Geneva Bible Notes: Isaiah 1

Isaiah 1:1 ^a That is, a reuelation or prophecie, which was one of the two meanes, whereby God declared him selfe to his servants in olde time, as {Nom. 12,6}: & therefore the Prophetes were called Seers, {1Sam. 9,9}.

Isaiah 1:1 ^c Called also Azariah {2 King 15,1} of these Kings read {2 King. from Chap. 14 vnto Chap. 21 and 2 Chro. from Chap. 25 vnto Chap. 33}.

Isaiah 1:1 ^b Isaiah was chiefly sent to Judah, and Jerusalem, but not onely: for in this boke are prophecies concerning other nations also.

Isaiah 1:2 ^d Because men were obstinate and insensible he calleth to the dumme creatures, which were more prompte to obey Gods worde, as {Deu. 32,1}.

Isaiah 1:2 ^e He declareth his great mercie towarde the Jewes, for asmuche as he chose them aboue all other nations to be his people & children, as {Deu. 10,15}.

Isaiah 1:2 ^! Isaiah reproueth the Jewes of their ingratitude and stubbernes, that nether for benefites nor punishments wolde amend.

Isaiah 1:3 ^f The moste brute and dul beasts do more acknowledg their masters, then my people do toward me, of whome thei haue receiued benefits without comparison.

Isaiah 1:4 ^g Thei were not onely wicked, as were their fathers, but vtterly corrupt, and by their euil example infected others.

Isaiah 1:4 ^h That is, him that sanctifieth Israel.

Isaiah 1:5 ⁱ What auaileth it to seke to amend you by punishment, seing the more I correct you, the more ye rebell?

Isaiah 1:5 ^k By naming the chief partes of the bodie, he signifieth, that there was no parte of the whole bodie of the Jewes fre from his roddes.

Isaiah 1:6 ^m Their plagues were so grieuous that they were incurable, and yet they wolde no repent.

Isaiah 1:6 ^l Euerie parte of the bodie, aswel the least as the chiefest was plagued.

Isaiah 1:7 ⁿ Meaning, of them, that dwell farre of, which because they loke for no advantage of that, which remaineth, destroye all before them.

Isaiah 1:8 ^o That is, Jerusalem.

Isaiah 1:9 ^q That is, all destroyed.

Isaiah 1:9 ^p Because that he wil euer haue a Church to call vpon his Name.

Isaiah 1:10 ^r Ye that for your vices deserved all to be destroyed as they of Sodom, saue that God of his mercie reserved a litle nomber, {Lam. 3,22}.

Isaiah 1:11 ^! He sheweth why their sacrifices are rejected and wherein Gods true service standeth.

Isaiah 1:11 ^s Althogh God commanded these people had not faith nor repentance, God detesteth them, {Psal. 50,14. jer. 6,20. amos 5,21. mich. 6,7}.

Isaiah 1:13 ^t Without faith & repentance.

Isaiah 1:14 ^u Your sacrifices offred in the new moones & feastes: he condemneth hereby hypocrites, which thinke to please God with ceremonies, & they them sleues are voide of faith and mercie.

Isaiah 1:15 ^x He sheweth that where men be giuen to auarice, deceit, crueltie & extorsion, which is ment by blood, there God wil shew his angre, and not accept them, thogh they seme neuer so holy, as {Chap. 59,3 ].

Isaiah 1:16 ^y By this outwarde washing he meaneth the spiritual: exhorting the Jewes to repent & amend their liues.

Isaiah 1:17 ^z This kinde of reasoning by the seconde table, the Scriptures vse in manie places against the hypocrites, who pretend moste holines & religion in worde, but when their charitie & loue toward their brethren shuld appeare, thei declare that thei haue nether faith nor religion.

Isaiah 1:18 ^b Lest sinners shulde pretend anie rigour on Gods parte, he onely willeth them to be pure in heart, & he wil forgiue all their sinnes, were thei neuer so manie or great.

Isaiah 1:18 ^a To know if I do accuse you without cause.

Isaiah 1:19 ^c He sheweth that whatsoeuer adversitie man indureth, it oght to be attributed to his owne incredulitie and disobedience.

Isaiah 1:21 ^d That is, Jerusalem, which had promised fidelitie vnto me, as a wife to her housband.

Isaiah 1:21 ^e Euen to couetousnes and extorcion, which he signified before by blood, {vers. 15}.

Isaiah 1:22 ^f Whatsoeuer was pure in thee before, is now corrupt, thogh thou haue an outward shewe.

Isaiah 1:23 ^g That, is, they mainteine the wicked & the extorcioners, & not onely do not punish them, but are them selves suche.

Isaiah 1:24 ^! He prophecieth of the destruction of Jerusalem.

Isaiah 1:24 ^h When God wil shewe him self merciful to his Church, he calleth him self, The holie one of Israel: but when he hathe to do with his enemies, he is called Mightie, as against whome no power is able to resist.

Isaiah 1:24 ⁱ I wil take vengeance of mine adversaries the Jewes, and so satisfie my desire by punishing them. Which thing yet he doeth with a grief because of his couenant.

Isaiah 1:25 ^! And of the restitution thereof.

Isaiah 1:25 ^k Lest the faithful among them shulde be ouercome with this threatning, he addeth this consolacion.

Isaiah 1:26 ^l It is onely the worke of God to purifie the heart of man, which thing he doeth because of his promes, made concerning the salvacion of his Church.

Isaiah 1:27 ^m By justice is meant Gods faithful promes, which is the cause of the deliuerance of his Church.

Isaiah 1:28 ⁿ The wicked shal not be partakers of Gods promes, {Psal. 9:29}.

Isaiah 1:29 ^o That is, the trees & pleasant places, where ye commit idolatrie, which was forbidden, {Deut.16,22}.

Isaiah 1:31 ^p The false god, wherein ye put your confidence, shal be consumed as easely , as a piece of towe.