The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 322

HOMILIES BY V.A.RIOUS .AUTHORS. Vere. 1-5.-The Messi,a,nic blessings. I. THE INVITATION. "Ho!" A cry arousing attention (eh. i. 4) or expressing pity (eh. xvii. 12). 1. It is addressed to thirsty ones. The figure occurs in eh. xliv. 3 also. What more powerful figure can there be for desire, e.nd for the pain of unsatisfied desire 1 It is especially Oriental. It brings up the image of the hot, sandy we.ste, and by contrast that of the cool, bubbling fountain. Hunger and thirst are the "eldest of the pa~sions," and it may be added, in a sense, the youngest; for age cannot still them, nor constant satisfaction take off their edge. They are daily, they are recurrent, they a.re the expression of life itself. Hence they may well symbolize the ardent desire for salvation ( cf. John vii. 37 ; Ps. xiii. 2; lxiii. 1; cxliii. 6). And what can better represent salvation than water-the well that springs up into everlasting life? Waters, floods, overflowing streams, or copious showers, are often used to denote abundant blessings from God, especially blessings under the rule of the Messiah (eh. x:u:v. 6; xliii. 20; xliv. 3). 2. It is addressed to e,a,ch and all. The invitation is bounded only by the thirst-the felt need. Not the rich, the noble, the great; not the select and the few; but those who partake of a common want, and are capable of a common satisfaction. "It proves that provision has been made for all. Can God invite to a salvation which has not been provided? Can he ask a man to partake of a banquet which has no existence? Can he ask a man to drink of waters when there are none? Can he tantalize the hopes and mock the miseries of men by inviting them to enter a heaven where they would be unwelcome, or to dwell in mansions which have"'llever been provided?" (cf. Matt. ix. 28; Mark xvi 15; John vii. 37; Rev. xxii. 17). It is addressed especially to the poor. "No man ce.n excuse himself for not being a Christian because he is poor; no man who is rich can boast that he has bought salvation." II. TaE BLESSINGS DESCRIBED. " Buy." The word is properly used of grain. "Its uae here shows that the food referred to can be called equally well 'bread' or• wine and milk,' ,.8. it belongs to the supernatural order of things" (Cheyne). And the buying is to be understood spiritually. The blessings are only to be obtained for " that which is not money and not a price." It is faith, or the hearing of the inner ear (ver. 3), which i s ~ In the wine we may find a 8Jlmbol of glad'IIM, (Judg. ix. 13; 2 Sam, OH, LV, 1-18,] THE BOOB'. OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. 333