1 Ho, euery one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money: come ye, buy and eate, yea come, buy wine and milke without money, and without price.
2 Wherefore doe yee spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently vnto me, and eate ye that which is good, and let your soule delight it selfe in fatnesse.
3 Incline your eare, and come vnto me: heare, and your soule shall liue, and I will make an euerlasting couenant with you, euen the sure mercies of Dauid.
4 Behold, I haue giuen him for a witnesse to the people, a leader and commander to the people.
5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee, shall runne vnto thee, because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel, for he hath glorified thee.
6 ¶ Seeke ye the Lord, while he may be found, call ye vpon him while he is neere.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, & the vnrighteous man his thoughts: and let him returne vnto the Lord, and he will haue mercie vpon him, and to our God, for hee will abundantly pardon.
8 ¶ For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your wayes my wayes, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heauens are higher then the earth, so are my wayes higher then your wayes, and my thoughts then your thouhts.
10 For as the raine commeth down, and the snow from heauen, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring foorth and bud, that it may giue seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word bee that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not returne vnto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
12 For ye shall goe out with ioy, and bee led foorth with peace: the mountaines and the hilles shall breake forth before you into singing, and al the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 In stead of the thorne shall come vp the Firre tree, and in stead of the brier shall come vp the Myrtle tree, and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an euerlasting signe that shall not bee cut off.
An invitation to receive freely the blessings of the Saviour. (1-5) Gracious offers of pardon and peace. (6-13)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, #Re 22:17|. Our Saviour referred to this, #Joh 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, #1Pe 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.
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 the mind of men, which neither rain nor snow can make on the earth. It shall not return to the Lord without producing important effects. If we take a special view of the church, we shall find what great things God has done, and will do for it. The Jews shall come to their own land; this shall represent the blessings promised. Gospel grace will make a great change in men. Delivered from the wrath to come, the converted sinner finds peace in his conscience; and love constrains him to devote himself to the service of his Redeemer. Instead of being profane, contentious, selfish, or sensual, behold him patient, humble, kind, and peaceable. The hope of helping in such a work should urge us to spread the gospel of salvation. And do thou help us, O Spirit of all truth, to have such views of the fulness, freeness, and greatness of the rich mercy in Christ, as may remove from us all narrow views of sovereign grace.
Commentary by Matthew Henry, 1710.