Isaiah 63

Wesley: here begins a new matter, the prophet’s prayer through chap. 64. He starts by mentioning the great kindnesses God had shewn the Jews, emphatically, with the greatest advantages.

Recount the Lord’s steadfast love—Exodus mercy first, then the gospel church in the same story. Shared ground with Calvin: compassion and abundant steadfast love, not our merits.

Calvin: Isaiah brings consolation by calling the distressed to remember God’s ancient benefits. He cannot forsake his Church. The foundation of our salvation is laid on mercy; this excludes the merits of men. Blessings on Moses and others are ascribed not to their merits but to the mercy of God.

Remember, do not invent a new God. Same recital as Wesley; the accent is undeserved compassion toward the house of Israel.

Wesley: when he made a covenant with our fathers and brought them out of Egypt. Not lie—that will keep my covenant. So he—not Cyrus, Zerubbabel, or Nehemiah, but Christ himself.

He called them children who would keep faith; the Savior is Christ, sincerely their Savior. They could have remained true. Exodus first; the gospel church is still his people. Shared ground: he became their Savior.

Calvin: he mentions the election of the people—a peculiar people who should call upon him. He does not treat of the secret decree here, but speaks after the manner of men of mutual consent; yet the foundation stands sure that none of the elect shall perish. They did not keep their promise; still he became their Savior. Hope of pardon if they fly to God and repent.

My people is electing speech. The end of calling is a holy life; their lie does not annul the Savior. Same Savior as Wesley; the fork is why they are his.

Wesley: the angel is the same that conducted them through the wilderness—the Lord Jesus Christ, who appeared to Moses in the bush. Saved them from the house of bondage. He carried them in the arms of his power and on the wings of his providence, of old, to remember his ancient kindness for many generations.

Christ himself saved and carried. Pity, not a finite God learning their pain or changing his mind from ignorance. Exodus; the church is still carried. Shared ground with Calvin: the angel of his presence is Christ.

Calvin: the Lord accommodates himself to the manner of men, attributing to himself a father’s affection; not that he can in any way endure anguish, but by a customary figure of speech he assumes human passions. The angel of his face saved them—Calvin has no doubt the office of Savior is ascribed to Christ, the angel of highest rank. The cause was his love and undeserved kindness. He carried them all the days of old; God is not wearied in doing good.

Fatherly, not passible like a creature. Same Christ-angel as Wesley; the accent is undeserved love, not God becoming finite.

Wesley does not pause here; v. 8’s covenant children and v. 9’s Christ still govern. They rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit—covenant grief, not God taken by surprise or learning their sin.

The people who could have kept faith did not. He turned and became their enemy. Wilderness judgments; the church may still grieve the Spirit (Eph 4:30). The Spirit is not finite. Shared ground: they rebelled, and he fought against them.

Calvin: they were rebellious and drove away his goodness. God is by nature disposed to show kindness; he became an enemy because they revolted. We irritate the Holy Spirit by our wickedness—this form of speech, after the manner of men, is to produce stronger abhorrence against sin. The same Spirit performs our salvation; our sins break the bond of union (Eph 4:30).

Not God changing his mind from ignorance. Condescension of language; Spirit withdrawn in judgment. Same rebellion; the accent is that we accuse ourselves, not that God was surprised.

Wesley: this relates either to the people in Babylon (he shall remember) or to the wilderness: Where is he who delivered his people of old, to do the like for us now? A like phrase as God recollecting himself: Where am I with my former bowels? Shepherds—Moses and Aaron. Holy Spirit—those abilities and gifts wherewith God furnished Moses, as properly proceeding from the Spirit.

The church still asks for the same Exodus God. Moses first; gospel help is the same mercy. Shared ground: he put his Holy Spirit in their midst.

Calvin: chastisement is designed to rouse the people from lethargy. The true meaning is that the wretchedly oppressed Jews thought of the times of old. The shepherd is Moses, endowed with a remarkable grace of the Holy Spirit for the benefit of the whole people; the power of the Spirit was seen in the midst of the whole people.

Affliction teaches them to ask where God is. Same Moses and Spirit; the accent is God’s gift of the Spirit.

Wesley does not pause here; v. 11’s Moses and Spirit still govern. Glorious arm at Moses’ right hand, waters divided, everlasting name.

The Lord used Moses, yet the name is his. Red Sea; the church still lives under that name.

Calvin: two things connected—the right hand of Moses and the arm of God’s majesty. The Lord employs men’s ministry so that his praise is not diminished. God performed miracles to gain himself an everlasting name; it is not lawful to transfer even the smallest portion of praise to man.

Moses is instrument; the arm is the Lord’s. Same dividing of the waters; all glory his.

Wesley: as an horse—with as much ease and tenderness as a horse led by the bridle. Not stumble—though the sea were but newly divided, it was dried and smoothed by the wind God sent, as it were to prepare the way.

He led them gently. Red Sea; gospel leading is still tender. Shared ground: they did not stumble.

Calvin: he led out his people as gently as if one were leading a horse into a plain. He made them walk through the depths.

The deep was no obstacle. Same ease as Wesley; the miracle is his, not their footing.

Wesley: a laden beast goeth warily and gently down the hill. Rest—led them easily, that they should not be over-travelled; God gave them rest from their enemies, drowning them in the sea, and led them till he found a place for resting (Num 10:33)—or to Canaan the place of their rest.

The LORD’s Spirit caused them to rest. Valley and Canaan; the church still asks for that Spirit. Shared close with Calvin: he led his people to make a glorious name.

Calvin: the Red Sea was no obstacle; they marched through the depths as on level ground. A glorious name—the people argue that if he once wished to obtain a glorious name, he must not now throw away all care about it.

Lead us still, for your name’s sake. Same Spirit-given rest; hope rests on his name.