Chapter 55
An invitation to receive freely the blessings of the Saviour. (Is. 55:1-5) Gracious offers of
pardon and peace. (Is. 55:6-13)
Is. 55:1-5 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, Rev. 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 expectations; we promise ourselves, at least, water in it, and we are
disappointed; but Christ outdoes our expectations. We come to him, and we find wine and milk.
The gifts offered to us are such as no price can be set upon. The things offered are already paid for;
for Christ purchased them at the full price of his own blood, I Pet. 1:19. Our wants are beyond
number, and we have nothing to supply them; if Christ and heaven are ours, we see ourselves for
ever indebted to free grace. Hearken diligently; let the proud heart stoop; not only come, but accept
God's offers. All the wealth and pleasure in the world, will not yield solid comfort and content to
the soul. They do not satisfy even the appetites of the body; for all is vanity and vexation. Let the
disappointments we meet with in the world, help to drive us to Christ, and to seek for satisfaction
in him only. Then, and not before, we shall find rest for our souls. Hear, and your soul shall live.
On what easy terms is happiness offered us! By the sure mercies of David, we are to understand
the Messiah. All his mercies are covenant mercies; they are purchased by him, they are promised
in him, and out of his hand they are dispensed to us. We know not how to find the way to the waters,
but Christ is given to be a Leader, a Commander, to show us what to do, and enable us to do it. Our
business is to obey him, and follow him. And there is no coming to the Father but by him. He is
the Holy One of Israel, true to his promises; and he has promised to glorify Christ, by giving him
the heathen for his inheritance.
Is. 55:6-13 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 nothing more than in the matter of pardon. We forgive, and cannot forget;
but when God forgives sin, he remembers it no more. The power of his word in the kingdoms of
providence and grace, is as certain as in that of nature. Sacred truth produces a spiritual change in