Isaiah 55:1-5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 55:1-5

Here, I. We are all invited to come and take the benefit of that provision which the grace of God has made for poor souls in the new covenant, of that which is the heritage of the servants of the Lord (Isa. 54:17), and not only their heritage hereafter, but their cup now, Isa. 55:1. Observe, 1. Who are invited: Ho, every one. Not the Jews only, to whom first the word of salvation was sent, but the Gentiles, the poor and the maimed, the halt and the blind, are called to this marriage supper,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 55:1

Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters ,.... These are the words not of the prophet, but of the Lord, as what follows throughout the chapter shows; and are directed to the Gentiles, as Aben Ezra thinks: and indeed their conversion is manifestly spoken of in it; and who, Kimchi says, after the war of Gog and Magog, shall know that the Lord reigns, and shall come and be desirous of learning his judgments and laws. The word "ho" is expressive of calling, as the Jewish commentators... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 55:2

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread ?.... Lavish away time, opportunities, and strength, in reading and hearing false doctrine, which is not bread, but chaff; is not wholesome, does not nourish, but is harmful and destructive; eats as does a canker, instead of feeding and refreshing; such as the vain philosophy of the Gentiles, the traditions of the Jews, and the errors and heresies of false teachers: and your labour for that which satisfieth not ? labouring to seek... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 55:3

Incline your ear, and come unto me ,.... The exhortations are repeated, to show the importance of them, how welcome these persons were to the Lord, and to his house, and his earnest and tender care and concern for them: hear, and your soul shall live ; or, "that your soul may live F6 ותחי "ut vivat", Junius & Tremellius, Vitringa. "; spiritually and eternally. There must be life before hearing; men must be made alive before they can come to Christ spiritually, or hear his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 55:4

Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people ,.... That is, the Messiah, as Aben Ezra, Kimchi, and Ben Melech rightly interpret it. This respects an act past in eternity, in God's eternal purposes and decrees, when he appointed Christ to the office of a Mediator; and this was an act of his grace, a free gift of his, flowing from his love to his people, both Jews and Gentiles, even all his elect, to whom Christ is a "witness", both of his father and of himself: of his father, of his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 55:5

Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not ,.... And even nations, as in the next clause; not all the individuals of them, though the Gospel is sent to all nations; and in the latter day the kingdoms of this world shall be the Lord's, and all nations shall serve him. It denotes a great concourse of people to Christ, even such as were not known by him: he knows all mankind as he is the omniscient God, and especially them that are his, these he has a special and peculiar knowledge... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 55:1

Ho, every one that thirsteth - "Water," says Zimchi, "is a metaphor for the law and wisdom: as the world cannot subsist without water, so it is impossible that it can subsist without wisdom. The law is also compared to wine and milk: to wine because wine rejoiceth the heart, as it is written: 'The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart,' Psalm 19:8 . It is compared also to milk, because milk is the subsistence of the child; so are the words of the law the nourishment of his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 55:2

Wherefore do ye spend - Why should ye be so zealously attached to a doctrine from which your souls derive neither comfort nor nourishment? read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 55:3

I will make an everlasting covenant - Hebrews עולם ברית לכם אכרתה echrethah lachem berith olam , "I will cut the old or everlasting covenant sacrifice with you." That covenant sacrifice which was pointed out of old from the very beginning; and which is to last to the consummation of ages; viz., the Lamb of God that was slain from the foundation of the world. The sure mercies of David - That is, says Kimchi, "The Messiah," called here David; as it is written, "David my servant shall... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 55:1

Ho, every one that thirsteth! Though the mass are gross and carnally minded, there will ever be some who have higher aspirations—who hunger and thirst after righteousness" ( Matthew 5:6 ), and desire spiritual blessings. These are invited, first of all, to come and partake of the good things provided for them in Messiah's kingdom . Come ye to the waters (on the spiritual symbolism of water, see the homiletics on Isaiah 44:3 , Isaiah 44:4 ). Here the "peace" and "righteousness" of the... read more

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