Isaiah 55:7

Isaiah 55:7

I. Look, first, at the Counsellor. (1) He who speaks to the wicked man, and to the unrighteous man, is He who made all things. The Father of the wicked is here speaking to the wicked. (2) He who speaks knows every wicked man and unrighteous man. (3) He who speaks hates evil. (4) He who speaks has power to destroy the wicked in hell. (5) It is the redeeming God who here addresses the wicked man.

II. Look, secondly, at His counsel. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him come back. The advice requires (1) self-inspection; (2) the admission of truth as to the character of the way, and as to the nature of the thoughts; (3) the resistance of an inclination to go on; (4) submission to the conviction that the way is evil, and the abandonment of every unrighteous purpose, with actual departure from the path of open and actual transgression; (5) appeal to God's mercy, and for help and reconciliation.

III. The counselled. The wicked and the unrighteous man. God has singled out particularly three classes: (1) the thirsty; (2) the impoverished; (3) the disappointed.

IV. The promise. "He will abundantly pardon." (1) The promise is conditional, yet it is sure. (2) The promise is made to characters. There is, therefore, an indefiniteness which may well encourage us. I may address these words to every wicked man, no matter what his wickedness consists of; and to every unrighteous man, no matter what his evil purposes may be.

S. Martin, Westminster Chapel Pulpit,2nd series, No. 16.

References: Isaiah 55:7. Preacher's Monthly,vol. v., p. 40; Spurgeon, My Sermon Notes: Ecclesiastes to Malachi,pp. 256, 259; Ibid., Sermons,vol. xx., No. 1195; G. Brooks, Outlines of Sermons,p. 141; D. L. Moody, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xx., p. 341.Isaiah 55:8. Clergyman's Magazine,vol. xii., p. 23;W. M. Taylor, Old Testament Outlines,p. 231.