John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 51:4

"Attend unto me, O my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall go forth from me, and I will establish my justice for a light of the peoples." — Isaiah 51:4 (ASV)

Attend to me, my people. There are good reasons why the Lord so frequently demands that he should be heard. We know by experience how slow we are to hear him, especially in adversity; and even when we are in great need of consolation, we reject it through our impatience, and faint. Therefore, each of us, the more severe the afflictions that press upon him, ought to endeavor more earnestly to enlarge his heart, and in this way to arouse himself and shake off his slothfulness, so that he may receive consolation. What is demanded here is attention, to sustain our hearts by patience until the season of grace has fully come.

For the law will go forth from me. The meaning is that the Lord will reign again and will arouse his Church to call on his name. Though the word Law is equivalent to the edict which God will order to be proclaimed when he is pleased to gather his Church, yet at the same time he describes his manner of reigning; namely, by his “Law” and by his doctrine. Hence we see that wherever doctrine is rejected, God’s government is not found, that is, is not recognized by people. By judgment he means the order and administration of government by which he will restore his kingdom.

For a light of the peoples, He says that this will be “for a light of the peoples,” because, when God begins to reign, miserable people are rescued from darkness and enlightened by the doctrine of the word.

I will reveal. The word ארגיע (argiang), however, is variously explained by commentators, because רגע (ragang) has various meanings. Sometimes it signifies “to cut” and “open,” and sometimes “to be at rest.” Some therefore explain it, “I will cause to rest,” that is, “I will establish;” and that meaning is not inappropriate.

Most of the Jewish writers explain it differently, but I will not relate their crooked and harsh interpretations. I prefer this translation: “I will manifest judgment,” or, “I will cause judgment to break forth,” or, which means the same thing, “I will reveal;” because I think that it agrees better with the former clause.

Repetitions, we know, are very customary among the Hebrew writers. Therefore, although he employs different words, the meaning is still the same. Having previously said that “the law will go forth from him,” he now says that “he will reveal judgment.”