John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 43:9

"Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, It is truth." — Isaiah 43:9 (ASV)

Let all the nations be gathered together. Here the Prophet, as on former occasions, speaks in the person of God and issues a challenge to all idols. It is highly necessary, and was at that time especially necessary, to distinguish between the true God and false gods. It is easy indeed to ascribe to God the glory of divinity, but it is very difficult to claim it for him so exclusively that all false gods shall be reduced to nothing. At that time, the error regarding them had received greater confirmation because, at the ruin of the nation, unbelievers applauded their gods as if they had vanquished the true God. The Prophet therefore suggests to believers the reply which they should make to the jeers of their enemies; and, although these enemies should sally forth in crowds to defend their errors, he enjoins the small number of believers to stand firm against all their forces.

Who is there among them to declare this? We formerly said that foreknowledge and power belong to God alone, for he has all things under his eye and governs all things according to his pleasure. Accordingly, by these two arguments, he formerly proved against all the false gods the charge of vanity. He now repeats the same charge, not to reclaim from this error the Gentiles, who did not read those prophecies, but to confirm the faith of the Jews, who were assured that they alone knew the true God.

At present, indeed, this doctrine belongs to both Gentiles and Jews. Not only so, but when the Jews showed themselves to be unworthy (Acts 13:46), their privileges were extended to the Gentiles. But at that time, Isaiah chiefly addressed the Jews so that, although they saw the Gentiles succeeding in everything as they wished, they should still abhor their idols and superstitions.

Let them produce their witnesses. After having summoned unbelievers to plead the cause of their gods, or rather, after having held it to be acknowledged that they spent their time worshipping idols to no purpose, because these idols had no power of predicting future events, he then adds that there will be no witnesses to testify truthfully that any prediction ever came from false gods. Consequently, their cause is destitute of lawful defense.

Indeed, there never was a time when many fables were not told about idols, just as we constantly hear of innumerable fables of that kind which are widely circulated. The silliness with which unbelievers pour forth their lies is equaled by the obstinacy with which they defend them. But if we examine them, we shall find them to be unsupported by any proof, but to be absolute tricks and foolish inventions.

On this account, the Prophet willingly yields the victory if they bring forward competent and trustworthy witnesses. To God alone, therefore, this glory belongs, for he has witnesses.

But let them hear. At length, as if the matter had been fully proved, he rises more confidently and commands the vanquished to keep silence. When he bids them hear, he means that the only obstacle to their acknowledgment of the truth is that they are prejudiced by their error and refuse to hear God. For this contempt causes them not to repent but, on the contrary, to defend their error with stubbornness.

Now, the Lord was ready to teach, if only they had been willing to hear him with candor; and a better teacher could not be desired. But pride and haughtiness will not allow them to see the truth or to listen to God. They are, therefore, without excuse, for they disdainfully reject his public instructions and do not assent to his doctrine.

Isaiah justly declares that if they gave due attention, they would be constrained to acknowledge it to be true; and indeed, all who show themselves to be obedient will readily acknowledge that the truth of God is founded on a firm and solid judgment, and not on an uncertain and doubtful opinion.