The Pulpit Commentary — Isaiah — Volume 2 — Section 330

•ccording to Jewish thought. "Wine," that cheers; "water," that refreshes; "milk," that nourishes. " Buy without money " impresses the worth, as well as the freeness, of the thing obtained. I. THE CRY OF SOULS IS SO VARIED, THEY NEED LARGE AND OOMPBEIIENBIVE INVITA• TIONS. So various, so large, so intense, so immediate, so urgent. 1. Think of the cry vf creation to God, rising day and night for precise blessings, from the world of vecretable and animal life. 2. Then think of the cry of man's bodily nature. How complex are its demands if it is to be kept in vigour I But souls are altocrether more wonderful, more ~ysterious, than bodies~ and body-needs do but suggest a~d illustrate soul-ueeds. What 1s the cry of all souls r What is the cry of some souls? It is impossible to press the cries of souls into any one mould. There is difference between men's cry and women's cry; between the cry of the shallow and of the tboughtfulj; between the cry of the cd ucated and uneducated ; between the cry of the moral and the profligate. And yet there is one word in which the deep want of all men everywhere can be expressed- they want God, though so many do not know his Name, or cannot articulate it. If we carefully distinguish the cries of men, we may say, (1) some cry for light amid the dark perplexities of our time; (2) some for guidance amid difficulties; (3) some for earnest- ness amid frivolities; ( 4) some for pardon under pressure of the sense of sin; (5) some for truth amid the allurements of error; and (6) some for rest from the weariness of toil and failure ; and (7) some for comfort under woes that press heavily. What a cry that must be which enters into the ears of the Lord of sahaoth I ll. No~"'E BUT Goo CAN MAKE INVITATIONS LABGE ENOUGH, AND VARIED ENOUGH, TO MEE"r THE CRIES. The cry for happiness is too big for the world to meet; the cry for truth is beyond all the skill of science to satisfy. "The fountains of this earth are dried, and I am thirsty still." 1. Human conscience cries for p11.rdon. In Christ is proclaimed "forgi vene.ss of sins." 2. Human affect.ion cries for love, It may spend its uLtermost and best on Christ, and be fully satisfied with his response. 3. Human intellect cries for truth. Jesus, by his Spirit, learls into all truth. 4. Human will cries for a supreme authority. And Christ is Lord. For every want we can translate into a cry, Christ is the Supply. For every want we can feel, but cannot translate into a cry, Christ is still the infinitely adapted and all-satisfying Supply.-R. T. Ver. 1.-The thirst of the soul quenched. Compare the assurances and invitations of Christ, in John iv. 13, 14; vi. 35; vii. 37, 38. It is singular to note that the prophet chose a form of speech very common in the East. In Jerusalem the shopkeepers cry to the passers-by, "Ho, every one that hath money, let him oome and buy I" "Ho, such a one, come and buy! " They indeed expect to get full value, though they offer for nothing. God intends a free and sovereigu gift. I. THIRST. A figure for unresting desire, setting us upon pursuit and effort. Thirst- ing differs from hungering in this-the hungering man will quietly lie down and <lie; the thirsting man will spend himself in mad strivings. Illustrate from desert scenes. So thirsting is the more impressive figure of a man's condition. Everybody is eagerly wanting something. Of this there are 1oth painful and pleasing signs. Illu~trate how this thirst takes special religious forms at special times, as in opening youth, seasons of sickness, scenes of reviva~ death of first friend, as in cases of Luther and Norman Macleod. This restless soul-thirsting is (1) man's suffering; (2) man's glory; (3) man's hope. He may satisfy the thirsting, but it would be a sign of soul-death simply to lose it. The thirst of the soul is ever for one satii;i"action-it is thirst for God. IL THIRSTING AGAIN. This is the result of all attempts to quench the thirst of the soul by anything earth can offer. There are lines upon which temporary supplies seem to come. M11.n offers " cups of cold water." 1. Thirst quenched for a time in worldly pleasuce. Illustrate from the familiar picture, 'The Pursuit of Pleasure.' There never were such strivings for sense-gratification as there are now. Life makes a loud noise to drown the soul's cries. 2. Thirst quenched for a time in the externalities of religion. Satiated with pleasure, men sometimes turn to religion. Illustrate from experieuce of Ignatius Loyola. .Also see confidence in holy wells and shrines. There is a fascination at first in ceremoaial religion, but it soon palls. You can soon empty these cups, and \hen there iii nothing for your thirsty soul when you come again. Ill. TBIB8'fl]io NEVERIIOBF. Christ does not destroy the thirsting, but 11<1ts 118 dowp OJI, L"I, 1-13.] THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAtl. 341