Isaias lv.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 1. Waters, which in that country are very scarce. — Milk. Septuagint, “fat.” (Calmet) — In the western Churches, wine and honey were given to the new baptized, chap. vii. 15. (St. Jerome) — Christ invites all to come to him, John iv. 14,. and vii. 37. The establishment of the Church is described under the figure of the return from Babylon. (Calmet) — Grace is offered to all. But only those are justified who thirst, and do their best, Matthew v. 6. (Worthington)
Ver. 3. David. I will be equally faithful to you, Psalm lxxxviii. 29. Septuagint, “the holy things of David faithful,” Acts xiii. 34. The resurrection of Christ fully accomplished the promise made to David.
Ver. 4. Him. David, who continually proclaimed the divine mercies, (Psalm xvii. 1.) or rather Christ; though Grotius alone would refer it to Jeremias. (Calmet)
Ver. 5. Not with approbation. (Haydock) — The Gentiles are converted.
Ver. 6. Near. He will shortly (Calmet) turn to the Gentiles, John xii. 35., and Acts xiii. 46. (Haydock)
Ver. 7. Way. This is a necessary preliminary to God’s service. (Worthington)
Ver. 8. My ways. I am not vindictive, but require a sincere conversion. (Calmet) — We cannot serve both God and the world. We must therefore adhere to the former. (Worthington)
Ver. 11. Sent it. I will assuredly bring you from Babylon; and the rain shall sooner return upwards than I will break my promise.
Ver. 12. Peace, by strangers, chap. xlix. 22. — Hands, for joy. (Calmet) — Ipsa sonant arbusta Deus Deus ille, Menacla. (Virgil, Eclogues v.)
Ver. 13. Myrtle-tree. Instead of the wicked, the just shall be seen. (Chaldean) — Away. The conversion and sanctity of the Gentiles shall be a trophy to the Lord. (Menochius)
Bible Text & Cross-references:
God promises abundance of spiritual graces to the faithful, that shall believe in Christ out of all nations, and sincerely serve him.
1 All *you that thirst, come to the waters: and you that have no money, make haste, buy, and eat: come ye, buy wine, and milk, without money, and without any price.
2 Why do you spend money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which doth not satisfy you? Hearken diligently to me, and eat that which is good, and your soul shall be delighted in fatness.
3 Incline your ear, and come to me: hear and your soul shall live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, *the faithful mercies of David.
4 Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people; for a leader and a master to the Gentiles.
5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation, which thou knewest not: and the nations that knew not thee, shall run to thee, because of the Lord thy God, and for the holy One of Israel, for he hath glorified thee.
6 Seek ye the Lord, while he may be found: call upon him, while he is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unjust man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God: for he is bountiful to forgive.
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts: nor your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are exalted above the earth, so are my ways exalted above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts.
10 And as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return no more thither, but soak the earth, and water it, and make it to spring, and give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be, which shall go forth from my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall do whatsoever I please, and shall prosper in the things for which I sent it.
12 For you shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall sing praise before you, and all the trees of the country shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the shrub, shall come up the fir-tree, and instead of the nettle, shall come up the myrtle-tree: and the Lord shall be named for an everlasting sign, that shall not be taken away.
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1: John vii. 37.; Ecclesiasticus li. 33.; Apocalypse xxii. 17.; Jeremias xv. 16.; Ezechiel iii. 3.; Proverbs ix. 5.
3: Acts xiii. 34.