Commentary on Isaiah Volume 1 John Calvin (continued)
COMMENTARY ON ISAIAH
24. Doth the ploughman plough every day 510 to sow? This passage is commonly explained as if the Lord reproached his people for ingratitude, because he had cultivated the field as a husbandman, and had spent on it all his care and industry, and yet did not reap such fruit as it ought to have yielded. Such is the interpretation given by the Jews, who have been followed also by the Greek and Latin commentators; but Isaiah's meaning was quite different. He connects this doctrine with his former statement, that the destruction of Judea, or of the whole world, had been revealed to him; and therefore he adds, that still God does not always display his hand, or constantly punish the wickedness of men; for he often appears as if he did not see it, and delays the punishment of it for a time. The Lord's forbearance and slowness to punish, which is thus manifested, is abused by wicked men for leading them to greater lengths in wickedness, as Solomon remarks that men are encouraged to commit wickedness by observing that
"all things happen alike to the good and to the bad," (Ecclesiastes 8:14,) that all the worst and basest men enjoy prosperity, while the godly are liable to distresses not less and even greater than those of other men. 511
In short, when the wicked perceive no difference in outward matters, they think either that there is no God, or that everything is governed by the blind violence of fortune. To such thoughts therefore Isaiah replies, "Do you not know that God has his seasons, and that he knows what he ought to do at the proper time?" If ploughmen do not "every day" cleave the earth or break the clods, this ought not to be attributed to their want of skill; for, on the contrary, their skill requires them to desist. 512 What would they gain by continually turning over the soil, but to weary themselves to no purpose, and prevent it from yielding any fruit? Thus God does not act with bustle or confusion, but knows the times and seasons for doing his work. 513
25. When he hath levelled its surface. He now speaks about sowing. The sower will not put into the earth as much as he can, nor will he throw it in at random, but will measure the ground, and give to it as much as is necessary; for otherwise the superfluous mass would rot, and not a single grain would take root.
Wheat in measure, and barley measured. 514 He will not mix various
510"The common version, 'all day,' though it seems to be a literal translation, does not convey the sense of the original expression, which is used both here and elsewhere to mean 'all the time,' or 'always.' " — Alexander
511"Et les fideles sont sujets à beaucoup de miseres, voire plus que ne sont pas les reprouvez;" — "And believers are liable to many afflictions, even more than the reprobate are."
512"Will the ploughman never sow, but always cut the earth by spades and instruments for ploughing?" — Jarchi
513"This apposite simile from the various methods used by the husbandman in preparing his land, and in managing the crop after it is gathered, is addressed to those who might question divine providence, because sentence against the wicked is not executed speedily. God, who teacheth the farmer the proper time and manner of treating his crop, knoweth best when and how to punish sinners: he reduceth them not to dust at once, any more than corn is suffered to lie under pressure till it is rendered unserviceable, but chastiseth in mercy, in order to reclaim them." — Stock
514"The principle wheat and the appointed barley. Or, wheat in the appointed place, and barley in the appointed place." — Eng. Ver. "The choice wheat and the picked barley." —