ISAIAH CHAPTER 55 An invitation to seek for spiritual blessings from Christ, whom the Father sendeth, ISAIAH 55:1; to come to him speedily, and by repentance, ISAIAH 55:6,7. His grace infinite, Isaiah 55:8,9, His word powerful, ISAIAH 55:10,11. The joy of believers, ISAIAH 55:12,13. HO, EVERY ONE; n... [ Continue Reading ]
MONEY; all your time, and strength, and cost in seeking it. FOR THAT WHICH IS NOT BREAD; for those vain or foolish things which can never nourish or satisfy yea, such as worldly goods, or your own inventions, superstitions, and idolatries. HEARKEN DILIGENTLY UNTO ME; unto my doctrine and counsel. EA... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAR; hearken attentively and obediently to my counsel; _hearing_ being oft put for _obeying_, as DEUTERONOMY 18:15 1 SAMUEL 15:22,23 PSA 95:7, &c. YOUR SOUL SHALL LIVE, to wit, comfortably and happily; which only is worthy of the name _of life_. _I will make an everlasting covenant with you_; that... [ Continue Reading ]
I HAVE GIVEN, I have already appointed, and will in due time actually give, HIM; the David last mentioned, even Christ, the Son and successor of David, as is plain and certain from the titles and works ascribed to him in this and the following verse. But of this SEE POOLE ON "ISAIAH 55:3". _For a wi... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU; thou, O Messiah, of whom he now spake, ISAIAH 55:4, and to whom he suddenly turneth his speech, as is very common in the prophets; SHALT CALL A NATION, to wit, unto thyself, and to the knowledge of thyself, as appears from the following words, and by thee unto acquaintance and fellowship With... [ Continue Reading ]
SEEK YE THE LORD: having discoursed of the office and work of Christ, and showed that he should call people and nations to himself, and to God, he now endeavours to persuade the people to hearken to his call, and _to seek the Lord_, i.e. to labour to get the knowledge of God's will, and to obtain hi... [ Continue Reading ]
LET THE WICKED MAN, any wicked man, either Jew or Gentile, _forsake his way_; his evil or wicked way, as is evident from the foregoing word, and as it is more fully expressed, JEREMIAH 18:11, JEREMIAH 25:5; which is called his way, because it is natural, and customary, and dear to him, and in opposi... [ Continue Reading ]
My disposition and carriage is vastly differing from yours. If any man provoke or injure you, especially if he do it greatly, and frequently, and maliciously, you are very slow and backward to forgive him; and if you do or seem to forgive, and promise to forget, and pass it by, yet you retain a secr... [ Continue Reading ]
HIGHER THAN THE EARTH; inexpressibly and infinitely; for the distance between the earth and the highest heavens is unmeasurable by any man upon earth.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SNOW, which in its season contributes to the fruitfulness of the earth as well as the rain. RETURNETH NOT THITHER, to wit, void, or without effect, as it is expressed in the next verse; or immediately; it is not drawn up again as soon as it is come down, but abides for a convenient time upon... [ Continue Reading ]
SO SHALL MY WORD; my promises before recited concerning the sending of the Messiah, and the blessing of his labours with such wonderful success, and concerning the reconciliation and pardon of the greatest sinners, and concerning the redemption and salvation of his people. IT SHALL NOT RETURN UNTO M... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR; or, _Therefore_; because God hath promised it, and therefore will effect it. YE SHALL GO OUT; ye shall be released from the place and state of your bondage. He alludes to their going out of Egypt, which was a type of their succeeding deliverances, and especially of their redemption by Christ fr... [ Continue Reading ]
INSTEAD OF THE THORN SHALL COME UP THE FIR TREE, AND INSTEAD OF THE BRIER SHALL COME UP THE MYRTLE TREE; whereas your land was _filled with thorns and briers_, as was foretold, ISAIAH 7:24, they shall be rooted out, and it shall be planted with fir trees and myrtle trees, and such other trees which... [ Continue Reading ]