Isaiah 55:1

CHAPTER LV

This chapter first displays the fulness, freeness, excellence,

and everlasting nature of the blessings of the Gospel, and

foretells again the enlargement of Messiah's kingdom, 1-5.

This view leads the prophet to exhort all to seize the precious

opportunity of sharing in such blessings, which were not,

however, to be expected without repentance and reformation,

6, 7.

And as the things now and formerly predicted were so great as

to appear incredible, the prophet points to the omnipotence of

God, who would infallibly accomplish his word, and bring about

those glorious deliverances which he had promised; the happy

effects of which are again set forth by images beautiful and

poetical in the highest degree, 8-13.

NOTES ON CHAP. LV

Verse Isaiah 55:1. Ho, every one that thirsteth] "Water," says Kimchi, "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,' Psalms 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 soul who walks in the Divine teaching, and grows up under it."

Come, buy wine and milk] In ancient times our forefathers used what is now called the old third person singular, ending in eth, for the imperative mood. We have a fine example of His in the first verses of this chapter. I shall present them as they stand in my old MS. Bible: - Alle gee thirstinge cummeth to wateris: and gee that han not sylver, goth forth and bieth, and etith. Cummeth, bieth without silver, and without eny chaungyng, wyn and mylc. Heerith gee, heering me and etith gode thinge, and deliten schal in fattnesse your soule. Bowith in your eie and cummeth to mee, heerith and liven schal your soule. And I shall smyten with gou, everlastynge covenant, the faithful mercies of David.