John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 45:18

"For thus saith Jehovah that created the heavens, the God that formed the earth and made it, that established it and created it not a waste, that formed it to be inhabited: I am Jehovah; and there is none else." — Isaiah 45:18 (ASV)

For thus says Jehovah. This verse tends to confirm the preceding one; for the Prophet means that the Jews are fully convinced that the Lord will eventually deliver them, though they are oppressed by wretched bondage.

God the maker of the earth. Some think that by “the earth” Judea is meant here, but I consider it to be an argument from the less to the greater, as we said previously concerning the twelfth verse. Since the providence of God extends universally to the creatures, it relates much more to those whom he has adopted as his sons, for he has special care for them.

In short, the Prophet’s argument is this: “Since God created the earth so that men might have a dwelling and habitation in it, he created it much more so that there might be a residence for his Church; for he has a deeper concern for his Church than for all the rest.” If, therefore, he founded the earth, if he gave to it a shape and a fixed use, so that men might be nourished by the fruits it would produce, he has undoubtedly assigned his children the first place and the highest rank of honor. This is not always visible to our eyes, and therefore our hearts should be encouraged and upheld by hope, so that we may stand unmoved against all temptations.

In a word, as long as the earth will endure, so long will the Church of God exist; as long as the sun and moon will last, it will not fail. Afterwards the Prophet will use a still stronger argument: “If the covenant which God made with Noah, regarding the settled order of this world, is stable, much more must the covenant which he has made concerning the Church be stable (Isaiah 54:9; Genesis 9:9). The world is fading and corruptible; but the Church, that is, the kingdom of Christ, will be eternal. Therefore, it is reasonable to believe that the promises which relate to the Church will undoubtedly be more stable and permanent than all the rest.”

He did not create it empty. Since the principal ornament of the earth is that it is the abode of inhabitants, he adds that it was not created to be empty, and thus waste and desolate. If it is objected, on the other hand, that the earth was empty and void when it was created, as appears from the passage where Moses employs the same word that is here used by the Prophet, תהו (tohu,) which means “shapeless and empty,” the answer is easy. The Prophet is not speaking of the beginning of creation, but of God’s purpose by which the earth was set apart for the use and habitation of men. Therefore, there is nothing here contrary to what Moses said, for Isaiah contemplates its end and use.

He formed it to be inhabited. This statement indeed extends to all mankind, because the earth was appointed to all, so that they might dwell in it. For how is it that God nourishes us and supplies us with everything that is necessary, and even supports wicked men, but because he intended that his decree should stand, by which he gave the earth to be inhabited by men?

Otherwise, it is strange that he bears with so many sins and crimes, and does not entirely destroy mankind; but he has regard to his own purpose, and not to our merit.

Thus, kingdoms and commonwealths are sustained, and thus ranks of society and forms of government are preserved even among barbarians and unbelievers. For, although God often reduces some countries to desolation on account of the sins of men, and sprinkles them, as it were, with saltness (Psalms 107:34), so that they may become barren and may never again be able to support their inhabitants, yet he always adds this alleviation, “that the earth may be inhabited”; for this is his inviolable decree.

Yet we must remember what I have already said: that as long as the earth will be inhabited, it is impossible that God will not support his worshippers who call upon him.

Besides, from this passage all good people should derive the highest consolation: that although they are despised by the world and are few and feeble, and although, on the other hand, wicked men surpass them in numbers, power, and influence, while they are despised so as to be reckoned of less value than the offscourings of the world (1 Corinthians 4:13), yet they are precious in the sight of God, because he counts them among his children and will never allow them to perish.

I am Jehovah. When he repeats that he is God, this is not merely intended to assert his essence, but to distinguish him from all idols and to keep the Jews in the pure faith. For even superstitious men acknowledge that there is one God, but conceive of him according to their own imagination; and therefore we must acknowledge God, who revealed himself to the fathers, and who spoke by Moses. Thus, he is not speaking merely of God’s eternal essence, as some think, but of all the offices that belong to him alone, so that no part of them may be ascribed to creatures.