Isa 55:1 | JFB | STEP | 1. every one-- After the special privileges of Israel ( ) there follow, as the consequence, the universal invitation to the Gentiles ( ; , ). Ho-- calls the most earnest attention. thirsteth-- has a keen sense of need ( ). waters ... wine and milk-- a gradation. Not merely water, which is needed to maintain life at all, but wine and milk to strengthen, cheer, and nourish; the spiritual blessings of the Gospel are meant ( ; ; ). "Waters," plural, to denote abundance ( ; ). no money-- Yet, in , it is said, "ye spend money." A seeming paradox. Ye are really spiritual bankrupts: but thinking yourselves to have money, namely, a devotion of your own making, ye lavish it on that "which is not bread," that is, on idols, whether literal or spiritual. buy ... without money-- another paradox. We are bought, but not with a price paid by ourselves ( ; , ). In a different sense we are to "buy" salvation, namely, by parting with everything which comes between us and Christ who has bought it for us and by making it our own ( , ; ; ).

‏ Isaiah 55:1

CHAPTER 55 Is 55:1-13. The Call of the Gentile World to Faith the Result of God's Grace to the Jews First.

1. every one--After the special privileges of Israel (Is 54:1-17) there follow, as the consequence, the universal invitation to the Gentiles (Lu 24:47; Ro 11:12, 15).

Ho--calls the most earnest attention.

thirsteth--has a keen sense of need (Mt 5:6).

waters ... wine and milk--a gradation. Not merely water, which is needed to maintain life at all, but wine and milk to strengthen, cheer, and nourish; the spiritual blessings of the Gospel are meant (Is 25:6; So 5:1; Joh 7:37). "Waters," plural, to denote abundance (Is 43:20; 44:3).

no money--Yet, in Is 55:2, it is said, "ye spend money." A seeming paradox. Ye are really spiritual bankrupts: but thinking yourselves to have money, namely, a devotion of your own making, ye lavish it on that "which is not bread," that is, on idols, whether literal or spiritual.

buy ... without money--another paradox. We are bought, but not with a price paid by ourselves (1Co 6:20; 1Pe 1:18, 19). In a different sense we are to "buy" salvation, namely, by parting with everything which comes between us and Christ who has bought it for us and by making it our own (Mt 13:44, 46; Lu 12:33; Re 3:18).