John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 49:16

"Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." — Isaiah 49:16 (ASV)

Behold, on the palms of my hands. By another comparison, he describes that inconceivable care which the Lord exercises toward us. It is a common proverb that “we have it at our fingertips” when we have something fully and deeply fixed in our memory.

And Moses, when he recommends constant meditation on the Law, says, “You shall bind them for a sign on your hand;” that is, that they should always have the commandments of God placed before their eyes (Deuteronomy 6:8).

He now makes use of the same comparison, as if he had said, “I cannot look at my hands without beholding you in them; I carry you engraved on my heart, so that no forgetfulness can erase you. In a word, I cannot forget you without forgetting myself.”

True, indeed, God has neither hands nor bodily shape, but Scripture accommodates itself to our weak capacity to express the strength of God’s love toward us.

Your walls are continually before me. As the Church is frequently called the “habitation” or “city of God” (and hence the metaphor of “building” (Psalms 102:16; Jeremiah 24:6; Matthew 16:18) is also frequently employed in Scripture), so he uses the figurative term “walls,” by which he denotes the peace and prosperity of the Church. It is as if he had said that he would take care that Jerusalem should thrive and flourish.

Yet it should be observed that the term “walls” also denotes the proper order of policy and discipline, of which God declares that he will be the ceaseless and unwearied guardian.

Let us remember that this prophecy was accomplished during that frightful desolation, when the “walls” of Jerusalem (a lively image of the Church) had been cast down, the temple overthrown, and government overturned; and when, in a word, everything had been destroyed and nearly razed to the foundation. For immediately afterwards, he promises that they shall all be restored.