Isaiah 55 - Introduction

The prophet, with the promise of Christ, calleth to repentance, and to faith. The happy state of them that believe.

Before Christ 719.

THE fourth section in this chapter contains, first, a general invitation to all people, without distinction, desirous of embracing the true religion, freely to participate of the blessings of grace, procured by the sufferings of the Messiah, Isaiah 55:1. Secondly, a particular application to the Jews, and to those among them who were slow of heart; whom the prophetic chorus, in the words of God, first exhorts to faith by a reason drawn from the excellence of the kingdom of God, and the privileges of it here promised to them; Isaiah 55:3 and from the example and emulation of the Gentiles, and their adherence to the church, for whom God had appointed the Messiah as their teacher, Isaiah 55:4 and who had gratefully and willingly received him, to the glory of God by the church, Isaiah 55:5. Secondly, he exhorts them to repentance from their vices and sins, the certain hope of pardon being given to all so disposed, Isaiah 55:6. Thirdly, he obviates a doubt, which the prejudices of the Jewish nation encouraged, namely, that it could never be, that the Gentiles should obtain that place in the kingdom of God, which they thought due to themselves: wherefore he first extols and illustrates the depth of the divine counsel, which had provided that the Messiah should not want the fruit of his obedience and passion in respect to the Gospel-dispensation through the incredulity of the Jewish nation, as the Gospel, through divine grace, would make a remarkable, and at last, universal progress among the Gentiles, Isaiah 55:8. Secondly, he relates the execution of this design, the Gentiles applauding it; with the remarkable effects of the divine grace among them, Isaiah 55:12.