Commentary on Isaiah, Commentary on Isaiah · Chapter 40 · Verse 22 – Verse 23
Verſ. 22. Hee ſitteth vponupon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as graſhoppers: hee ſtretcheth out the heauens as a curtaine, and ſpreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in.
Which he began in verſ. 10, 11, 12.HEe continues on his former argument, but after another manner; and ſets out the magnificence and power of God. Wee hauehave told you heretofore why hee ſpeakes thus; to wit, becauſe we are too much inclined to diſtruſt: ſo as the leaſt occaſion in the world will make vsus ſtumble and be offended. For which reſpect,The reaſon why the Prophet vſeth ſo manie repetitions to one purpoſe. From the doctrine of the creation of the world, the Prophet deſcends …o the perpetual… gouernment of it. the Prophet is conſtrained to repeat one thing often, that he might keepe in firme and weake hearts in the confidence of Gods promiſes. Before, he handled the doctrine of the creation of the world, but now he comes to the perpetuall gouernment of it: for God contented not himſelfe to manifeſt his power once onelyonly in the creation of the world, but continues ſtill to ſhew it with as great efficacie in the vpholding and conſeruation of his worke. This is well to be obſerued of vsus; for otherwiſe it were but a bare ſpeculation to know that God did once create the world, vnleſſe wee alſo knew that his hand were alwaies ſtretched out to maintaine and gouerne the ſame in the firſt eſtate. Which the Prophet expreſſeth in this word ſitteth: as if he ſhould ſ…y; The earth continues not ſtable and firme in her place, but as it is ſtaied & vpheld by the power of God: for ſitting, by a figure, ſignifies as much as rule or gouernment.
In that he compares the inhabitants of the earth to graſhoppers; G aſhoppers.it is to ſhew that God is not incloſed within theſe narrow roomes, ſeeing neither heauen, nor the heauen of heauens are able to containe him; that ſo we might learne (whē God is ſpoken of in the Scriptures) not to imagin any earthly or carnall thing of him touching his incomprehenſible glory. Moreouer, by this ſimilitude we are taught how blind & ſottiſh thoſe are, which attribute any thing to themſelues;Simile. for they ſhall get as much by their brags, as if ſome little vermin, ſuch as the graſhoppers be, would riſe vp againſt the cloudes in fetching their frisks: but you know they are forced to fall downe by and by to the earth.
He ſpreads out the heauen as a curtaine.] Dauid vſeth the ſame kind of ſpeech, Pſal. 124. Iſaiah and Dauid ſpeake both touching the aſpect and ſpreading out of the heauens, in regard of our ſight: for it is not their meaning that God ſpreads them out for himſelfe to inhabit there, but rather that wee might hauehave roome enough to dwell vnderneath. For as the earth beares vsus vp, ſo the heauens do couer vsus:God hath ordained the ea…th to beare vsus, and the heauens to couer vsus. Obiect. and thus wee hauehave a manſion or dwelling houſe made vsus in this world cloſe and couered. But theſe ſimilitudes may ſeeme much to leſſen the dignitie of the matter whereof the Prophet intreateth, albeit his meaning is cleerly to ſet it forth in the liuelieſt colours hee can deuiſe: for what is a curtaine? What is a tent? What great matters are theſe? I anſwere; Anſ. theſe ſimilitudes are exceeding fit to amplifie the matter: for it is as much as if he had ſaid; God ſpreads out the heauens with as much eaſe as a man drawes a curtaine. He alſo leaues it to eueryevery mans conſideration, how much difference there is betweene the heauens and a curtaine, and what their greatneſſe is; which all may perceiue. Laſtly, there is an oppoſition betweene the houſes that men build with much toile and continuall coſt, (and yet it is much if they can raiſe a frame of an hundred foote high:) and this infinit height of the heauens, ſo ſpread by the onelyonly word of God. Which ſhewes cleerly, how excellent and skilfull a workman he is.
Verſ. 23. He bringeth the Princes to nothing, and maketh the Iudges of the earth as vanitie.
STill hee continues to extoll Gods prouidence,Now hee comes to ſpeake of Gods prouidence in particular. by which hee gouernes the whole world, but eſpecially mank nd. In the former verſe he begun to touch this doctrine; to wit, that God hath not created the world to leaue it at ſixe and ſeuen, as we ſay, but hold his ſoueraigntie and dominion ouer it; meaning ſtill to retaine the keeping and ſusteining of it in his owne hands. But becauſe it pleaſeth him to ſhew himſelfe more familiarly to men, the Prophet hath choſen this particular, that he might therein ſet forth and praiſe his prouidence. The ſumme is, that Gods dominion extends it ſelfe farre and wide, ſo as he gouernes all things in heauen and earth according to his good pleaſure: but therewithall he teacheth (which was a point worthie of note) that in his gouernment of mankind one may manifeſtlie perceiue notable marks of his power and prouidence. Now he contents not himſelfe to note it in generall termes, but picks out one particular inſtance which might the better awaken our drouzie minds. All things that befall the common multitude are ſoone forgotten, and is quickly out of minde as matters vnworthie the talking of: but whē Kingdomes and Monarchies wherein men are aduanced to great dignities come once to fall, then it ſeemes the very earth is ſhaken with it. The Prophet therefore ſtirres vp our attention very fitly by ſuch documēts. Surely a man would thinke that Princes and Magistrates are ſeparated from the common condition of men, and exempt from the ordinarie calamities which befall others, becauſe by their glorie they ſeeme to dazell the eies and minds of eueryevery one that beholds them: but they themſelues for the moſt part are vtterlie blind, and therefore our Prophet eſpeciallie aimes at them, ſaying, That the Lord brings them to nothing. Hath the Lord ſo great force againſt the mightie Princes of the earth? What ſhall become of the baſer ſort? Can he not, trow ye, deale well enough with them, and handle them as he liſt? Can he not giuegive, and take away ſtrength, and the greatnes of mens ſpirits when he will?