John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 1:31

"And the strong shall be as tow, and his work as a spark; and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them." — Isaiah 1:31 (ASV)

And your God shall be as tow. The Hebrew word חסן (chason) signifies strong; and though it is here applied to God, it still retains its meaning, as if he had said, “That god who was your strength shall be turned into stubble.”

And the maker of it. By the maker he means the carver; but as he mentions an idol, we must explain it in this context. Some think that he expresses the repentance of idolaters, by telling us that they would acknowledge their folly and, being covered with shame, would burn their idols. But I consider the meaning to be different. For as a fire is made of dry fuel such as tow, “in like manner,” says the Prophet, “gather yourselves and your idols into one heap, as when a pile of wood is built up, that you may be consumed together, so that the idols may be like tow, and the men like fire, and that one conflagration may consume the whole.”

And there shall be none to quench them. It should be observed that the Prophets, when they mention the wrath of God, describe it by outward representations, because it cannot be perceived by the eyes or by any other sense. Thus the wrath of God, by which the ungodly are destroyed, is compared to fire, which consumes all things. It is now evident enough what the Prophet means: namely, that all the ungodly shall be destroyed, whatever may be the nature of their confidence. Not only that, but their destruction shall be greater because they have placed their confidence in false and deceitful things, and utter destruction will overtake them from the very source from which they had vainly looked for deliverance. For the images and idols are provocations of the wrath of God, kindling it into a flame which cannot be quenched.