John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 30:11

John Calvin Commentary

Isaiah 30:11

1509–1564
Protestant
John Calvin
John Calvin

John Calvin Commentary

Isaiah 30:11

1509–1564
Protestant
SCRIPTURE

"get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us." — Isaiah 30:11 (ASV)

Depart from the way. The sum of what is stated is that when the prophets are set aside, the Lord is also rejected and set aside, and no regard is paid to him. Wicked men pretend otherwise, for they are ashamed to acknowledge such great wickedness.

But they gain nothing by it, for God wishes that we should listen to him through those to whom he gave instructions to declare his will to us and to administer the doctrine of the word. Therefore, if it is our duty to listen to God, if we are bound to pay him any homage, we ought to show it by embracing his word, as it is contained in the writings of the prophets and evangelists. This ought to be carefully observed in commendation of the word, for those who set it aside act as if they denied that he is God.

Cause the Holy One of Israel to depart. Here he again points out the cause of such great wickedness, which doubles their guilt: namely, that God does not spare or flatter their vices, but acts as a good and skillful physician. Men desire to be flattered and cannot patiently endure that God should threaten them. This is why men hate and reject the word.

From this proceeds the furious attack on the prophets, whose reproofs and threats they cannot endure; for there is no reason why men should revolt from the government of God, except that they take delight in what is wrong and crooked, and abhor the right way. Appropriately, therefore, does the Prophet join these two things: dislike of heavenly doctrine and hatred of uprightness.