Commentary on Isaiah (Super Isaiam)

"Bel is broken," etc. Here he foretells the destruction of the enemies who held them captive, namely the Babylonians, with respect to two things in which they gloried. First, with respect to the destruction of their idols; second, with respect to the ending of their kingdom, below, 47: "come down, sit in the dust." The first is divided into two. In the first he foretells the destruction of the idols of Babylon: with respect to the breaking of the statues, "is broken." Ezek. 6: "I will demolish your altars," and with respect to the carrying off of the metals: because the Persians carried off pieces of gold and silver with them. Setting forth, on the part of those carrying them off, the hardship of weariness, "to the beasts and the cattle," namely the horses and camels, on which they bore the heavy metals. Jer. 10: "they are carried, they shall be borne away," or, to your worshippers, who are beasts, adoring images of beasts. Jer. 16: "there you shall serve strange gods," etc.; setting forth the failure of relief on the part of the idols, "they have wasted away," that is, they have failed, namely the idols. "The one carrying it," namely the beast, or the man worshipping them. Wis. 14: "that which was done with it," etc.; setting forth also the reproach of captivity, "their names," namely of the idols, metaphorically, that is, their divine power; or of the gentiles, because they loved their idols as their own soul. Hosea 10: "for he himself also into Assyria," etc. Second, he recalls the Jews to his own worship, the idols having been abandoned, "hear me": and first he recalls them to his worship; second, to those returning he promises the benefit of liberation, "announcing from the beginning," etc. Concerning the first he does three things. First he shows them his love from his affectionate bearing of them. "From my womb"; that is, thus have I borne you affectionately in my mercy, in the desert, and in the other places in which you sinned against me, as a mother her son. Prov. 31: "what, my beloved," etc.; Job 38: "from whose womb," etc.; Heb. 1: "bearing all things by the word," etc.; from the continuity of his bearing of them, "even to old age," "your," that is, even to the end of the world. Ps. 70: "even to old age and grey hairs," etc.; from the reason for his bearing of them, "I have made," etc.; it is fitting that he who made should preserve. Deut. 32: "he spread his wings," etc. Second, he shows the worthlessness of the idols, showing the folly of those who make idols; both with respect to intention, because they wish to make something equal to God, "to whom have you likened," above, 40: the same; and with respect to the operation, because they hired craftsmen to make a god out of gold; which, like misers, they had stored away in bags, "you who pour out," etc.; Jer. 10: "the work of the craftsman's hand," etc.; showing also the feebleness of the works, namely of the idols themselves, because by themselves they can neither move nor stand: "they carry it," etc. Baruch, last chapter: "you will see in Babylon gods," etc.; showing also their uselessness: "but even when they shall have cried out," etc.; Wis. 13: "for indeed he prays to a dead thing for life," etc. Third, he concludes the recall: "remember this," what has been foretold concerning my love and the worthlessness of the idols, "of the former age," in which I conferred many benefits upon you. Ps. 76: "I have thought upon the days of old," etc. "Announcing from the beginning," etc. Here he promises to those converted to him liberation from captivity. And concerning this he does two things. First he promises liberation, setting forth the power of foretelling, "announcing the last things," whatever is to come in the last times. Ecclus. 42: "announcing the things that have passed," etc.; he sets forth also the firmness of the foretelling, saying, "it shall stand," "it shall be fulfilled," "will," "of good pleasure." Ecclus. 21: "his counsel is like a fountain of life," etc.; Ps. 113: "whatsoever he has willed," etc.; and he sets forth the order of the liberation. "Calling from the east," "a bird," Cyrus, on account of the swiftness of his victory, or Christ. Above, 41: "who has raised up from the east," etc. Second, there, "hear me," he promises the nearness of the liberation, setting forth first their unworthiness, lest they should ascribe it to their own merits, "hardened of heart," with respect to doing well, "far off," through the multitude of their sins. Ecclus. 3: "a hard heart shall fare ill," etc.; second he foretells the nearness: "I have brought near," "I will bring" (the past for the future), "justice," concerning the Babylonians, for you, through Cyrus, or the justice of Christ. Below, 56: "my salvation is near," etc.; third he sets forth the determination of the place, "I will give in Sion," etc., "glory," benefits, whereby I shall appear glorious: or Christ, who is the glory of the Father. Haggai 2: "great shall be the glory of this house," etc.

(Collations, chapter 46.)

Sin wearies: on account of the anxiety in devising it, Prov. 4: "for they do not sleep," etc.; on account of the labor in carrying it out, Wis. 5: "we have wearied ourselves in the way," etc.; on account of the confusion in thinking it over again, Rom. 5: "what fruit therefore," etc.; on account of the frustration in awaiting it, Prov. 11: "the expectation of the just," etc. "Return to the heart": as to the throne of judgment, that you may examine yourself, Ps.: "I have meditated in the night," etc.; as to the beginning of life, that you may guard it, Prov. 4: "with all keeping," etc.; as to the audience-chamber of the divine speech, that you may attend diligently, Hos. 2: "I will lead her into solitude," etc.; as to the treasury of the divine words, Ps.: "in my heart I have hidden," etc.; as to the upper room of divine peace and refreshment, Ps.: "he will speak peace unto the people," etc.