Matthew Henry on Isaiah 55:1-5
Here, I. We are all invited to come and take the benefit of that provision which the grace of God has made for poor souls in the new covenant, of that which is the heritage of the servants of the Lord (Isa 54:17), and not only their heritage hereafter, but their cup now, Isa 55:1. Observe,
1. Who are invited: Ho, every one. Not the Jews only, to whom first the word of salvation was sent, but the Gentiles, the poor and the maimed, the halt and the blind, are called to this marriage supper, whoever can be picked up out of the highways and the hedges. It intimates that in Christ there is enough for all and enough for each, that ministers are to make a general offer of life and salvation to all,…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on Isaiah 55:5
thou--Jehovah addresses Messiah.
call . . . run--God must call, before man can, or will, run (Sol 1:4; Joh 6:44). Not merely come, but run eagerly.
thou knowest not--now as thy people (so in Mat 7:23).
nation . . . nations--gradation; from Israel, one nation, the Gospel spread to many nations, and will do so more fully on Israel's conversion.
knew not thee-- (Isa 52:15; Eph 2:11-12).
because of . . . thy God . . . glorified thee-- (Isa 60:5, Isa 60:9; Zac 8:23); where similar language is directed to Israel, because of the identification of Israel with Messiah, who is the ideal Israel (Mat 2:15; compare with Hos 11:1; see Act 3:13).
Adam Clarke on Isaiah 55:3
I will make an everlasting covenant - Hebrews אכרתה לכם ברית עולם echrethah lachem berith olam, "I will cut the old or everlasting covenant sacrifice with you." That covenant sacrifice which was pointed out of old from the very beginning; and which is to last to the consummation of ages; viz., the Lamb of God that was slain from the foundation of the world.
The sure mercies of David - That is, says Kimchi, "The Messiah," called here David; as it is written, "David my servant shall be a prince over you."
John Gill on Isaiah 55:5
Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not,.... And even nations, as in the next clause; not all the individuals of them, though the Gospel is sent to all nations; and in the latter day the kingdoms of this world shall be the Lord's, and all nations shall serve him. It denotes a great concourse of people to Christ, even such as were not known by him: he knows all mankind as he is the omniscient God, and especially them that are his, these he has a special and peculiar knowledge of; he knows them as his beloved, chosen, and redeemed ones, even before conversion; and yet, in a sense, they are unknown to him before calling; they are not taken notice of by him in an open way; they ar…
