Matthew Poole and continuators on Isaiah 55:7

7 Let the wicked man 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 .

Any wicked man, either Jew or Gentile.

His evil or wicked way, as is evident from the foregoing word, and as it is more fully expressed, Ier. 18. 11. & 25. 5. which is called his way, because it is natural, and customary, and dear to him, and in opposition to Gods good way: his sinful course or manner of Life. Let him cease to do evil, as it is Isa. 1. 16. This he adds to intimate that Mens seeking and calling upon God will do them no good without Reformation of their Lives.

The sinful devices and purposes of his Mind. Thus he strikes at the root of sinful actions, and sheweth that the heart must be purged and changed as well as the outward actions.

As he hath departed from God by sin, let him turn to him by sincere Repentance, and the practice of all Gods precepts. Whereby he intimates that a meer abstinence from wicked courses is not sufficient, without the exercise of the contrary Graces, that we must not only cease to do evil, but also learn to do well, as it is prescribed, Isa. 1. 16.

To the God of Israel, who is and hath shewed himself to be a most merciful and gracious God.

He useth so many Words and Arguments to encourage them to Repentance, because the persons here invited were guilty of Idolatry, Apostacy, and many other gross wickednesses: which he knew, when they came to themselves, and to a serious sense of their sins, and of the just and holy Nature and Law of God, would be an insupportable burden to their awakened Consciences, and make them very prone to conclude, that God either could not or would not pardon such horrid Delinquencies, and therefore would rather drive them from God, than draw them to him.

Marginal references: Heb. the man of iniquity.; Heb. he will multiply to pardon.