“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.”
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)
“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.”
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.
“Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.”
Him. David, who continually proclaimed the divine mercies, (Psalm xvii. 1.) or rather Christ; though Grotius alone would refer it to Jeremias. (Calmet)
“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.”
Not with approbation. (Haydock) — The Gentiles are converted.
“Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:”
Near. He will shortly (Calmet) turn to the Gentiles, John xii. 35., and Acts xiii. 46. (Haydock)
“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. the unrighteous: Heb. the man of iniquity abundantly: Heb. multiply to pardon”
Way. This is a necessary preliminary to God’s service. (Worthington)
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.”
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)
“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.”
Sent it. I will assuredly bring you from Babylon; and the rain shall sooner return upwards than I will break my promise.
“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.”
Peace, by strangers, chap. xlix. 22. — Hands, for joy. (Calmet) — Ipsa sonant arbusta Deus Deus ille, Menacla. (Virgil, Eclogues v.)
“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.”
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)