John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 5:12

"And the harp and the lute, the tabret and the pipe, and wine, are [in] their feasts; but they regard not the work of Jehovah, neither have they considered the operation of his hands." — Isaiah 5:12 (ASV)

And the harp. He adds the instruments of pleasure by which people addicted to intemperance stimulate their appetite. These might have been different from ours, but they belonged to music. Now, Isaiah does not blame music, for it is an art that should not be despised; but he describes a nation immersed in every kind of luxury, and too much inclined to indulge in pleasures. This is sufficiently evident from what follows.

And they regard not the work of the Lord, as if he had said, “They are as constant in luxurious indulgence, and as much devoted to it, as if this had been the purpose for which they were born and raised; and they do not consider why the Lord supplies them with what is necessary.” People were not born to eat and drink, and wallow in luxury, but to obey God, to worship Him devoutly, to acknowledge His goodness, and to strive to do what is pleasing in His sight. But when they give themselves up to luxury, when they dance and sing, and have no other aim than to spend their life in the highest mirth, they are worse than animals: for they do not consider for what purpose God created them, how He governs this world by His providence, and to what end all the actions of our life should be directed.

Having stated this meaning, which seems natural to me, I consider nothing more to be necessary; for I cannot adopt the ingenious interpretations of some authors, such as when they explain the work of God to mean the law; nor did I intend to state every opinion that others have maintained. It is enough to know that all who are addicted to gluttony are here reproached by the Prophet for voluntarily becoming like brute beasts, when they do not direct their minds to God, who is the author of life.