The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 319

El POSITION. and house to house (eh. v. 8). They did OHAPTER LV. not care for spiritual blessings, mnch Ieee Vere. 1-7.-AN ElUIOBTATION TO BJ CBI· "hunger a.nd thirst" after them. That which satisfleth not. Worldly things ca.n never 'l'VALITY AND REPENTANOE. The proi)het satisfy the heart, not even the bee.rt of the 1.»ses from the ideal to the actual, fror 1 the worldly. " What fruit ba.d ye then in those glorious future to the unsatisfactory prusent. things," sa.ys St. Paul, "whereof ye are now The people are not ripe for the blessi1 gs of ashamed?" (Rom. vi. 21 ). Hearken dili- the Messianic kingdom-they do not suffi- gently unto me; rather, hearken, oh, heark-!n unto me. The phrase is one of earnest ex- ciently value them. Hence a tender « x.hor- hortation. It implies the strong disinclina- ta.tion is addressed to them by God bi.nself, tion of Israel to listen, and seeks to over- inviting them to become more spirit,1ally come it (compare the opening worwi of the minded (vers. 1-3), and fresh promises are next verse). Let your soul delight itsel! in held out to the obedient (vers. 3-5). 'i'he fatness ( comp. Ps. xxxvi. 8; !xiii. 5; and eh. xxv. 6). The spiritual blessings of the disobedient are then somewhat sternly ux- Messianic kingdom are richer dainties than horted to tum from theix evil ways and any that this world bas to offer. The soul repent (vers. 6, 7). that obtains them " delights" in them, and Ver. 1.-Xo, every one that thirsteth . is satisfied with them (Ps. xvii. 15). Though the mass are gross and carnally Ver. 3.-Come unto me (comp. ver. 1, minded, there will ever be some who have "Come ye to the waters"). God dispenses higher aspirations-who "hunger o.nd thifl!t the waters (see eh. xliv. 3). I will make an after righteousness" (Matt. v. 6), and desixe everlasting oovenant with yon. That the spiritual blessings. These are invited, first " everlasting covenant" once made between of all, to come and partake of the good things God and man bad been broken by man, a.nd provided for them in Messiah's kingdom. by Israel especially, is a part of the teaching Come ye to the waters (on the spiritual contained in the earlier portion of Isaiah symbolism of water, see the homiletics on ( eh. xxiv. 5). We find the same 9-'lserted in oh. xliv. 3, 4). Here the "peace" and the prophecies of his contemporary, Hosea "righteousness'' of the Meesianio kingdom (vi. 7). It would natumlly follow from (eh. liv. 13, 14) are especially intended. this that, unless God gave up man olto- Our Lord's cry on the last day of the Feast gether, he would enter into n new covenant of Tabernacles (,John vii. 7) is clearly an with him. Accordingly, this new covenant eobo of this. Wine a.nd milk, These are is announced, both in Hosea (ii. 18-20) and not symbols of tempor11.l blessings, as many in the later ch1<pters of Isaiah, repeatedly have thought. "Wine, water, and milk are," (eh. xiii. 6; xlix. 8; liv. 10; Iv. 3; lvi. 4, as Delitzsch says, "figurative representa- 6; !ix. 21; l:d. 8). Having been thus set tions of spiritual revival, re-orel\tion, and before the nation, it is further enlarged upon nourishment." Without money and without by Jeremiah (xxxi. 31-33; xxxii. 40; I. 5) prioe. God's spiritual gifts are freely given anti Ezekiel (xvi. 60-62; xxxiv. 25; xxxvii. to men; they cannot be purchased. Being 26-28). Almost all commentators allow in theix own nature " more precious than that the Christian covenant is intended- rubies," their value transcends human means that "new covenant" (Heh. ix. 15) under of payment. They cannot even be earned which man obtains pardon and salvation by man's best works; for man's best works through the Mediutorship of Christ. Even a.re comprised in his duty to God, and have, the sure meroies of David. The "sure mer- therefore, no purchasing power. Got! muy cies of Dovitl" are the loving and merciful choose to reward them; but if he doee it is proruisl's which God made to him. These of his free grace. iucl uded the promise thot the Messiah Ver. 2.-Wberefore do ye spend money1 should come of his seed, and sit on his literally, whe:refore do ye weigh silver f - throne, and establish an everlasting king- Bilver being the ordiuary currency, und dom (Pa. lxxxix. 2-5, 19-37), and triumph money tra.neootions, in default of a. coinage, over death and hell (Ps. xvi. 9, 10), and give being by weight ( cf. Gen. :I.Xiii. 16; Zech. pee.oe and happiness to Ismel (Pa. cxxxii. m. 12). lor that which is not bread; i.e. 15-18). The promises made to David, "for that which has no real value-which rightly understood, involve all the essentioJ. cannot sustain you, ,.hioh will do you no points of the Ohristia.n covenant. good." The affections of the great mass of Ver. 4.-Behold, I have given him for a the Israelites were set on worldly things, on witness. By ordinary rules of grammar, the enriohing themselves-adding field to field, pronoun" him" should refer w llivid; and  330 THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. [OH. LV, 1-13,