Commentary on Isaiah, Commentary on Isaiah · Chapter 40 · Verse 24 – Verse 25
Verſ. 24. As though they were not planted, as though they were not ſowne, as though their ſtock tooke no roote in the earth: for he did euen blow vponupon them and they withered, and the whirlewinde will take them away as ſtubble.
THough the particle Ak ſignifies Alſo, yet I hauehave tranſlated, As though, becauſe it agrees beſt to this preſent verſe, and ſo the plaine meaning will be, They ſhall confeſſe themſelues to be in as poore a condition, as if they had neuer bin planted nor ſowne. This is an amplification of the former doctrine: for in this verſe he ſhewes, that euen Princes ſhal be ſo whollie plucked vp and rooted out, that not one glimps of their glorie ſhall euer be diſcerned; euen as if it had neuer bin at all. Whileſt they are in honor, Pſal. 49. a man would thinke them to be ſo faſt rooted that the blaſts of aduerſitie were neuer able to remoue them: but ſudden changes fall out in a moment which blot out their name and renoume, ſo as men ſhal ſay, Were there euer any ſuch? And this comes to paſſe not in mens perſons only, but alſo to floriſhing and ſtately kingdomes.
Seeing then ſuch great alterations are ſignes of Gods terrible power, let vsus beware how wee chuſe our ſelues ſuch tickling leaning ſtocks, which hauehave only a vaine appearance of help in them, but let vsus ſolely and only reſt vponupon the power of the Almightie, what ſtrength, honor, or riches ſoeuer wee enioy. For the Lord playes not at tenis with the world, in banding of ſuch great ones, as one taking delight therein, as ſome prophane dogs blaſpheme: but the higher any man is aduanced, commonlie the bigger he ſwels in pride, and neuer leaues ſwelling till he burſt himſelfe in pieces, that ſo the iuſt iudgements of God may be alwaies manifeſt to all. By this we are alſo admoniſhed, that it is ill done to attribute the euents of things to fortune, or to ſecond cauſes: for God became not the Creator of the world, forthwith to leaue his worke, as a carpenter doth his ſhip, but his hand continuallie labours, ſo as not an haire of our heads can fall to the ground without his good pleaſure. When ſo many changes fall out therefore in the world, and that we ſee things which in our iudgements would ſtand for euer, to fall & conſume as the ſmoke; let vsus turne our eies towards this ſoueraigne prouidence and power of God.
As ſoone as he blew vponupon it.] In theſe words the Prophet ſhewes of what ſhort and momentanie continuance thoſe things be which are wont to dazle our eies, and make vsus at a ſtand. For wee no ſooner thinke of a great King, but our hearts quake within vsus, and we are moued at it: but he ſhewes, that Princes and kings are but as ſtubble before God, whoſe only blaſt will carrie them away like a whirlewinde, whither ſoeuer it pleaſeth him. What is our leſſon then? We muſt not ſtand gazing vponupon the creature, be he what he will, that the ſame ſhould hinder vsus from giuing that glorie and honour vntounto God which to him appertaines. This the Iewes were diligentlie to note: for it is like enough they would hauehave thought this great Monarchie of the Caldeans, vnderunder whom they were held captiues, ſhould neuer hauehave bin diſſolued, nor that themſelues ſhould euer hauehave been deliuered, vnleſſe this doctrine had come between: to wit, That there is nothing ſo firme and ſtable in the world, which God can not ſcatter and bring to nothing with his only blaſt: that they might hold faſt the hope of their deliuerance therefore, the Prophet aduertiſeth them that as ſoone as God ſhall but thunder from heauen, he will breake and cruſh in pieces all the terrible forces and power of their enemies.
Verſ. 25. To whom now will you liken me, that I ſhould be like him, ſaith the holy one?
THis is a repetition of the former ſentēce, where it was ſaid, that God would not indure to be matcht with Idols, verſ. 18.19.20. leſt the Iewes ſhould diminiſh any thing of his power; notwithſtanding they were ſo long retained captiues in the hands of Infidels. For they were to beware how they attributed any power to Idols, becauſe the idolaters (who kept them in bondage) proſpered: for by ſuch diſputings; comparing the power of the true God with idols, they were in danger to hauehave mingled them together. This is the cauſe why in indignation he repeates the ſame thing againe; To vvhom vvill yee liken me? As if hee ſhould ſay; Dare you venture to take my glory from mee by your compariſons? For howſoeuer men frame diuers imaginations to themſelues, thinking to transforme God into what ſhape they liſt: yet remaines he one and the ſame ſtill, and his nature is changed neuer the more by their inuentions.
He brings in the clauſe holy one, to verie good purpoſe, putting it in ſtead of Gods name. For therein he priuilie taxeth the Iews of ſhamefull ingratitude, if they ſanctifie him not in their hearts: Chap. 8.13. ſeeing he hath ſeparated them from others. For there is no holineſſe to be found in the idols of the Gentiles, being but the workes of mens hands. God then is too much wronged and abaſed, when idols are oppoſed to him, and that men beginne to call it into queſtion, whether of them hath the greater power.