John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 8:11

"For Jehovah spake thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying," — Isaiah 8:11 (ASV)

For thus Jehovah spoke to me. Here the Prophet contends against another kind of temptation, that is, against the unbelief of the people; and to make that more manifest, it should be observed that there were two remarkable temptations: one external, and the other internal.

The external temptation came from professed enemies, such as the Assyrian. When the people saw his plundering and cruelty, they thought that all was over with them, because he had brought them almost to utter ruin.

The other temptation was internal. That sacred people, who boasted of having been chosen by God, relied on human aid rather than on God. Now, this was a most dangerous temptation, for it appeared as if that nation, by its unbelief, refused admission to the promises of God, which were daily offered and continually sounded in their ears.

And what could the Prophet think, in such great perplexity, except that the destruction of this wicked people—who did not cease wickedly to reject the grace of God—was near? The Lord, therefore, determined that both the Prophet and his disciples should be armed against a temptation of this kind.

As if by taking hold of my hand. This is a beautiful metaphor, which the commentators, I think, have not understood. He alludes to fathers or teachers, who, when their words do not have sufficient effect, seize the hand of their children or scholars and hold them so as to compel them to obey. Thus the servants of the Lord are sometimes disposed to throw everything away, because they think that they are working in vain; but the Lord lays, as it were, his hand on them and holds them fast, so that they may go forward in the discharge of their duty.

This is well understood to be very necessary and is actually experienced by all who faithfully serve the Lord. For no temptation is more severe than when those in whom faith should dwell revolt, and, in a word, when faith appears to be banished from the world.

This taking hold of the hand is, therefore, highly necessary, because not only are we fickle and liable to unsteadiness, but we are also by nature too much inclined to what is evil, even if no one entices us. But if the force of custom is added, we are hardly masters of ourselves. Undoubtedly, we would be driven up and down at every moment if we were not held by the powerful government of God and did not fix the anchor of constancy in firm ground.

Every one of us should meditate earnestly on this thought, for though we may be convinced, yet when it comes to the trial, we fail and look at humans rather than God. We should, therefore, attend more carefully to this doctrine and pray to God to hold us, not only by his word but by laying his hand on us.

Besides, it should be noted that we are extremely inclined to wicked imitation. When we see bad examples, we are drawn to them with great force and take the example for a law. For when others go before us, we think that we have a right to act in the same manner, especially when it is not only one or a few persons who have led the way, but the custom has become universal.

What is in itself clearly wrong is concealed by the plausible cloak of public opinion. Not only that, but all are carried, as it were, by the violence of a whirlwind to adopt an established custom, as if the will of the people had the force of a law to authorize their corruptions.

This has not been the fault of a single age, but today it abounds as much or even more than before. For it is an evil deeply seated in all by the corruption of nature to regard a prevailing error as a law.

From this arise the superstitions of all ages, and those which today exist in Popery, the origin of which, if investigated, will be found to be simply that some persons have drawn others into the same error. Thus, almost all have been foolishly caught by the snares of Satan, and the general agreement of people is still the chief foundation of those superstitions. All defend themselves with this weapon. “We are not alone,” they say; “we follow an immense multitude.”