John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 20:6

"And the inhabitant of this coast-land shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we fled for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and we, how shall we escape?" — Isaiah 20:6 (ASV)

Look, what has become of our expectation? He calls them expectation, or lurking, because the Jews turned towards them whenever they were oppressed by any calamity and placed their hope in them. We are accustomed to turn our eyes to that direction from which we expect any assistance. Thus, to “look” often signifies, in the Hebrew language, to “hope” (Psalms 34:5; Job 6:19). Now, they ought to have looked to God alone. Their wandering fickleness is therefore censured. And the same thing must happen to us, and deservedly so—that when we have been invited by God, refuse the sure refuge He offers us, and allow ourselves to be captivated by the delusions of Satan, we may lie down naked and destitute with shame and disgrace.

And the inhabitants of the island shall say. He gives the name island not only to Jerusalem, but to the whole of Judea; and it is generally thought that the name is given because its shores are washed by the Mediterranean Sea. But I think that there is a different reason for this metaphor, for only a small portion of the sea washes it; but as an island is separated from other lands, so the Lord separated Judea from other countries.

It was kept apart from all the nations, which cherished a mortal hatred towards the Jews; for there was a “wall” between them, as Paul says (Ephesians 2:14), which Christ finally threw down.

Here again Isaiah confirms his prophecy. If you are not now moved by my nakedness, you will one day be taught by the outcome that these words were not spoken to you in vain.

Thus, belatedly, obstinate and rebellious men are constrained by God to confess their guilt, so that they are struck with amazement and question themselves how they could have been so greatly blinded by their own stubbornness.