John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 44:26

"that confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith of Jerusalem, She shall be inhabited; and of the cities of Judah, They shall be built, and I will raise up the waste places thereof;" — Isaiah 44:26 (ASV)

Confirming the word. The Prophet now applies to his purpose what he had previously said. For, although he spoke in general terms, he still had a specific object in view: to adapt all that he said to the circumstances of the present occasion. This was so that the people would not be alarmed at the pretended wisdom of the Chaldeans or doubt that God would one day deliver them. Therefore, he contrasts their unfounded predictions with the promises of God, so that they would not imagine that monarchy was free from all danger.

The promise was this:

“Babylon shall fall, but my people shall be restored to liberty” (Isaiah 21:9).

The Babylonians laughed at these promises, saying, “As if we could not foresee by means of the stars what shall happen to us!” For this reason, the Lord says that He will confirm—that is, He will actually fulfill what He has promised and will accomplish those things which could neither be foreseen nor imagined by those wise men.

Wicked men treated what the prophets foretold as an empty sound that would quickly pass away. With this opinion, the Lord contrasts the word “confirm” or “raise up,” by which He means that God will establish the truth of His words.

Of His servant. By the word “servant,” the Prophet means all the prophets, unless it is considered better to view it as primarily denoting Isaiah, who announced and testified to this deliverance more clearly than all others. However, it is unnecessary to limit it to a single individual, for it related to them all. God likewise calls them by the ordinary name, “ambassadors” or “messengers” of God, because He had sent many to support the faith of His people by their common and universal consent.

The counsel of His messengers. By the word “counsel,” the Prophet means the decrees of God, but not every kind of decree. We have no right to inquire about God’s secret purposes, which He does not manifest through His servants. However, when He reveals to us what He will do, we ought to receive the threatenings of the prophets with as much reverence as if God admitted us into the most secret recesses of the heavens.

Therefore, let people not dispute according to their own fancy after God has spoken by the mouth of the prophets. In short, the Prophet intended to recommend the authority of God’s Word—declared to us through the ministry of men—as if it revealed to us the eternal purpose of God.

Saying to Jerusalem. After speaking in general terms, the Prophet now applies the certainty of God’s promises more closely to the present subject. Otherwise, the people could not have obtained any advantage from it. Therefore, he expressly adds the mention of “Jerusalem,” so that they may know that it shall be restored.

Thus, in this matter, we ought primarily to behold the power of God in determining to defend His Church in a wonderful manner and to raise her from death to life as often as is necessary.

Therefore, if we believe that God is true and powerful, let us not doubt that there will always be a Church. When it appears to be in a lamentably ruinous condition, let us entertain good hope of its restoration.

What is said here of “Jerusalem” relates to the whole Church. Therefore, if we see that she is in a ruinous condition, that her cities are demolished, and if nothing is visible but frightful and hideous desolation, let us rely on this promise: that she shall finally be raised up and perfectly restored.