Isaiah 55:1 - Exposition

Ho, every one that thirsteth! Though the mass are gross and carnally minded, there will ever be some who have higher aspirations—who hunger and thirst after righteousness" ( Matthew 5:6 ), and desire spiritual blessings. These are invited, first of all, to come and partake of the good things provided for them in Messiah's kingdom . Come ye to the waters (on the spiritual symbolism of water, see the homiletics on Isaiah 44:3 , Isaiah 44:4 ). Here the "peace" and "righteousness" of the Messianic kingdom ( Isaiah 54:13 , Isaiah 54:14 ) are especially intended. Our Lord's cry on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles ( John 7:7 ) is clearly an echo of this. Wine and milk . These are not symbols of temporal blessings, as many have thought. "Wine, water, and milk are," as Delitzsch says, "figurative representations of spiritual revival, re-creation, and nourishment." Without money and without price . God's spiritual gifts are freely given to men; they cannot be purchased. Being in their own nature "more precious than rubies," their value transcends human means of payment. They cannot even be earned by man's best works; for man's best works are comprised in his duty to God, and have, therefore, no purchasing power. God may choose to reward them; but if he does it is of his free grace.