Isaiah 55:10

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: FOR AS THE RAIN COMETH DOWN ... AND RETURNETH NOT THERE, BUT WATERETH THE EARTH. The hearts of men, once barren of spirituality, shall be made, by the outpouring of the Spirit under Messiah, to bear fruits of righteousness (; ; ; ). AND THE SNOW FROM HEAVEN - which covers plants from frost in winter, and, when melted in spring, waters the earth. AND RETURNETH NOT THERE - void, as in...

10._Surely, as the rain cometh down. _After having spoken of God’s tender affection and inconceivable forbearance towards us, he again brings forward the promises, that, by relying on them, we may banish all doubt of being free from every danger. It would be of little avail to speak to us about the nature or the secret purpose of God, if we were not reminded of “the word,” by which he reveals himself. Now, God speaks openly to us, so that it is unnecessary to make longer inquiry. We must therefore come to the word, in which his will is declared without obscurity, provided that all our senses are confined within those limits; for otherwise we remain in suspense, and doubt what he has determined concerning us, even though the Lord declare a thousand times that he is altogether unlike men; for, although men acknowledge this, yet they wish to be certain about themselves and their salvation....

6-13 Here is a gracious offer of pardon, and peace, and of all happiness. It shall not be in vain to seek God, now his word is calling to us, and his Spirit is striving with us. But there is a day coming when he will not be found. There may come such a time in this life; it is certain that at death and judgment the door will be shut. There must be not only a change of the way, but a change of the mind. We must alter our judgments about persons and things. It is not enough to break off from evil practices, we must strive against evil thoughts. To repent is to return to our Lord, against whom we have rebelled. If we do so, God will multiply to pardon, as we have multiplied to offend. But let none trifle with this plenteous mercy, or use it as an occasion to sin. Men's thoughts concerning sin, Christ, and holiness, concerning this world and the other, vastly differ from God's; but in nothi...

FOR AS THE RAIN COMETH DOWN - The meaning of this verse and the following is plain. This refers evidently, as the whole passage does, to the times which should succeed the coming of the Messiah. The hearts of people by nature are what the earth would be without the rains of heaven - barren and sterile. But God says that his truth shall certainly accomplish an effect similar to that produced by descending showers. The rain never descends in vain. It makes the earth fertile, beautiful, and lovely. So would it be with his truth in the moral world. The comparison of truth with descending rain or dews is exceedingly beautiful, and occurs not unfrequently in the Bible. See Deuteronomy 32:2 - My doctrine shall drop as the rain, My speech shall dist

EXPOSITION ISAIAH 55:1 AN EXHORTATION TO SPIRITUALITY AND REPENTANCE. The prophet passes from the ideal to the actual, from the glorious future to the unsatisfactory present. The people are not ripe for the blessings of the Messianic kingdom—they do not sufficiently value them. Hence a tender exhortation is addressed to them by God himself, inviting them to become more spiritually minded (Isaiah 55:1), and fresh promises are held out to the obedient (Isaiah 55:3). The disobedient are then somewhat sternly exhorted to turn from their evil ways and repent ...

FOR AS THE RAIN COMETH DOWN, AND THE SNOW FROM HEAVEN, AND RETURNETH NOT THITHER,.... Rain and snow come down from the clouds in the heavens, and do not return again until they have done what they are sent to do, or have produced the following effects; otherwise they may be exhaled into vapours, as they often are, and drawn up again by the sun: BUT WATERETH THE EARTH, AND MAKETH IT BRING FORTH AND BUD; or, "inebriateth the earth" n; soaks into it, and reaches the seed that is sown in it, and causes that to spring up, and rise into stalk and ear: THAT IT MAY GIVE SEED TO THE SOWER AND BREAD TO THE EATER; produce a sufficiency for food both for man and beast, and enough for seed to sow the ground with the following year. n כי אם הרוה את ארץ εως αν μεθυση την γην, Sept.; "sed inebriats" Pagninus, Junius Tremellius "quin imo inebriavit terram", Montanus....

It is the language of infinite mercy, speaking to the abject condition of mankind. We have become naked, and poor and miserable through sin, and God, instead of driving us from his presence, comes loaded with mercy, and thus he speaks to us. Isaiah 55:1. _Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price._ See the freeness of divine love! See how God, who knows the wants of souls, provides all things needful for them water the water of life, and as if that were not enough, the wine of joy, the milk of satisfaction, and he offers these freely. Yea, he stands like the salesman crying in the market, and cries, «Ho! ho! every one that thirsteth!» But, mark, there is no gain for him: the gain is for ourselves; for he saith, «He that hath no money, buy wine and mil

CHAPTER 55 SALVATION'S OFFER AND PROVISION 1. _The invitation to everyone and the promise (Isaiah 55:1) _ 2. _The sure mercies of David (Isaiah 55:3) _ 3. _The exhortation to seek and to forsake (Isaiah 55:6) _ 4. _God's thoughts and God's ways (Isaiah 55:8) _ 5. _The joy, peace and glory of the future (Isaiah 55:12) _ The scope and application of this chapter must not be limited. While Israel eventually will break forth in singing as the result of believing on Him, whom they once despised, the invitation to a free and full

SEEK YAHWEH, FOR THE GREAT DELIVERANCE IS AT HAND. Let the exiles seek Yahweh, for the time is at hand. His plans for His people reach beyond their own as far as the heavens are exalted above the earth. Even as the rain and snow descend and do not return, but make the earth fruitful, so Yahweh's promise, that has gone forth from His lips, shall be accomplished without fail. (An utterance was looked upon by the Hebrews almost as a personal power fulfilling itself.) He will lead forth the rejoicing exiles, mountains and trees shall rejoice aloud as the happy procession passes. The thorn-bush and the brier (?) or nettle (?) shall give place to the fir and the myrtle, an everlasting memorial of Yahweh's gracious deliverance....

AS. according as. HEAVEN. the heavens. BUT. except it: i.e. until it. Note that the four succeeding tenses are _pasts,_ and in the _singular_ number. The waters _do_ return, as stated in other scriptures (Psalms 135:7; Jeremiah 10:13; Jeremiah 51:16)....