Isaiah 55:7

“Let the wicked forsake his way, &c.] His evil way, as the Targum paraphrases it, his wicked course of life; and which is his own way, of his own choosing, and in which he delights, and a very dangerous one it is; and yet he is bent upon it, and nothing can turn him from it but efficacious grace; nor will he ever forsake it till he sees the evil, danger, and loathsomeness of it; and when he does forsake it, it is so as not to make sin the course of his life, though he does not and cannot live without sin. The word for “wicked” signifies restless, troublesome, and ungodly, and is expressive of the pollution and guilt of sin all are under. Some are notoriously wicked, and all men are wicked in…”

“unrighteous--Hebrew, "man of iniquity"; true of all men. The "wicked" sins more openly in "his way"; the "unrighteous" refers to the more subtle workings of sin in the "thoughts." All are guilty in the latter respect, thought many fancy themselves safe, because not openly "wicked in ways" (Psa 94:11). The parallelism is that of gradation. The progress of the penitent is to be from negative reformation, "forsaking his way," and a farther step, "his thoughts," to positive repentance, "returning to the Lord" (the only true repentance, Zac 12:10), and making God his God, along with the other children of God (the crowning point; appropriation of God to ourselves: "to our God"). "Return" implies…”

“Let the wicked ... - In this verse we are told what is necessary in order to seek God and to return to him, and the encouragement which we have to do it. The first step is for the sinner to forsake his way. He must come to a solemn pause, and resolve to abandon all his transgressions. His evil course; his vices; his corrupt practices; and his dissipated companions, must be forsaken. And the unrighteous man - Margin, “Man of iniquity.” This is a literal translation. The address is made to all people, for all are such. His thoughts - The Hebrew word denotes all that is the object of thought; and the idea is, that the man must abandon his plans and purposes of life. The thoughts, in the sight…”

“Return - By sincere repentance, and faith. Isaiah 55:8”

“55:7 Let the wicked change . . . turn to the Lord: True conversion demands a change of how we live in favor of God’s requirements (see 1:16-17; 30:15; 59:20). • have mercy on them: God’s compassion reaches out to the needy and finds them where they are. • he will forgive generously: Forgiveness of sin is foundational to the good news of redemption (see Eph 1:7; Col 1:14; see also Pss 32:1; 86:5; 99:8; 103:2-5).”

“the wicked: Isa 1:16-18; Ch2 7:14; Pro 28:13; Jer 3:3, Jer 8:4-6; Eze 3:18, Eze 3:19; Eze 18:21-23, Eze 18:27-32, Eze 33:11, Eze 33:14-16; Hos 14:1, Hos 14:2; Jon 3:10; Mat 9:13; Luk 15:10, Luk 15:24; Act 3:19, Act 26:20; Co1 6:9-11; Jam 4:8-10 unrighteous man: Heb. man of iniquity his thoughts: Gen 6:5; Psa 66:18; Jer 4:14; Zac 8:17; Mat 15:18, Mat 15:19, Mat 23:25, Mat 23:26; Mar 7:21, Mar 7:23; Luk 11:39, Luk 11:40; Act 8:21, Act 8:22; Jam 1:15 for: Isa 43:25, Isa 44:22; Exo 34:6, Exo 34:7; Num 14:18, Num 14:19; Psa 51:1, Psa 130:7; Jer 3:12, Jer 3:13; Luk 7:47; Rom 5:16-21; Eph 1:6-8; Ti1 1:15, Ti1 1:16 abundantly: Heb. multiply to Isaiah 55:8”