Isaiah 14

Wesley: Saying—this verse does not only concern Babylon’s destruction, but also the overthrow of Sennacherib and the Assyrian host, which was a pledge of the destruction of the city and empire of Babylon. As I have thought, so shall it happen; as I have purposed, so shall it stand. The LORD of Armies has sworn.

The sworn purpose is sure. Sennacherib’s host is Wesley’s pledge. The oath stands in the land; it does not erase the armies he uses as means.

Calvin: for more full confirmation an oath was necessary. There is nothing of which it is more difficult to convince us than that wicked men will immediately be ruined, when we see them flourishing. On this account he employs an oath. As I have thought, so shall it be.

What he has purposed shall stand. The oath is the Lord’s, over Assyria. The LORD of Armies has sworn.

Wesley: My land—in Judea, which is my land in a peculiar manner. Mountains—in my mountainous country, for such Judea was, especially about Jerusalem. I will break the Assyrian in my land, and tread him under foot on my mountains trample him underfoot; his yoke shall depart, and his burden leave their shoulders.

The Assyrian is broken in Judea, on those mountains. The yoke departing is a relief in the land he calls his. Do not copy the trampling.

Calvin: some think this relates to Sennacherib’s army, which the hand of God destroyed by means of an angel when he besieged Jerusalem. The Lord will put an end to the tyranny of the Assyrians; the breaking does not refer so much to persons as to the empire. It even includes the redemption obtained through Christ, of which that deliverance was a forerunner. Jerusalem among the mountains was despised; this contempt magnifies the power of God.

The Assyrian yoke is broken in his land. Assyria is trampled on God’s own mountains.

Wesley: The earth—upon this vast empire, now in the hands of the Assyrians, and shortly to come into the hands of the Babylonians. The hand—the providence of God executing his purpose. This is the plan that is determined for the whole earth. This is the hand that is stretched out over all the nations.

Whole earth here is that empire. Providence executes what he has purposed; the armies and the land are means under the oath. The LORD has purposed.

Calvin: why the whole earth and all the nations, when he is speaking about Babylon? The Babylonian empire, after swallowing up Nineveh, extended nearly through the whole of the east; the devastation of that empire was also the destruction of the whole world. He declares the will and purpose of God, and his power. His hand ought never to be separated from his mouth; the power is active, not unemployed.

The stretched-out hand cannot be turned back. Held in common: purpose concerning the whole earth.

Wesley is silent on this verse; nearest: the hand is the providence of God executing his purpose. For the LORD of Armies has planned, and who can stop it? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?

No one annuls the sworn purpose. Providence executing it does not make the oath uncertain, and it does not erase the means. Who can turn it back?

Calvin: who shall disannul his purpose? Who shall turn back his hand? He speaks disdainfully of all the creatures. As soon as the Lord has decreed, he stretches out his hand, and when his hand is stretched out, the execution of the work must follow. There can be no repentance or change in God; no occurrence can thwart his purpose.

What he has purposed shall stand. Common ground: his hand is stretched out. The LORD of hosts, over Assyria.