Isaiah 55:1. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters,-
To the waters which flowed from that smitten Rock of which we have been reading.
Isaiah 55:1-3. And he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me:
See, the way of salvation is through Ear-gate. We must hear the gospel, for it is not what we are to do, but what we are to receive that will save us; and we must come to God to hear it before we can receive it. «Faith cometh by hearing.» Give a very earnest ear, then, to the preaching of the gospel of Christ: «Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.» Again the Lord says, «Incline your ear, and come unto me.»
Isaiah 55:3. Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
Says someone, «I can understand God making a covenant with David; but will He make a covenant with me?» Yes, and after the same sure tenor, too: «I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.» God will promise to bless you, and save you, and keep you, and present you in glory in the day of Christ's appearing; and this shall be a covenant which shall never be broken. Though all things else are changed, yet that covenant shall stand secure for ever. It will fill you with joy when you understand that such a covenant as this is made with you; and you will say, as David did, «Although my house be not so with God; yet He hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure.» Oh, what a blessing it is to have a share in this covenant!
Isaiah 55:4. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.
«I have given him;» that is, David's greater Son, the true David, «I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.»
Isaiah 55:5. Behold, thou
That is, Jesus, the Son of David: «Behold, thou»
Isaiah 55:5-7. Shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Oh, that many may put this blessed promise to the proof even now, for Christ's sake! Amen,
This exposition consisted of readings from Isaiah 53:1; and Isaiah 55:1-7.