Commentary upon the Prophecy of Isaiah

When he saith he will do it for his own sake, he thereby brings Hezekias and all the people to the consideration of the free covenant. The Jews had been often rebuked, and that very sharply; yet did they not cease even of set purpose to provoke the wrath of God against them: in which regard, they not only deserved to be left to themselves in the time of need, but that he should inflict upon them evident signs of his fearful wrath and indignation. That despair might be prevented then, he teacheth them that God will be their defence: not that he finds the cause thereof in them,¹ but because he respects his own name. Why so? First, that his word might stand fast, which was, that he would never cast off the posterity of Abraham, which he had adopted, nor abolish his worship, nor ⟨p. 380⟩put out the remembrance of his name, though the Sanctuary should be destroyed: §2secondly, lest he should expose his name to the blasphemies & scorns of the heathen. There is therefore a secret rebuke included here, which this people deserved to be galled withal, and that justly: for Hezekias no doubt had more ado to quiet and still the Jews from their murmurings, then to chase away the enemy: for they took on no less, then if all had been lost. We must not think then that God had respect to the deserts of the people, or to any other particular cause, but solely to his own glory. For we must supply a close antithesis here, which is expressed by Ezekiel: I do not this for your sakes O house of Israel, but for mine holy names sake, Ezech. 36.22.

When he saith he will do it for his own sake, he thereby brings Hezekias and all the people to the consideration of the free couenant. The Iewes had been often rebuked, and that very sharply; yet did they not cease euen of set purpose to prouoke the wrath of God against them: in which regard, they not onely deserued to be left to themselues in the time of need, but that he should inflict vpon them euident signes of his fearefull wrath and indignatiō. That despaire might be preuented then, hee teacheth them that God will bee their defence: not that hee findes the cause thereof in them,¹