Water to wine
Isaiah 55:1 is an invitation to a food market, opened in the restored Zion. Like Lady Wisdom of Proverbs, she offers food and drink. The verse is chiastically organized:
A. come to waters and drink
B. without silver
C. come, buy
D. eat
C’. come, buy
B’. without silver or price
A’. wine and milk
Two observations: One, that food is the central offer. And, second, that the initial invitation to drink water gets transformed by the end of the verse into an offer of the wine of festivity and the milk of the promised land. Like her Lord, Zion offers water and wine, water turned to wine.
Peter Leithart
Peter J. Leithart is President of Theopolis Institute. He is the author of numerous books on theology, literature, and culture, including Theopolitan, Defending Constantine, and Baptized Body.
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