John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 44:6

"Thus saith Jehovah, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Jehovah of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God." — Isaiah 44:6 (ASV)

Thus says Jehovah. The Prophet now does nothing other than confirm the preceding doctrine, which was highly necessary. For human hearts, being prone to distrust, are easily dismayed by adversity and can be encouraged by one or more exhortations. It was not superfluous, therefore, to use many words in confirming them, because we never ascribe as much as we ought to the power of God, but are distracted by a variety of thoughts and are too strongly attached to the present state of things.

The King of Israel, and his Redeemer. After having used the unutterable name of God, the Prophet also calls him “King” and “Redeemer,” because it is not enough that we perceive the power of God if we are not convinced of his goodwill toward us. Therefore, in order that his promises may produce their proper effect on us, he mentions not only his glory but also his goodness, so that we may know that it extends to us. It might be thought absurd that he called him “King” while there was scarcely any people; but believers ought to rely on this promise, so that they might behold the kingdom by faith and contemplate it as future, though they did not behold it with their eyes. And indeed, this doctrine would never have penetrated their hearts when they were reduced to the greatest extremity and were almost overwhelmed with despair, if the way had not been opened by this preface. But when God familiarly addresses us and declares that he is united to us, faith, allured by so gentle an invitation, rises up out of hell itself.

I am the first. By these words he does not assert God’s eternity but shows that He is always like himself, so that they may hope that He will be to them in the future what they have found him to be in the past. But why, it may be asked, does he speak in this manner to believers, who knew it well? I reply, though people believe God, yet they do not acknowledge him to be what he is and sometimes ascribe less to him than to the creature. The Prophet, therefore, wishes our minds to be pure and free from every false imagination, and that we should raise them to heaven, so that they may be entirely fixed on God alone. Besides, it was necessary that the people, who had been so terribly distressed, should be fortified against such violent attacks, so that they might firmly keep their ground.