Isaiah 44

But now, Jacob my servant, and Israel, whom I have chosen. Paraphrase from 43:22’s turn and v. 2 honestly: after 43’s wearying and “Therefore—I have exposed them to contempt and destruction,” the word turns—But now, Jacob my servant, and Israel, whom I have chosen—the same people he has, in v. 2, been forming from the time he first took them to be his people. The “Yet listen now” is a turn from exposure to the chosen servant, not a new Wesley paragraph. Jacob my servant, and Israel, whom I have chosen.

God says, “Yet listen now.” Calvin: mitigates the severity of ch. 43. Though grievous afflictions overtake thee, hear what I will do. God is never so angry with his Church as not to leave some room for mercy. Servant and Elect are synonymous, yet election comes first; David was God’s servant before he was born (Ps 22:10).

Yet now is mercy after 43’s severity; servant and elect name one people, election first; David servant before birth. Common ground with Wesley: Jacob my servant; Israel chosen; hear now.

Thus says the LORD who made you, and formed you from the womb, who will help you says: Don’t be afraid, Jacob my servant; and you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. Wesley: Formed thee—from the time that I first took thee to be my people, I have been forming and fashioning thee. Jesurun—another name of Jacob or Israel, given to him, Deut 32:15.

Forming is national fashioning from the time he first took them as his people; Jesurun is Jacob’s other name (Deut 32:15). Fear not, O Jacob my servant; Jeshurun chosen; the LORD made and will help.

Thus saith the LORD that made thee. Calvin: Maker is not the first creation by which we are born human, but regeneration belonging to the elect, that they may obtain a place in the Church. Formed thee from the womb: hereditary covenant; God separated them before they were born (Rom 9:11); cuts off all merits. Will help thee. Jeshurun: Beloved (Deut 32:15), not merely Upright. Fear not: Luke 12:32; the Father’s good will.

Maker is regeneration of the elect; womb is hereditary covenant before birth, merits cut off; Jeshurun is Beloved; Fear not rests on the Father’s good will. Wesley agrees: Jacob/Jeshurun chosen; Deut 32:15; Fear not.

For I will pour water on him who is thirsty, and streams on the dry ground. I will pour my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your descendants. Wesley: Water—upon him that is destitute of it.

The pour is water on the destitute; Spirit on offspring and blessing on descendants name the same gift. Both traditions hear: water on thirsty land; Spirit poured; blessing on descendants. He will pour what he has named.

I will pour waters. Calvin: people like a dry thirsty land (Ps 143:6). I will pour my Spirit: waters = Spirit. Not merely regeneration; alludes to universal grace that revives the face of the earth (Ps 104:30). Secret moisture of his power quickens souls.

Dry people drink; waters are the Spirit; secret moisture quickens souls; Ps 104:30 is the earth revived. Wesley reads it the same way: water on the destitute / Spirit reviving a dry people.

They will spring up among the grass, as willows by flowing streams. From v. 3: water upon him that is destitute of it; Spirit poured on offspring and blessing on descendants is why they spring up among the grass, as willows by flowing streams.

Destitute land drinks, then willows rise. Both readings: they spring up; willows by streams.

They shall spring up as among grass, willows by the water courses. Calvin: when the Spirit is sent, the earth is renewed. Restoration of the Church; chief part is the new creature restoring God’s image in the elect. First explain the Prophet’s design (restoration), then the doctrine of regeneration may be drawn more copiously.

Spirit sent, earth renewed; restoration of the Church first, then regeneration drawn more copiously; chief part is the new creature in the elect. Wesley agrees: they spring up like willows by water.

One will say, I am the LORD’s. Another will be called by the name of Jacob; and another will write with his hand to the LORD, and honor the name of Israel. Wesley: Israel—the blessing of God upon the Jews shall be so remarkable, that the Gentiles shall join them, and accept the Lord for their God.

Blessing on the Jews is so remarkable Gentiles join them and accept the Lord. One says I am the LORD’s; others take Jacob’s name; Gentiles come in.

One shall say, I am the LORD’s. Calvin: out of all nations the Lord will gather his people; strangers into the Church (Ps 87:4). Small number returned from captivity, but others from every quarter. Change that surpasses nature: out of Adam’s accursed race a spiritual Israel. True faith breaks forth into confession. None are lawful citizens of the Church but those who submit to the government of God.

Gathered from all nations; strangers enrolled; spiritual Israel out of Adam’s race; confession is true faith; lawful citizens submit to God’s government. Wesley concurs: Gentiles come in; they say I am the LORD’s.

The LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of Armies, says: I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God. First and last marks the LORD as sole God. Hear the verse; do not invent Wesley prose. Shared sovereignty: the King of Israel and his Redeemer is first and last; besides him there is no god. One LORD, no other god; first and last already is. He is first and last; he is not becoming god as events unfold.

Thus saith Jehovah, the King of Israel and his Redeemer. Calvin: not enough to perceive power if we are not convinced of good-will. I am the first and the last: not merely asserting eternity, but that He is always like himself, so they may hope he will be to them in future what they have found in the past. We sometimes ascribe less to him than to the creature.

King and Redeemer name power with good-will; first and last means always like himself, hope from past to future. Wesley says as much: I am the first and the last; and besides me there is no God. Always like himself; not learning whether he will be their God.

Who is like me? Who will call, and will declare it, and set it in order for me, since I established the ancient people? Let them declare the things that are coming, and that will happen. Wesley: Who—which of all the Heathen gods. Declare—shall by his powerful word cause it to be, and by his fore-knowledge declare that it shall be. Set in order—orderly relate all future events as they shall happen. Since—since I first made man upon earth. The things—near at hand, and to come hereafter.

Heathen gods cannot cause or declare; he both makes it be and by fore-knowledge declares it shall be; all future events related as they shall happen. Common reading: who is like me; he declares what is to come. Fore-knowledge declares what shall be; events will agree.

Who as I shall call. Calvin: God versus idols. Call may be foreknowledge or action; Calvin prefers action—raise up, announce, appoint deliverers. Ancient people: his own people the Church, preferred to all others; antiquity estimated from election not years; all men appointed to be of service to the Church.

Idols cannot call; he raises and appoints deliverers; ancient people is the Church, antiquity from election; all men of service to that Church. Common ground with Wesley: God versus heathen gods; he declares what is to come. He appointed an ancient people and declares what is to come; he is not waiting to learn the future.

Haven’t I declared it to you long ago, and shown it? You are my witnesses. Is there a God besides me? Indeed, there is not. I don’t know any other Rock; I know not any. Wesley: Ye—thee, O Israel, whom he bids not to fear. Told thee—even from the first ages of the world. Declared—have published it to the world in my sacred records. Witnesses—both of my predictions, and of the exact agreeableness of events to them.

Israel is told not to fear; from the first ages he told; sacred records published it; they witness predictions and events that agree with them. Fear not; told from of old; you are my witnesses; no God besides; no Rock. He told from of old; events agree with predictions.

Fear not. Calvin: conclusion from his power. Have I not from then made thee hear: long period or fit season; he kept their faith alive by many predictions. Ye are my witnesses. No strong God besides me: not enough to acknowledge eternal essence if we do not also ascribe strength.

Fear not follows his power; many predictions kept faith alive; witnesses of those words; not enough to grant eternal essence without ascribing strength. Common ground with Wesley: Fear not; told from of old; you are my witnesses; no God besides. There is no Rock,” not a different English Bible. He declared it; they are witnesses.