Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

Vers. 9. Therefore is judgement far from us; neither doth justice come near unto us: we wait for light, but lo, it is darkness: for brightness, but we walk in darkness.

Vers. 9. Therefore is iudgement farre from vs; neither doth iustice come neere vnto vs: we wait for light, but loe, it is darknes: for brightnes, but we walke in darknes.

¹Having showed how much the estate of this people was perverted and corrupted, he therewithal teacheth that they are justly corrected thus severely, to the end they should take up no complaints, as if they were more hardly dealt withal then there was cause. He hath by piecemeal then deciphered out their open and known corruptions, that they might acknowledge how many ways they were guilty before God: and now he puts them in mind that it was no wonder if God carried a strait hand over such obstinate spirits, in handling them according to their deserts. Now he saith, that judgement was far off, in respect that they were the only miserable people in the world, and had not God their protector, as at other times. He takes judgement & justice for Gods particular care and safeguard over us, namely, when he expresseth so much by the effects. By Justice, he means Gods protection, by Judgement, the vengeance which he executes upon such as offer any violence against us. But here he affirms, that God hath no more care over his people, and that he hath with-held his aid and succour from them, because they were unworthy thereof. We are also to note this particle therefore, for thence it follows, that they were not to murmur against God, as if he kept no measure in his corrections, seeing they had so often abused his Majesty.

¹HAuing shewed how much the estate of this people was peruerted and corrupted, he therewithall teacheth that they are iustly corrected thus seuerely, to the end they should take vp no complaints, as if they were more hardly dealt withall then there was cause. He hath by peecemeale then deciphered out their open and knowne corruptions, that they might acknowledge how many waies they were guiltie before God: and now he puts them in minde that it was no wonder if God caried a strait hand ouer such obstinate spirits, in handling them according to their deserts. Now he saith, that iudgement vvas farre off, in respect that they were the only miserable people in the world, and had not God their protector, as at other times. He takes iudgement & iustice for Gods particular care and safegard ouer vs, namely, when he expresseth so much by the effects. By Iustice, he meanes Gods protection, by Iudgement, the vengeance which he executes vpon such as offer any violence against vs. But here he affirmes, that God hath no more care ouer his people, and that he hath with-held his aid and succor from them, because they were vnworthie thereof. We are also to note this particle therefore, for thence it followes, that they were not to murmure against God, as if he kept no measure in his corrections, seeing they had so often abused his Maiestie.