John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 65:12

"I will destine you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter; because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but ye did that which was evil in mine eyes, and chose that wherein I delighted not." — Isaiah 65:12 (ASV)

Therefore I will number you to the sword. He alludes to the number of the gods; and the Lord declares that he will easily ascertain how numerous they are, for he “will number them to the sword.” From this we see that the Prophet, in the preceding verse, does not speak of the two planets, Jupiter and Mercury, as some think, but means that they were not satisfied with one God and collected for themselves various idols.

It is an idle conjecture that the word מני (meni) denotes Mercury, because מנה (manah) signifies “to number,” and Mercury presided over numbers and merchants. The Prophet's design is clear: he declares that the people “shall be numbered to the sword” because they delighted in a vast number of gods and did not choose to rely on one God.

Because I called, and you did not answer. He heightens the extent and heinousness of that treason by saying that the Jews sinned through deliberate malice and on purpose, rather than through ignorance. They had been often instructed and warned, but had disdainfully rejected all warnings. Consequently, they were far less excusable than others to whom no prophets were sent; for although ignorance cannot be pleaded as an excuse by any person, much less can it be pleaded by the Jews and those to whom the word of God is proclaimed, and who, on that account, will be condemned and punished more severely than others.

I spoke, and you did not hear. He describes the manner of calling, namely, that he exhorted the people by the prophets; for by the word “speak” he repeats the same thing twice, as we have already stated is the custom of Hebrew writers. To “hear” the Lord is to obey his word; for it would be a trivial matter to lend our ears if we did not submit to the word; and it would then be with us as the proverb says, “They listen with the ears of an ass.”

God wishes to be heard sincerely and does not approve of a pretended hearing; and he shows how it came about that they rejected the calling. It was because they shut their ears to the doctrine of the prophets, for the beginning of obedience is to bring a desire to learn.

And you did evil before my eyes. The phrase “before my eyes” has the same meaning as “to my face”—a mode of expression he used a little before (Isaiah 65:3). All people, indeed, sin “before the eyes” of the Lord, and none can withdraw from his presence. But in a peculiar sense we are said to sin “before his eyes” when, having been called by him, we do not dread his presence; for he approaches nearer to those whom he calls by the prophets and, so to speak, exhibits himself as present to them. Therefore, far more detestable and worthy of severe chastisements is the impiety of those who, laying aside all shame, despise and scorn God when he draws near to call and invite them.

And chose the things in which I took no pleasure. From this concluding clause of the verse, it is evident that they are condemned not for gross crimes but for foolish devotions by which they corrupted the worship of God. Although they zealously devoted themselves to sacrifices they contrived, because they thought that in this way they would become entitled to the favor of God, he declares that he abhors their wicked practices.

It is not permitted for any person to have free choice to follow whatever they think fit; instead, all must observe what God approves and must not turn aside from it in any way. Now we see that it was not a fault peculiar to a single age for people to follow their own caprice in the worship of God and adore their own inventions instead of God; but whatever “pleasure” people take in these things, the Lord solemnly declares that he condemns and abhors them.