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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.
Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.
Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the LORD thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee.
Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
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:
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

New Defender's Study Bible Notes

55:1 without money and without price. The grace of God in salvation is free, though the price paid by Christ was great.


55:3 sure mercies of David. This promise was quoted by Paul in his sermon at Antioch (Acts 13:34).


55:9 higher than the earth. This analogy, comparing the infinite thoughts of God to the very finite thoughts of man, would suggest that the heavens are infinitely higher than the earth. There is no end to space.


55:10 rain cometh down. Here is a beautiful anticipation and spiritual application of science’s hydrologic cycle. The rain and snow fall from the heavens and eventually return there, but not until they have done their providential work of watering the earth to provide and renew the world’s food supply. Analogously, God’s Word goes forth from heaven and yet is forever settled there (Psalm 119:89), returning after it has accomplished God’s spiritual work on earth.


55:11 not return unto me void. The fruitful spreading of God’s Word is presented in many Scriptures (e.g., Ecclesiastes 11:1,6; Matthew 13:8; I Corinthians 3:6-8; John 4:35-38).


55:13 instead of the thorn. The thorns were manifestations of God’s great curse on earth because of man’s sin (Genesis 3:17), but the curse will finally be forever removed (Revelation 22:3).


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