Commentary on Isaiah, Commentary on Isaiah · Chapter 40 · Verse 7 – Verse 8
Verſ. 7. The graſſe withereth, the flower fadeth; becauſe the ſpirit of the Lord bloweth vponupon it: ſurely the people is graſſe.
THis may well be vnderſtood of the beautie of the fields, which the violence of one gale of wind ſpoiles; as it is ſaid in the hundred and third Pſalme: for we know that the wind is called the ſpirit of God in other places. But I rather thinke the ſimilitude is applied to the preſent purpoſe, becauſe otherwiſe the application would be obſcure. The Prophet then expounds his owne meaning when hee ſaid, that men with all their glory were nothing but graſſe, becauſe the ſpirit of God will conſume them in the top of their pride vvith one blaſt. Therefore this ſpeech muſt be thus r…ſolued; Howſoeuer it be true that men being indeed vvith excellent parts of nature, may floriſh; yet they ſhall know that all is but vanitie, vvhen the Spirit of God ſhall but blow vponupon them. For in that they grow ſo beſotted in their own ouerweenings, it is becauſe they neuer ſet themſelues in Gods preſence, but digge themſelues hiding places, that they may flatter themſelues without checke or controle. To the end then that they might no more deceiue themſelues with the ſweete deceits of lying vanities, the Prophet ſummons them before Gods iudgement ſeat, and grants indeed that they floriſh in appearance, as long as they keep themſelues a great way o…f from the preſence of Gods Maieſtie; but let the Lord beginne once to blow vponupon them, their all their beautie and ſtrength ſhall forthwith vaniſh into ſmoke. He ſeemes to attribute an office to the Spirit of God, Obiect. which is not very fitting vntounto it: for it is his propertie to … the face of the earth: as on the other ſi… he withdraw himſelfe neuer ſo little, al things fall to nothing: Pſal. 104. And Iſaiah affirmes here the cleane contrarie. Some may thinke then, that one Prophet contradicts another. Anſ. But there is no abſurditie in it to ſay; that all things are renued by the vertue of the holy Ghoſt. And againe, that the ſame Spirit ſhould conſume thoſe things which ſeemed very glorious before. For we hauehave no being but in God; and to beginne to be ſomething in him, wee muſt firſt of all b… conuinced of our vanitie, that we may the better acknowledge it. The Lord therefore blo…es vponupon vsus, to teach vsus that in our ſelues wee are nothing.
Now to the end all might know that the Prophet ſpake not of ſtrangers, but of that people which gloried much in the name of God, he addes, that the people is graffe: …or the Iewes thought themſelues more wor… …nd excellent then any other nation, and therefore that they of all others ought to be ſeparated from the common ſort of men. Hee ſpeakes to them then properlie and expreſlie, to the end they might attribute nothing vntounto themſelues aboue others: as if he ſhould ſay, You ſhall ſhew your ſelues very diſcreet and wiſe, if in conſidering your owne pouertie and baſenes, you ſhall reiect all vaine confidence. In a word, the Prophet hauing ſpoken of comfort in the firſt verſe, hee now ſhewes how men ought to be prepared to receiue it:In the firſt verſe the Prophet mentioned ſome conſolation: now he ſhewes them the meanes how to be prepared to receiue it. but they are no way fit to receiue it, vnleſſe they be firſt brought to nothing. Our hardnes of heart then muſt be ſoftned, our high and prowd conceits muſt be brought low, our glorie turned into ſhame of face, and our hearts tamed and humbled, if with fruit we will receiue the conſolations which the Prophets ſhall bring vsus by the commandement of the Lord.
Verſ. 8. The graſſe withereth, the floure fadeth, but the word of our God ſhall ſtand for euer.
THis repetition is added once againe to bring all the glorie of prowd fleſh vntounto nothing:With matter of humiliation, the Prophet mingleth matter of conſolation. it alſo therewithall conteines an excellent conſolation; to wit, that the Lord hauing humbled his ſeruants, forthwith giues them matter of ioy and gladnes. This is the order of the text then, The graſſe withers, but the word of the Lord indures for euer. This only conſolation is ſufficient, namely, that the word of God is made the ground of our comfort:Gods word, the ground of our comfort. as if God himſelfe ſhould reach out his hand to lift vsus vp, after he hath manifeſted to vsus how emptie and deſtitute wee are of all good things, and how periſhable and tranſitorie our fleſh is. We then are fraile, and fading as the flower, but the word of the Lord is firme and eternall. To be ſhort, that life which is wanting in vsus is offred vsus elſewhere.
The whole ſumme of the GoſpellThe ſumme of the Goſpel. is heere comprehended in few words, for it conſiſts in the knowledge of our miſerie, pouertie, and vanitie, that being humbled in good earneſt, we might hauehave our recourſe vntounto God, by whoſe only grace we ſhall be whollie reſtored. Let not ſuch then as are acquainted with their wofull condition by nature be therefore out of heart,Our baſe eſtate muſt not put vsus vtterlie out of heart. for the word of the Lord is ſet before them, which is able to build them vp, and to giuegive them ſtrong conſolation.
Moreouer, wee are here taught to ſeeke conſolation no where elſe but in eternitie, which is only to be found in God, and in none other: for there is no ſtabilitie in earth or earthlie things.No ſtabilitie in earth, or earthly things. What madnes is it then to place our happines in preſent things, which wee ſee conſume like ſmoke? He therefore much deceiues himſelfe which thinks he can meete with true felicitie till he be come vntounto God, who is therfore called the eternall, in holy Scriptures, becauſe we might know that life flowes from him into vsus: yea, he hath adopted vsus for his children on this condition, that we may partake with him in his immortalitie.
But all this ſhall profit vsus very little, vnleſſe we be ſhewed the way how to attaine it:The way how to attaine true felicitie. the word therefore comes betweene, from which we muſt not turne an haires breadth. For if we wander and ſtray from it, we ſhall be intangled in ſuch wonderfull laborynths, that we ſhall neuer know how to get out.
Now he ſaith, the word endures for euer, not only in it ſelfe, but in vsus alſo: which we ought diligentlie to obſerue, becauſe without this addition we ſhould neuer be able to attaine any ſound conſolation. And S. Peter, a faithfull expoſitor of this place applies it vntounto vsus, in ſaying, that we are regenerated by this incorruptible ſeed: yea, by this word, which, ſaith he, is preached amōg you, 1. Pet. 1.23. whence we gather, as I touched a little before, that life is prepared for the dead, which ſhall earneſtlie draw neere to this fountaine ſet open vntounto them: for that power which is hidden in God, is manifeſted vntounto vsus by this word.