Commentary on Isaiah, Commentary on Isaiah · Chapter 12
THE XII. CHAPTER.
Verſ. 1. And thou ſhalt ſay in that day; O Lord, I will praiſe thee: though thou waſt angry with me, thy wrath is turned away, and thou*Or, thou wilt comfort. comfortest me.
ISaiah now exhorts all the faithfull to render thankes to God: although the exhortation hath alſo this drift; to wit, that they ſhould giuegive the greater credit vntounto Gods promiſe. For hee hath ſealed it vp as it were vntounto them by this exhortation; to the end they ſhould aſſure themſelues that it is vnmoueable. As alſo that they ſhould not imagine that the Prophet meant to feede them vp with a vaine hope, when hee put this forme of thankſgiuing as it were into their mouthes: which thankes, they could not hauehave giuen, vnleſſe the occaſion thereof had been both ſure and ſtedfaſt. In this ſong alſo hee ſhewes why it is that God doth good to his Church; to wit, that the memorie of his bleſſed name might be magnified; not that he needes any of our praiſes, but becauſe this is profitable vntounto our ſelues. For we ought diligently to conſider, what honour he doth vsus when he vouchſafes to ſerue himſelfe of our indeuours, in the magnifying and publiſhing his glorious name; wee notwithſtanding being ſuch vnprofitable, yea altogether vnprofitable ſeruants. The Prophet in this ſong addreſſeth himſelfe in generall to all the people, euen as if hee ſpake to one man: This is noted from the word. Thou, in the text.for it was requiſite they ſhould be ioyned together, as if they had been but one. According to this example, our coniunction ought to be ſo ſtrait, that there ſhould bee but one ſoule and one mouth: Rom. 15.6. eſpecially if wee meane that our prayers and thankſgiuings ſhould bee acceptable before God.
Though thou wast angry.] The ſumme of this ſongThe ſumme of this ſong. is, that howſoeuer God was iuſtly prouoked to anger againſt this people, yet notwithſtanding ſatisfying himſelfe with one little ſtroke of the rod, he will eaſilie be appeaſed. Now becauſe the particle Ci, is often put for ſhewing of the cauſe, ſome tranſlate; O Lord I will praiſe thee: for being angry againſt me, thou wert by and by appeaſed. But becauſe it is ſometime taken otherwiſe, I hauehave followed that which I thought to agree beſt to this place. The faithfull then doe firſt acknowledge their fault: ſecondly, they attribute their deliuerance out of their miſeries, vntounto the mercy of God. Now be cauſe the verbs are put in the future tence, one may alſo expound, The chaſtiſement wherewith thou ſmiteſt me for a time, ſhall be no impediment that thou ſhouldeſt not pitie mee at the laſt, and giuegive mee matter of ioy and conſolation. Whether of the expoſitions ſoeuer we receiue, this ſentence ought to be diligently obſerued: for as ſoone as our hearts are touched with the feeling of Gods wrath, wee are ſollicited vntounto deſpaire; ſo as if the danger be not ſpeedily preuented, wee ſhall be ouerwhelmed before we are aware. Satan alſo tempts vsus eueryevery kind of way, and aſſaieth all meanes whereby hee may put vsus out of heart. So much the more neede hauehave wee then to bee well armed with this doctrine; that howſoeuer we feele the wrath of God, yet we may reſolue with our ſelues, that it ſhall not indure long: but that hee will ſend vsus ſome conſolation after he hath chaſtened vsus.
But if we hauehave deliuerance,Afflictions no ſatisfactions of Gods iuſtice. then let vsus remember that the afflictions are ended: not becauſe we hauehave ſatisfied the iuſtice of God, as if we had merited it at his hands; but becauſe he beares with our weakeneſſe, euen of his fatherly louing kindneſſe. This confeſſion therefore appertaines properly vntounto the faithfull and elect:Gre…t diffe…ence betweene the afflictions of the godly and the wicked, th…ugh they ſeeme alike in outwa…d appearance. for although the afflictions of the faithfull & the wicked are alike in appearance, yet is there great difference betweene them. For the wrath of God againſt the reprobate is perpetuall: and the plagues which they receiue are the taſtes and beginnings of their eternall deſtruction: neither hauehave they any promiſe of refreſhing or comfort But the faithfull feele by experience, that the wrath of God endures not long, and doe therefore cheere vp their hearts with good hope and aſſurance; becauſe they know that God will be mercifull vntounto them in the end: which hope certifies them, that hee chaſtiſeth them not ſo much for their ſinnes, as rather to bring them to repentance,1. Cor. 11.31. that they ſhould not periſh with the world.
Verſ. 2. Behold God is my ſaluation; I will trust and will not feare: for the Lord God is my ſtrength and ſong, he*Or, ſhall be. is alſo become my ſaluation.
ALthough wee ought to apprehend the helpe of God in the midſt of afflictions by faith, yet Iſaiah ſpeakes heere of that knowledge which is grounded vponupon experience: for he endites a ſong of reioycing, when God by outward teſtimonies gaue them to vnderſtand, that he was pacified towards his Church. Heereunto appertaines the particle behold, becauſe the bright and ſhining light of Gods countenance, which had for a time bin hidden from them, did now ſhine againe vponupon them; and that ſo apparently, that it might almoſt be pointed out with the finger. Now inaſmuch as wee are terrified in afflictions, ſo as it cannot be auoided, but ye the conſcience of ſinnes will ouerſhadow our vnderſtandings; no otherwiſe then as if the helpe of God were farre from vsus, or did nothing at all appertaine vntounto vsus; the Prophet doth heere deſcribe what a change there is in the affections, when God hath once reconciled vsus vntounto himſelfe. But this prophecie extends it ſelfe principally vntounto the comming of Chriſt,This propheticall ſong extends it ſelfe principally to the comming of Chriſt. in which time God cauſed his ſaluation to appeare after a more ſpeciall manner.
He addes afterwards, that when wee are once well reſolued that our ſaluation dependeth vponupon God, that the ſame is a ſtedfaſt foundation of fall aſſurance, and a ſingular remedie to appeaſe feares. For without this wee muſt needes tremble, be ſtill in vnquietneſſe and perplexities, and miſerably toſſed to and fro. Hence wee gather, that confidence proceedes from faith,Confidence proceedes from fai…h, as the effect from the cauſe. as the effect from the cauſe. For by faith we feele that our ſaluation is in God: from thence followes a quiet and peaceable eſtate in the conſcience: but where faith is not, there the conſcience cannot be in quiet. Let vsus know then that we hauehave well profited in faith,We hauehave wel profited in faith, when we are furniſhed with this confidence. when we are furniſhed with this confidence which the Prophet heere deſcribes.
Moreouer, this confidence ought ſo to beare rule in our hearts, that it ought to put all feare and horr…ur to ſlight: not that wee can be vtterly exempt from all feare and diſquietneſſe,Confidence ought ſo to beare ſway in our hearts …s to put all feares to flight. but becauſe aſſurance will beare away the victorie at the laſt. Yet notwithſtanding wee muſt remember what I hauehave ſaid; namely, that the Prophet heere ſets forth the cheerefulneſſe which the faithfull inioy, when God is fauourable vntounto them; whereas in former times they were almoſt ouerwhelmed vnderunder the weight of temptation.
For the Lord is my ſtrength.] He more cleerely and in a more eſpeciall manner expreſſeth, that the faithfull ſhall hauehave good occaſion to ſing, becauſe they ſhall know by experience, that their ſtrength was in their God: for the truth is, that their deliuerance was an excellent proofe of the power of God. But ſeeing Iſaiah recounts not heere the benefit of one day onelyonly, but extolles the worke which God determined in himſelfe, to continue vntill the comming of Chriſt; it thereupon followes, that the praiſes of God are not ſounded forth as is meete,Who they be that are fit to praiſe God. vnleſſe it be by them who feeling their weakeneſſe, doe onelyonly ſeeke vntounto God, that hee would furniſh them with ſtrength and power. For it is not ſaid heere, that hee ſhould be a part, or the ſtay of our ſtrength, but that hee is our full and perfect ſtrength. The reaſon is, becauſe wee hauehave no more ſtrength and power, then that wee receiue from him. And in this regard alſo the faithfull ſay, that he is their ſong; becauſe they are thus liberally dealt withall by him, to the end they ſhould exerciſe themſelues in thankſgiuings. Whence we gather, that the beginning of ioy proceedes from the fauour of God,Pſal. 50.23. and that the end of that ioy is the ſacrifice of praiſe. Truely the hearts of the faithfull ought to bee ſo diſpoſed to patience,We ought to praiſe God euen then when we ſe… manifeſt tokens of his wrath, much more when wee perceiue ſignes of his fauor. that they ſhould not ceaſe to praiſe God euen when they ſee tokens of his frowning countenance: yet in the time of peace and proſperitie, they hauehave much more cauſe to open their mouthes, to the end they may ſing forth ye benefits of God with a loud voice.
But becauſe the wicked reioyce euen whileſt they deſpiſe God, and beſot themſelues like bruit beaſts with a falſe ioy, rocking their conſciences aſleepe therein, neuer awaking themſelues to praiſe God, iuſtly doth our Sauiour Chriſt curſe their ioy; Woe bee to you, ſaith hee, that now laugh, Luke 6.25.for you ſhall weepe: your ioy ſhall be turned into heauineſſe, and your laughter into gnaſhing of teeth. In the end of the verſe, if any be pleaſed to retaine the preterperfect tence of the verbe, the ſenſe will be, that the faithfull ſing ioyfully, becauſe God hath ſaued them. The ſenſe will alſo agree very well in the future tence; to wit, that God hath not deliuered his choſen once onelyonly, but that hee will alſo continue the ſame vntounto the very end: for the faithfull ought not to ſtay themſelues in the beholding of the preſent benefit alone, but to ſtretch forth their hope to the continuall progreſſe of Gods fauour.
Verſ. 3. Therefore with ioy ſhall yee draw waters out of the wels of*Or, out of the Sauiour. ſaluation.
BY this verſe he confirmes that which we hauehave touched before, to wit, that this Chapter is as it were a ſeale to confirme the promiſe made touching the deliuerance of the people;This ſong is a ſeale to confirme the promiſe made touching the peoples deliuerance. as if he ſhould ſay, The ſaluation of the Lord is ſet before you as a liuing fountaine, out of which you may draw waters in abundance. This ſimilitude is very fit, for as there is nothing more neceſſarie for this preſent life then water, ſo nothing troubles and diſquiets vsus more nor goes ſo neere vsus as the want thereof doth. Thus by a figure called Synecdoche (when a part is taken for the whole) he ſhewes that whatſoeuer is neceſſarie for the ſuſtentation of life is giuen vsus freely out of the meere bountie of God. And becauſe we are barren & emptie of all good things, it is no maruell that he compares the merciemercy of God to a fountaine which ſatisfies them that are thirſtie; refreſheth thoſe that are parched with heate; and recreates thoſe that are wearie and laden.
Of the ſauiour.] This word ſauiour agrees much better heere then if he had ſaid, out of the fountaines of God. For wee hauehave farre greater cauſe of conſolation when we know y• himſelfe is the author of our ſaluation. The Prophet therefore hath appropriated this epithite according to the circumſtance of the place. Now if this promiſe comprehends vnderunder it the whole kingdome of Chriſt, wee for our parts ought alwayes to applie the ſame vntounto our vſe. Let vsus know then that the goodnes of God is heere offred and ſet before vsus, to the end we might ſatisfie our ſelus to the full therewith. For we ought (as Dauid ſaith) to be as the parched ground, gaping for thirſt, Pſal. 143.6. and to aſpire vntounto theſe waters of the ſauiour. Now this goodnes of God is wonderfull and incredible, when he permits not that our deſire ſhould be in vaine, but freely offers and preſents a fountaine vntounto vsus, out of the which we may draw waters in abundance. Moreouer, Ieſus Chriſt is this fountaine,Ieſus Chriſt the true fountaine. and in him we hauehave the participation of all Gods benefits; for as S. Iohn ſaith, we draw all out of his fulneſſe, Iohn 1.16. It remaineth then that wee goe directlie vntounto him as ſoone as our pouertie and want preſſeth vsus.
Verſ. 4. And yee ſhall ſay in that day, praiſe the Lord, call vponupon his name, declare his works among the people, make mention of them, for his name is exalted.
HE not only exhorts them one by one to praiſe God, and to giuegive him thanks, but would alſo that they ſhould ſtirre vp others with them to doe the like: And as he had ſayd before,Chap. 2.3. many people ſhall goe and ſhall ſay, Come, and let vsus goe vp to the mountaine of the Lord, prouoking one another by mutuall exhortations to imbrace the pure wo…ſhip of God: ſo after he hath commanded eueryevery one of them to render thanks to God, he would now alſo that they ſhould incite one another to the ſame dutie. He ſhewes then that this ought not to be ſaid only to one, but to all; and not only in one time, but for their whole life. Now in a briefe ſumme he ſhewes how God is rightlie honored when he commands vsus to call vponupon him, and to reioyce in none but in him only. For this cauſe alſo the holy ſcripture by the word Inuocation, comprehends often times vnderunder it the whole ſeruice of God, vſing therein a part for the whole: for by prayer wee ſhew the truſt that wee hauehave in God; and this indeede he requires of vsus aboue all things. I alſo thinke that p…ayer is ioined with praiſe, that the Prophet might comprehend the whole ſeruice of God.
Make mention &c.] His meaning is that this deliuerance ſhall be ſo excellent a work, that it ought not to be hidden from any corner, but publiſhed thorowout the whole world. I grant that he would hauehave the Iewes to acknowledge this in the firſt place, but after he cauſed all people to hauehave the knowledge of it. And this exhortation whereby the Iewes ſhewed their good will, was as a preamble to the preaching of the Goſpell which was afterwards publiſhed. For as the Iewes magnified the fauor which God had ſhewed them amongſt the Medes and Perſians and other nations neere about them; ſo alſo after Chriſt once appeared, they ought to hauehave been heraults to publiſh the name of God thorowout all the quarters of the world. Hereby it appeares with what zeale all the faithfull ought to be moued, namely, that they cauſe the goodnes of God to be manifeſted vntounto all, to the end the ſeruice of God may be imbraced. Now we ought then eſpeciallie to be moued with ſuch an affection when we hauehave been deliuered from ſome great danger, as out of the iawes of the diuell, and from vnderunder the tyrannie of eternall death.
Verſ. 5. Sing vntounto the Lord, for he hath done excellent things: this is knowne in all the world.
HE goes on ſtil with his exhortation, ſhewing vsus from what affection this prayſe ought to proceed; for he teacheth that it is our dutie to publiſh the goodnes of God in all places: and yet muſt we not exhort nor prouoke others to go forward, and our ſelues in the meane time to ſtand ſtill with our armes acroſſe, but we ought to leade them the way by our example: for there is nothing more abſurd then to ſee them ſlothfull and negligent, which prouoke others to prayſe God. Now in ſaying that God hath done excellent things, he thereby ſignifies that there is great cauſe to ſing. Neither in deed would the Lord hauehave them to ſing forth his praiſes vponupon no ground; but he gaue them ample and very good cauſe thereof when he deliuered his people out of that extreme hard bondage. Now we hauehave alreadie ſaid that we muſt not reſtraine this ſong to one moment of time, but that it ought to be extended euen vntounto the whole kingdome of Chriſt. This worke therefore is excellent indeed when God ſent his Sonne,Ioh. 3.16.17. Heb. 2.14. by whom he hath reconciled vsus vntounto himſelfe, and hath deſtroyed the dominion of death and of the diuell. If wee then conſider wel of this worke of our deliuerance as we ought, we ſhall hauehave exceeding abundant matter giuen vsus to praiſe God. When he ſaith in the laſt, member, that this is knowne in all the world; hee therein toucheth the calling of the Gentiles, and confirmes that which hath been alreadie ſaid; to wit, that this worke ſhall be ſuch as it ought not to be concealed in ſome one corner; but to be publiſh…d thorowout the whole world.
Verſ. 6. *Or, reioyce and ſing.Cry out and ſhout, O inhatant of Zion: for great is the holy one of Iſrael in the midſt of thee.
HE againe exhorts the faithfull to reioyce in God, and therewithall ſhewes what is the true reioycing, and whereupon it is grounded.No felicitie but where God dwels. For we can hauehave no felicitie, but when God dwel…es in the midst of vsus: without this, our life is poore and miſerable, although wee had the abundance of all other benefits and riches whatſoeuer. So then if our hearts bee ioyned to this treaſure, this felicitie will draw all our ſenſes eaſily vntounto it. He calles God holy, to the end we might know that he will make himſelfe felt of vsus when he dwelles with vsus: that is to ſay, wee ſhall not onelyonly reuerence his Maieſtie, wherewith wee are by and by ouerwhelmed; but that we ſhall be alſo fully aſſured that hee hath a fatherly care ouer vsus, albeit wee be ſeparate from the reſt of the whole world. For he calles him the holy one by the effect; becauſe by gathering vsus vnderunder his wings, and ſauing vsus by his grace, he ſanctifies vsus as a thing conſecrated for his owne vſe. And therefore if God be with vsus, the feeling of his gratious preſence will fill our hearts with ioy vnſpeakeable. By reioycing and ſinging, he ſignifies, that when God diſplayeth his power in the midst of vsus, wee hauehave occaſion to reioyce greatly. Alſo, ſpeaking directly to the inhabitants of Zion, he ſhewes that all are not capable of ſo great a benefit: and hee therewithall cloſely exhorts vsus to perſeuere in the vnitie of faith, that being knit vntounto the Church, we may reioyce with this happie and bleſſed ioy.
From the firſt Chapter hitherto, the Prophet hath denounced iudgement againſt the two Kingdomes of Iudah and Iſrael: from the beginning of the Chapter following, to the 24. the Prophet foretelles what horrible calamities ſhould befall the enemies of the Church. And thus God iudgeth his owne houſe firſt, as Peter ſpeakes, 1. Pet. 4.17.