Isaiah Chapter Fifty-Five Commentary

Contents

I. Introduction

Our purpose is to render a commentary on Isaiah chapter fifty-five. Isaiah’s prophetic ministry was to Judah (and beyond!), and began in the year king Uzziah died (740 BC, Isa 6:1); it lasted through the reigns of Jotham (c. 742-735 BC-W.F. Albright), Ahaz (c. 735-715 BC-W.F. Albright), and Hezekiah (c. 715-686 BC-E. Thiele) (Isa 1:1), all kings of Judah. It is thought that he died a martyr’s death sometime during the reign of Manasseh (c. 687-642 BC-W.F. Albright) | (Dillard 275). This portion of Jehovah God’s holy Word is the last (Henry) of a closely linked three chapter sequence in the works of Isaiah, God’s holy prophet, that begins with chapter fifty-three, which prophesies of the humiliation and exaltation of our great savior God Jesus Christ (”Isaiah Chapter Fifty-three Commentary”), and moves prophetically to the humiliation and exaltation of our Savior’s Bride, the Christian Church, in chapter fifty-four (“Isaiah Chapter Fifty-four Commentary;” see also “Psalm Two Commentary” and the Messianic Kingdom), and ends with our prophetic passages here in Isaiah chapter fifty-five concerning the manifestation of Gospel Grace; the manifestation of Gospel Grace owing to the dove-tailing of the Godhead’s labors prophesied of in chapters fifty-three and fifty-four [1].

We will follow this format:

Verse of Scripture utilizing the YLT text followed by an NASB mouseover of that verse. Key words in the YLT text will be footnoted with a link to a word study based on the Hebrew text, and/or a general discussion relative to the given word.
Commentary We shall be commenting on this passage keeping before us at all times the crucial fact that every jot and every tittle comprising these verses came forth under the inspiration of the blessed Holy Spirit. We pray that He, by His grace, helps us along the way.

II. Isaiah Chapter Fifty-five Commentary Verses

55:1-2 The Best Things Are Free

YLT TEXT: Ho, every thirsty one, come ye to the waters, And he who hath no money, Come ye, buy and eat, yea, come, buy Without money and without price, wine and milk. Why do ye weigh money for that which is not bread? And your labour for that which is not for satiety? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat good, And your soul doth delight itself in fatness. Isa 55:1-2

COMMENTARY: So thirsty, but poor. So needful, but broke. Thus were we once without, apart from, Jehovah God. Notwithstanding, He beckoned (“A Letter of Invitation”): “…come ye to the waters, And he who hath no money, Come ye, buy and eat, yea, come, buy Without money and without price, wine and milk…” And thus coming, just coming, to the Waters, we received freely, Grace; God’s grace, even wine and milk—here are the best things; eternally joyful, eternally sustaining things; O my, such weighty, gracious things (Zec 14:8, Jhn 4:10, 6:35, 7:37, Rev 7:17, 22:17); a Jubilee, a Fount, indeed, a Jubilee Fount (“Jesus Our Jubilee”), ever within. Here is Salvation (life eternal in the presence of Jehovah God). Praised and thanked be our great God for this Grace.

What could compare to such grace; to its inherent bliss (the wine metaphor-Jubilee), to its nourishing substance (the milk metaphor-Fount)? The prophet must ask the question in order by contrast to awaken the intellect, the senses: “…Why do ye weigh money for that which is not bread? And your labour for that which is not satiety?…” (cf. Jer 2:13). Catch the irony: the best, that which satiates, and nourishes, that which causes the face (soul) to shine (wine-Jubilee), and supports Life (milk-Fount) is free, but that which cannot satisfy, nor support Life, actually exacts a Cost! If we may transition to the spirit of this chapter, namely, Gospel Grace, ex post facto in force in our day owing to the Cross, one can appreciate immediately the implicit guidance in Isaiah’s (the Holy Spirit’s) question: the Holy Spirit, He gives Life (wine and milk), and the words of Jesus Christ lead to, nay, are, this Life; the flesh, the pursuits of the flesh, profit one nothing (Jhn 6:63, “Life Is He”); after all, what precisely is Satiety? Is it not Salvation? Amen. Here then, through Jesus (Act 4:12), is the Gospel Grace presaged in these verses, themselves so lovingly laden with Gospel Grace-metaphor: “…Hearken diligently unto me, and eat good, And your soul doth delight itself in fatness…” (Jhn 6:33). Indeed, hearken, as unto thine own pulse (Psa 81:13), and eat (Job 23:12, Psa 34:8, Jer 15:16, Eze 2:8, 3:1-3, Jhn 6:53, Rev 10:9-10); ingest, metabolize, own, over by the Waters, this good news, this Grace, this great savior God Jesus, and O dear friends we shall never thirst nor need again. How can this be free?! There was once a Calvary… (“Holy Week”).

55:3-4 Like Unto My Everlasting Covenant With David Thus Steadfastly Shall I Love Thee

YLT TEXT: Incline your ear, and come unto me, Hear, and your soul doth live, And I make for you a covenant age-during, The kind acts of David — that are stedfast. Lo, a witness to peoples I have given him, A leader and commander to peoples. Isa 55:3-4

COMMENTARY: Again God beckons (“A Letter of Invitation”): “…Incline your ear, and come unto me…” Here is portrayed one’s posture when coming to the Waters; when approaching God—it is as with neck outstretched, even heavenward, toward Him, with ears aback; it is a posture of attentive listening, thus best suited to hear God. And what does it mean to hear Him in this context? It is naturally connected to the previous verses: “…Ho, every thirsty one, come ye to the waters, And he who hath no money, Come ye, buy and eat, yea, come, buy Without money and without price, wine and milk….” It is to come to the Waters cognizant of one’s poverty (“The Beatitudes: The Poor in Spirit”), grateful of God’s Grace, and to taste, to partake of His wine and milk. It is now to internalize and then summarily to externalize His Gospel Grace. Thus and thus only shall one’s soul live: “…Hear, and your soul doth live…”, for contingent on that approach, that hearkening embrace, God binds Himself with a covenantal oath, the same upon which He purposed to show Himself faithful beforetimes, even today, to His servant David (2Sa 7:12-13, Psa 89:3-4, 20-24, 28-29, 34): “… And I make for you a covenant age-during, The kind acts of David — that are stedfast….” This covenant stands firm, as evidenced: “… Lo, a witness to peoples I have given him…” still today in David [2]. Notice that God’s covenantal mercy and grace to David is materially borne out by David’s conquests: “…A leader and commander to peoples….”, and is spiritually borne out by Messiah Jesus, the very Son of God (Mar 14:61-62), the Son of David (Jer 33:15, Mat 1:1-6, Mat 9:27, Mat 21:9, Luk 1:32). Were our God’s promises to David to fail, His promises to us would be as chaff; but just look about and see that God’s promises to David are alive and well even today, and so they shall be steadfast until our great savior God returns for His Beloved. Dearest reader, have you ever wondered why it is that little (but not so little) Israel has survived all these centuries since David despite the meanest, most impossible of circumstances pressing and kicking her oftentimes (Isa 55:3-4)? And friend if you are a Christian, yea, one who has come to the Waters and supped, lift up your eyes, for thus steadfastly the God of Israel loves you and I (Deu 7:7-9, Psa 103:17, Isa 54:8, Jer 31:3), and preserves us whole and holy for Himself, for His glory (as intercessor: Isa 53:12, Hbr 7:24-25, 1Jo 2:1, et al., as high priest: Psa 110:4, Hbr 2:17, 3:1, 4:14, 5:8-10, et al., at the right hand of Father God: Mar 16:19, Act 7:55, Hbr 1:2-3, 8:1). Indeed, let us lift up our eyes because the end of these verses has in view Jehovah God’s everlasting New Covenant with us (1Cr 11:23-26); and here specifically is Gospel Grace. Praised be the God of Israel, even Jehovah God.

55:5 Unto the Ends of the Earth Shall the Word of this Gospel Grace Flow

YLT TEXT: Lo, a nation thou knowest not, thou callest [ 3], And a nation who know thee not unto thee do run [4], For the sake of Jehovah thy God, And for the Holy One of Israel, Because He hath beautified thee. Isa 55:5

COMMENTARY: Here probably is presaged the great commission (Mat 28:19-20): “… Lo, a nation thou knowest not, thou callest And a nation who know thee not unto thee do run, For the sake of Jehovah thy God, And for the Holy One of Israel…” If there be Gospel Grace (amen), it is necessary that there be vehicles by which it is shown to be available over by the Waters; that there be vehicles by which it reach “whoever” (Jhn 3:16) might wish to partake thereof (Isa 52:7, Nah 1:15, Mal 2:7, Luk 10:2, Rom 10:13-15, Fig. 1). Here specifically “whoever” refers to the Gentiles (Act 13:46): “…”a nation thou knowest not, thou callest…” And as we know, the Gentiles flocked to this grace; this Gospel Grace, for therein they found finally their beloved God, Jehovah God: “… And a nation who know thee not unto thee do run, For the sake of Jehovah thy God, And for the Holy One of Israel…” Here is Christendom. This, once-removed, can be none other than the glorified Jesus Christ who thus calls by way of His laborers: “…Because He hath beautified thee…” This would be consistent with the great commission premise that is supposed to be presaged by these verses.

55:6-7 Manifestly Penitent Over By the Waters

YLT TEXT: Seek ye Jehovah, while He is found, Call ye Him, while He is near, Forsake doth the wicked his way, And the man of iniquity his thoughts, And he returneth to Jehovah, and He pitieth him, And unto our God for He multiplieth to pardon. Isa 55:6-7

COMMENTARY: Generally in the passages above, and we suppose specifically just before in verse five, it was Jehovah God who called: “… Lo, a nation thou knowest not, thou callest…”, etc., and here just next, on the heels of that, one is counseled to show oneself available to that call; to make a return call of sorts if you will: “… Seek ye Jehovah, while He is found, Call ye Him, while He is near…” A return call—how so? What does God hear in that regard? Repentance. And pronto: “… Seek ye Jehovah, while He is found, Call ye Him, while He is near…” Imminently one calls to God in repentance. Repentance seems to be the watchword: “… Forsake doth the wicked his way, And the man of iniquity his thoughts…” Notice: The call of the Gospel, when heard; when imminently and sincerely ingested and internalized, evinces repentance (here is a litmus test if you will…). And repentance shows the canker sore healing. The medicine of the Gospel is that it first exposes and isolates the canker (Sin—manifold enmity toward God) to “whoever,” and second that by evincing repentance it heals said canker by surgically removing it from “whoever” and casting it upon the great Physician, yea Surgeon (Isa 53:4-5, Mar 2:17, Luk 4:23). Moreover, the Gospel shows that forgiveness (=healing): “…He pitieth him, And unto our God for He multiplieth to pardon…” is consequential to repentance (=surgery): “…And he returneth to Jehovah…” Thus is healed the ruptured fellowship between God and “whoever.” Thence in its place Salvation, life eternal in the presence of Jehovah God, may flourish. Thus is manifested the Grace inherent in the Gospel. The Gospel is Grace in that it is inherently Salvation for “whoever” partakes thereof over by the Waters (=comes to God in repentance through the Savior Jesus Christ).

55:8-11 My Word Turneth Not Back Unto Me Empty Saith Jehovah

YLT TEXT: For not My thoughts [are] your thoughts, Nor your ways My ways, — an affirmation of Jehovah, For high have the heavens been above the earth, So high have been My ways above your ways, And My thoughts above your thoughts. For, as come down doth the shower, And the snow from the heavens, And thither returneth not, But hath watered the earth, And hath caused it to yield, and to spring up, And hath given seed to the sower, and bread to the eater, So is My word that goeth out of My mouth, It turneth not back unto Me empty, But hath done that which I desired, And prosperously effected that [for] which I sent it. Isa 55:8-11

COMMENTARY: Here, in the spirit of the Gospel Grace theme of this chapter, we think is Jehovah God anticipating His Condescension (incarnation, crucifixion) on behalf of fallen humankind. Fallen; persistently His enemy by choice, and no less collaborators with His archenemy Satan, and thus we see God comparatively declaring a priori His infinitely higher essence than fallen humankind, for we shall see as these verses unfold this excellent essence in His loving purposes for, yea, even us, at His own expense.

It is not hard to see here God’s declaration of His omniscience. No other creature in the universe (in the created order) has higher thoughts than humankind, because humankind was created in the image of God. Still, God not only declares: “…an affirmation of Jehovah…” His thoughts to be higher than humankind’s thoughts, but infinitely higher. This makes God the Supreme Thinker. It only follows that God here declares His omniscience, because only Omniscience, no less, has infinitely higher thoughts than humankind, who is otherwise the supreme thinker [5].

But there is another aspect to God’s thoughts that bespeaks not so much about knowing and its attendant reasoning as it does about Motivation. God’s thoughts are motivated by grace, and lovingkindness, and mercy, and, peace, and sacrifice, and truth, and so forth. And naturally God’s thoughts resonate with His ways (Name), which are gracious, and loving, and merciful, and peaceful, and sacrificial, and truthful, and so forth (“O, That Name!”). God’s thoughts are holy (set way high apart over against everything else), as are His ways holy (set way high apart over against everything else); this holy essence of God is revealed by that which motivates God over against that which motivates everything else (and the Word benchmarks these metrics). God declares further that humankind does not have it in themselves to be like Him, for the essence-chasm (thoughts and ways) between He and us is infinite (in this way God is sanctified, set apart, or holy): “… For not My thoughts [are] your thoughts, Nor your ways My ways, — an affirmation of Jehovah, For high have the heavens been above the earth, So high have been My ways above your ways, And My thoughts above your thoughts…” Thus far removed from the divine essence (its Thought, Ways) is humankind (compare the perpetual lie—it comes consistently in various guises: Genesis 3:2-5—here is the Edenic fellowship lost [Death], a loss that purposed the Edenic fellowship to be regained—divine Redemption [Life; see “Children of the Resurrection”], which Redemption bespeaks of high, holy thoughts and ways). Therefore down comes God—here is Condescension; down, down He comes. He comes Himself to bridge said chasm, for only He can lift fallen humankind up, up to His lofty thoughts and ways. How so? It is naturally by His Word that He does this (“Be Holy”): “…For, as come down doth the shower, And the snow from the heavens, And thither returneth not, But hath watered the earth, And hath caused it to yield, and to spring up, And hath given seed to the sower, and bread to the eater, So is My word that goeth out of My mouth, It turneth not back unto Me empty, But hath done that which I desired, And prosperously effected that [for] which I sent it… [red font added]” [6]. In this way we come full circle back to Gospel Grace, for we see the Word in the Gospel (“John Chapter One Commentary”); the Gospel is the Word. And what of it, for our part? Is not the Gospel a beckoning? (“A Letter of Invitation”): “… Ho, every thirsty one, come ye to the waters, And he who hath no money, Come ye, buy and eat, yea, come, buy Without money and without price, wine and milk. Why do ye weigh money for that which is not bread? And your labour for that which is not for satiety? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat good, And your soul doth delight itself in fatness…” Yea, hearken unto that Word and eat of it—here is Redemption unto Salvation; here is “whoever” over by the Waters, Word-watered, yielding seed, springing up, in turn giving bread to eaters. It is Gospel Grace over by the Waters for “whoever” freely partakes thereof (Jhn 3:16). And so God emphatically says of the Word: “…It turneth not back unto Me empty, But hath done that which I desired, And prosperously effected that [for] which I sent it…” Notice: so is the Gospel—it prosperously effects that for which God sent it, even for penitent “whoevers” if you will, freely partaking thereof over by the Waters: “…Hearken diligently unto me, and eat good, And your soul doth delight itself in fatness…” The Purpose, the Motivation: “…But hath done that which I desired…”, that sets God so vastly apart, has in view, delights in, a soul, whoever, eating good, and delighting themselves in fatness, in the best things—here is Salvation. O, is this not ever so lofty, and set way high apart? Amen. Father God thou art holy, and we love thee and thank thee for effecting this our eternal Blessedness at such great cost to thyself, when we fallen deserve ever so much less.

55:12-13 Delight in Fatness, the Best Things, Ye Saints

YLT TEXT: For with joy ye go forth, And with peace ye are brought in, The mountains and the hills Break forth before you with singing, And all trees of the field clap the hand. Instead of the thorn come up doth fir, Instead of the brier come up doth myrtle, And it hath been to Jehovah for a name, For a sign age-during — it is not cut off! Isa 55:12-13

COMMENTARY: O how the Creation, we, and it, does groan under the Curse (Gen 3:17-19, Rom 8:18-23). But no more; no more groaning, no more Curse, because our Father God was motivated to put an end to it (even at its inception Gen 3:15); He was motivated to prosperously effect for the Creation, and for us, by the Word of His mouth, through our great savior God, a blessed Redemption, a Restoration, even the end of the Curse, the fruits of which are Life characterized by joy (Psa 16:8-11, 43:4, 92:4), and peace (Psa 4:8, 119:165, Rom 5:1, Gal 5:22-23, Eph 2:13-17, Phl 4:6-7), in every conceivable way for whosoever wills the same: “… For with joy ye go forth, And with peace ye are brought in…” Here is Gospel Grace manifested. And with our Redemption, by this Grace, comes the restoration of the Creation: “…The mountains and the hills Break forth before you with singing, And all trees of the field clap the hand. Instead of the thorn come up doth fir, Instead of the brier come up doth myrtle…”, for the Creation, our home and environs, was cursed along with us when we fell [7].

It is by His sovereign power, and in keeping with His boundless love, that Jehovah God has effected this gracious Redemption; this gracious Restoration. We—“whosoever will,” indeed, His Redeemed, His Saints, are an eternal: “…it is not cutoff!” testimony to this power and love; we, through the filial blessings that accrue to us as redeemed sons and daughters of God, are an eternal testimony to the high and lofty thoughts and ways of God that give expression to who He is; we are an eternal testimony to the high and lofty thoughts and ways of God that are tantamount to His Name: “…And it hath been to Jehovah for a name, For a sign age-during—it is not cut off!…” Yea, this surpassing Name is spelled-out by the blood-ink strokes that comprise the Gospel of Grace, of which freely we partook over by the Waters.