Isaiah 66

Wesley: the whole verse is expressive of a great and sudden salvation which God would work for his church, like the delivery of a woman, and that of a man-child, before her travail, and without pain. Doubtless it refers to the coming of Christ, and the sudden propagation of the gospel.

The sudden birth pictures the sudden fruit of the gospel. Zion first; then Christ’s and the apostles’ time. Shared christology with Calvin: this is the Church’s child.

Calvin: by the destruction of hypocrites he provides for believers’ safety. The whole Church is a woman; she shall obtain a numerous offspring though she appear childless. The work shall be sudden and unexpected; we must not judge restoration according to our own opinion. Women carry nine months; the Lord causes the child to see the light before pain is perceived. He claims the whole praise. A male—a noble, courageous offspring, regenerated by the Spirit of Christ (Rom 8:15).

Miracle that sets aside human industry. Same sudden son; the Church is mother, God the giver.

Wesley: as soon as the voice of the gospel put the church of the Jews into her travail, in Christ’s and the Apostles’ time, it presently brought forth.

Gospel voice, Jewish church in travail, children at once. Zion; then the nations from that birth. Both agree: who has heard of such a thing?

Calvin: he extols the greatness; believers shall not judge from the order of nature but from the grace of God. He does not mean the Church restored perfectly in a moment; the advancement is long-continued, and slow in the estimation of the flesh; yet even the beginning exceeds human capacity. The Church brings forth when she appeared barren, rendered fruitful by the preaching of the gospel. No nation ever came into the world in an instant; the Church, all at once and in more than one place, brings forth a vast number.

Gospel fruit that looks like a dream (Ps 126:1). Same one-day land; fulfilled in the return in some measure, far brighter in the gospel, and in our own times.

Wesley: I, that in the ordinary course of my providence use to give a birth to women to whom I have given a power to conceive, shall I not give a birth to my people, whom by my promises I have made to conceive such expectations? Nor shall Zion once only bring forth; she shall go on, her womb shall not be shut, she shall every day bring forth more and more children, and my presence shall be with my church, to the end of the world.

He will not stop mid-birth; the church keeps bearing. Promises make the expectation sincere. Shared ground with Calvin: he who brings to birth will bring forth. He is not unsure of the delivery.

Calvin: lest good men be perplexed, consider his strength. Nothing so difficult in the eyes of men is not easily performed by him. In a woman’s bringing forth we see his wonderful power; shall he be less wonderful in enlarging the Church, the principal theater of his glory? It is wicked to limit his strength, as if he were less powerful when he acts by openly stretching out his hand than when he acts by natural means.

The God of ordinary birth is not weaker in the Church’s birth. Same unshut womb; do not measure him by our slowness.

Wesley: the unit’s joy is for those who love and have mourned over Jerusalem—the church’s friends, not her mockers (v. 5).

Lovers and mourners are invited; gladness is held out. Captivity’s grief first; gospel joy next. Agreed: rejoice with Jerusalem.

Calvin: those who formerly were sad shall have a joyful condition. He has in view the captivity, during which believers groaned. He stimulates all who are moved by strong affection toward the Church and reckon nothing more desirable than her prosperity. None shall have a share but they who love her when she is contemptible (Ps 102:14). These promises extend from the return down to the reign of Christ and its full perfection.

Only the Church’s mourners taste this joy. Same be glad for her; the small company that loved her dust.

Wesley: the gospel doctrine was their breasts of consolation. Her glory—Christ was the glory of the people of Israel, though he was also a light to the Gentiles.

Gospel doctrine and Christ himself the glory. Jerusalem; the nations drink too. Shared christology with Calvin: consolation from the Church’s abundance is Christ.

Calvin: this verse is joined to the preceding. The occasion of joy is that the wretched condition of the Church shall be changed. By suck he compares all believers, whatever their age, to children, that they may remember their infirmity and be confirmed by the Lord’s strength. Consolations—what the Church has received and of which she makes her children partakers. Nothing can be more excellent than that ground of joy.

Children at the Church’s breast, fed with her received consolation. Same satisfied nursing; glory is hers as gift, not as source apart from God.

Wesley: it is plain this prophecy relates to a farther conversion of the Jews than hath been yet seen. Ye—ye Jews also. Her sides—the Gentiles were born upon the sides of Jerusalem and dandled upon her knees, as first hearing from the Apostles (who were members of the Jewish church) the glad tidings of salvation.

Peace and nations’ glory, Jews also nursed, Gentiles from Jerusalem’s apostles. Then gospel; a farther Jewish turning under the same gospel. Both hear: peace like a river; the nations’ glory flows in.

Calvin: he compares the children of God to infants carried in the arms and warmed in the bosom. He compares himself to a mother, whose love exceeds every other (Isa 49:15). Peace means prosperity. Glory of the Gentiles denotes every kind of riches for a happy life, as rivers run into the sea. Constant flowing: God is an inexhaustible fountain; his peace differs from the world’s, which quickly dries up. When the Church looks sad, remember he has rivers of peace.

He fondles us in his bosom; peace is from an unfailing fountain. Same overflowing nations; do not despair in wars.

Wesley: as one whom—that is, in the most tender and compassionate way.

He comforts as a mother; the place of comfort is Jerusalem. City first; gospel church next. Shared ground with Calvin: I will comfort you. This is his chosen compassion, not a new feeling he just acquired.

Calvin: it is wonderful that he dwells so largely on this renewal; he can neither express the greatness of the love God bears toward us, nor satisfy himself with speaking of it. I prefer reading that the restored Church shall gladden her children. This is not addressed to irreligious scorners, but to those who declare themselves her children. God is author of the joy; Jerusalem is his handmaid.

Mother-love, Church as nurse, God as source. Same comforted in Jerusalem; only her children receive it.

Wesley: the peace of the church and the propagation of the kingdom of Christ is always the cause of an heart rejoicing to such as fear God, so that they flourish like an herb in the spring. The hand—the power, protection, and influence of God.

Seers rejoice; bones flourish; the hand known to servants, indignation to enemies.

Calvin: see denotes undoubted experience, that believers may not doubt the result. Bones shall flourish as grass—bones dried by a melancholy spirit (Prov 17:22) regain vigor; he alludes to captivity’s sadness. The hand of Jehovah shall be known toward his servants: at first he appeared to overlook them; when fine weather smiles there shall be a distinction between the good and the bad. If enemies have the superiority for a time, the time will come when the Lord will reveal himself.

Hidden hand, then known. Same flourishing bones; wait through the apparent overlooking.