight that no amount of riches can acquire.  The Lord says:  “Incline your ear…” (Vs. 3)  Listen to the Word of the Lord so you can hear the promise and by hearing it, live in it.

Living in the promise is what living by faith means.  Living by faith means anticipating the good things the Lord will deliver when Jesus comes in his glory.  To live with anticipation means having hope in this certainty because we will not be disappointed. “Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Ro. 5:5).

Table Talk:  Converse about the power of advertising and compare it with the power of God’s Word.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, hold us in the promise.  Amen

Isaiah 55:1-5

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.
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
3 Incline 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.
4 Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander for the peoples.
5 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.