Isaiah 55:4

Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. BEHOLD, I HAVE GIVEN HIM - the mystical David (Ezekiel 37:24; Jeremiah 30:9; Hosea 3:5). Given by God (Isaiah 49:6). FOR A WITNESS TO THE PEOPLE - Hebrew, peoples. He bore witness even unto death for God, to His law, His claims, and His plan of redeeming love (John 18:37; Revelation 1:5, "the Faithful Witnes...

4._Behold, I have given him a witness to the peoples. _The Prophet now explains more fully the reason why he mentioned “David.” It was because into his hand had been committed the promise of a Redeemer that was to come, and this discourse might be expressed with a view to his public character, so far as he was the surety of the covenant; for he did not act for himself individually, but was appointed to be a sort of mediator between God and the people. Yet it is beyond all doubt that the Prophet leads them directly to Christ, to whom the transition from David was easy and natural; as if he had said, “That successor of David shall come forth, by whose hand perfect salvation and happiness hath been promised.” By calling him “a witness,” he means that the covenant into which he entered shall be ratified and confirmed in Christ. There is a weighty meaning in the word “witness;” for he clearly...

1-5 All are welcome to the blessings of salvation, to whom those blessings are welcome. In Christ there is enough for all, and enough for each. Those satisfied with the world, that see no need of Christ, do not thirst. They are in no uneasiness about their souls: but where God gives grace, he gives a thirst after it; and where he has given a thirst after it, he will give it. Come to Christ, for he is the Fountain opened, he is the Rock smitten. Come to holy ordinances, to the streams that make glad the city of our God. Come to the healing waters, come to the living waters, Revelation 22:17. Our Saviour referred to this, John 7:37. Come, and buy; make it your own by application of the grace of the gospel to yourselves. Come, and eat; make it still more your own, and enjoy it. The world comes short of our expectat...

BEHOLD, I HAVE GIVEN HIM - This is evidently the language of God respecting the Messiah, or of David as representing the Messiah. Rosenmuller supposes that the name David here is used to designate the Messiah, and in support of this appeals to Ezekiel 34:23; Ezekiel 37:24; Jeremiah 30:9; Hosea 3:5. An examination of these passages will show that they all refer to the Messiah by the name of David; and it is morally certain that in the passage before us, the name David Isaiah 55:3 suggested the Messiah. It seems to me that thi

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 ...

BEHOLD, I HAVE GIVEN HIM FOR A WITNESS TO THE PEOPLE,.... That is, the Messiah, as Aben Ezra, Kimchi, and Ben Melech rightly interpret it. This respects an act past in eternity, in God's eternal purposes and decrees, when he appointed Christ to the office of a Mediator; and this was an act of his grace, a free gift of his, flowing from his love to his people, both Jews and Gentiles, even all his elect, to whom Christ is a "witness", both of his father and of himself: of his father, of his good will to men, in forming the scheme of their salvation; of his love to sinners, in the mission of him; of his justice and holiness, which appear in his being the propitiation for sin; of his truth in his promises; of his whole mind and will, with respect to doctrine and worship: he is a witness of himself; of his deity and perfections; of his divine and eternal sonship; of his existence before his i...

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. But, mark, there is no gain for him: the gain is for ourselves, for he saith, «He that hath no money, buy wine and milk without money and without price.» All that you want, dear friend, God is ready to give you. Do you w

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

THE GLORIOUS BLESSINGS OF THE NEW COVENANT WHICH YAHWEH WILL MAKE WITH HIS PEOPLE. Yahweh bids the thirsty come to the waters, the hungry to eat. Their life is now a constant striving issuing only in disillusion; but listening to His call they shall, without effort or cost, enjoy the utmost blessing (fat or oil was considered a great delicacy). He will grant (as a condescension, not make as on equal terms) His people a covenant, transferring to them the sure promises of loving-kindness which He made to David. Even as once by crowning his career with success He made David an evidence to the nations of His power and their suzerain, Yahweh will now prosper Zion so that nations as yet unknown shall obey her call, seek union with her, beholding the wonderful blessings wherewith Yahweh honours her....

HIM. MESSIAH: not David, but David's Son and David's Lord. PEOPLE. peoples....