John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 48:5

"therefore I have declared it to thee from of old; before it came to pass I showed it thee; lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them." — Isaiah 48:5 (ASV)

I foretold to thee long ago. He again repeats the same statement, so that the people, when they had been delivered from Babylon, might acknowledge the kindness of God and might not ascribe this deliverance to idols or to fortune. If it is asked, “Why does the Prophet mention idols, since the Jews professed the worship of one God?” I reply, they had been corrupted by associating with the Gentiles and had degenerated into superstitions to such an extent that they had entirely forgotten God. Ezekiel complains of this, that in the vision in which he appeared to be carried to Jerusalem, he beheld the sanctuary of God polluted by various idols (Ezekiel 8:3). Not without reason, therefore, does he recall them to God as the only author of these events, so that they may acknowledge that he has redeemed them.

Lest, perhaps, thou shouldest say. He means that the Jews will be inexcusable if they do not acknowledge the kindness of God when they have been emancipated from slavery, for what had been foretold long ago would not have happened by chance. God’s foreknowledge is therefore connected by the Prophet with his power, and he declares that he not only foresaw but likewise accomplished these events.

Here then, as in a mirror, we behold the wicked exercise of our understanding, which always contrives how it will rob God of the praise that is due to him. Whenever he either assists us or in any way is kind to us, he may be said to stretch out his hand and invite us to himself.

Yet the world, as if it purposely designed to resist, ascribes to others what has come from God, just as we see that in Popery all God’s benefits are attributed to dead saints, as if God were in a deep sleep.

It is therefore necessary that the lamp of doctrine should shine to regulate our judgment; for, in considering the works of God, we will always go astray if he does not go before us and enlighten us by his word. But even now we find in many people what Isaiah deplores in his nation: that, even after being warned, they do not stop making idols for themselves, which they clothe with the spoils taken from God.

Peter and John loudly declared (Acts 3:12) that it was not by their own merits or excellence that they performed their miracles; yet we see how the Papists load them with miracles against their will and in spite of their resistance.

Although God does not now foretell events that will happen, yet the doctrine of the Law and of the Gospel will just as powerfully condemn our ingratitude as if prophecies had attested to those works of which God there declares himself to be the author.