Matthew Poole and continuators on Isaiah 66:4

4 I also will chuse their delusions , and bring their fears upon them , because when I called none did answer , when I spake, they did not hear , but they did evil before mine Eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

They had made their choice, they chose not the ways of God, but their own ways, that which God delighted not in, as in the latter part of this verse, therefore (saith God) I will also chuse

Their delusions, or illusions, or devices, Montanus translates it, adinventionibus, it is a Noun derived from a word which signifies to speak childishly, or corruptly, the word in this form is only used in this text, and in 1 Sam. 25. 3. it signifieth studies, or works, Psal. 12. 4. Isa. 3. 4. Hos. 4. 9. It is an ordinary thing for God thus generally to declare his justice against men. That he will deal with sinners, as they deal with him, so Psal. 18. 25, 26. Lev. 26. 27. Ier. 34. 17. Prov. 1. 24. 28. The meaning is, I will be no kinder to them, then they have been to me. They have chosen to mock and delude me, I will chuse to suffer them to delude themselves, or they have chosen to work wickedness, I will chuse to bring the fruit of their works upon them. They have chosen the cause, I will chuse the effect.

That is (say some) the things which they feared, and did these things to avoid, as Ier. 42. 16. Eze. 11. 8. Others by their fears chuse rather to understand such terrors and affrightments as are natural to men upon the prospect of great evils, as Ier. 20. 4. as God in mercy delivereth his people from their fears, Psal. 34. 4. So in judgment he causeth [illegible: 1+ letters]ears as a great judgment to possess sinners, Lev. 26. 16. Deut. 28. 66.

Because when by my Prophets, I exhorted you to your duty: very few yielded obedience, see Prov. 1. 24. ch. 65. 12. Ier. 7. 13.

Hearing here signifieth hearkning, or obeying, not hearing is expounded by doing evil, and chusing that wherein God delighted not, God accounts that those do not hea[illegible: 1+ letters], who do not obey his will.

Marginal references: Devic[illegible: 1+ letters]s.; Prov. 1. 24. ch. 65. 12. Jer. 7. 13.