[Isaiah, 55:6–56:8]
“Seek the Lord while He can be found, call to Him while He is near” [55:6]. The prophet said: seek the Holy One with your whole heart to repent, expecting that the Holy One will be close to you.
“Let the wicked give up his ways, the sinful man his thoughts” [55:7]. The wicked person should throw away his evil ways and should throw away his evil thoughts. The Holy One is compassionate and forgives the sins.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts” [55:8]. The Holy One said: when a person commits a transgression against a friend, he immediately takes vengeance and does not forgive him. However, I, God, am good and compassionate and I forgive. My thoughts are not your thoughts and My ways are not like your ways.1Radak, Isaiah, 55:8.
“As the heavens are high above the earth, so are higher, etc.” [55:9]. As far as the heavens are from the earth, so are My ways far and dissimilar to your ways and to your thoughts.
“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, etc.” [55:10]. The Holy One said: just like My rain and snow come from heaven on the earth and they do not go empty. They cause grain to grow on the earth to provide sufficient bread for the people. So too are My words that I have let you know through the prophets. They will be good for you, if you will be pious and fulfill the commandments that the prophet tells you.
The Midrash writes: The Holy One said: It is inaccurate to compare My deeds to those of people. When a person does something evil to his friend and he admits the transgression, then he is killed. However, I God, whoever admits his transgression to Me, I forgive that person and whoever wants to deny it, then I punish him and do not forgive him.2Midrash Tanhuma, ed. S. Buber, Vayeshev, 11; Yalkut Shimoni, Isaiah, Remez 482.
“So is the word that issues from My mouth, etc.” [55:11]. My words that I have said through the prophets will not be for nothing, or it will be that he does what I desire from him. He will bewail where I have sent him.
“You shall leave in joy, etc.” [55:12]. If you will be pious, then you will go out of the exile with joy. You will be carried to the land of Israel with peace and the hills will sing and dance for you, out of great joy that you are coming to the land. All the trees will rejoice for you, like a person who claps his hands out of joy.
“Instead of the brier, a cypress will rise” [55:13]. In the city where there were thorns, boxwood will grow and where there were thistles, good smelling myrtles will grow. This will be a testimony to God and an eternal sign that they will not be cut down.
“Thus said the Lord: observe what is right” [56:1]. The Holy One said: dispense proper justice and do what is just. Then the Messiah will come soon.3Radak, Isaiah, 56:1.
“Happy is the man who does this, the man who holds fast to it: who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it” [56:2]. Happy is the person who does this and observes the commandments of the Holy One, and properly keeps the Sabbath so that he does no work on the Sabbath. If Israel would properly observe the Sabbath, the Messiah would soon come, and because Israel did not properly observe the Sabbath they were exiled from the land of Israel.4Radak, Isaiah, 56:2.
“Let not the foreigner say, who has attached himself to the Lord, etc.” [56:3]. The foreigner who has converted and cleaves to the Holy One should not think to say that God has separated him from His people. The eunuch, the weak man, should not say, I am a dry tree, since, thus has God said to the people who cannot have children. If they will observe the Sabbath properly and will keep My commandments, I will give them a name better than sons and daughters in My house and within My walls. I will give him an everlasting name that will not disappear.
“As for the foreigners who attach themselves to the Lord, etc.” [56:6]. The foreigners who cleave to God, serve Him and properly observe the Sabbath, I will bring them to My holy mountain, will rejoice with them in My house of prayer. I will accept their sacrifices, for My house shall be a house of prayer for all nations.
“Thus declares the Lord God, who gathers the dispersed of Israel, I will gather, etc.” [56:8]. The Holy One said: I will gather the dispersed of Israel and furthermore, I will also ingather those of the nations who have converted.