John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 31:6

"Turn ye unto him from whom ye have deeply revolted, O children of Israel." — Isaiah 31:6 (ASV)

Return. This verse is explained in various ways. The Hebrew commentators explain it as follows: “Return to the Lord, for you have multiplied revolts.” But, in my opinion, the meaning is simpler: “Return just as you have made a deep revolt.” For לאשר (lăăshĕr) is, I think, used in the same sense as כאשר (kăăshĕr), meaning “just as.” He means that the aggravated nature of their wickedness does not prevent them from returning to God if they repent. Although they have sunk into the deepest wickedness, God will still pardon them.

Yet, at the same time, he uses this as a spur to stimulate them to earnest grief and hatred of their sins, so that they do not carelessly and lightly, as frequently happens, aim for a partial repentance. He therefore urges them to consider attentively with what fearful destruction they have cast themselves down to hell, so that they may abhor themselves on account of their aggravated transgressions.

It should first be observed that the Prophet does not lessen the guilt of the people. Those who need to be brought back to the Lord must first be brought to a deep and painful conviction of their guilt. For those who flatter themselves in their iniquities are very far from receiving pardon, and therefore, there is nothing better than to expose the alarming nature of the disease when a remedy must be applied.

Yet, so that their hearts are not led to despair, they must be encouraged and comforted by presenting the mercy of God to them, for Satan aims only to cut us off from all hope of pardon. Accordingly, Isaiah declares that, although by their wickedness they have sunk down to hell, God is ready to forgive. For the Lord does not invite us to repentance in vain, but He also offers pardon. Thus, to such exhortations, Scripture always adds promises of grace, so that whenever we are called to repentance, we may know that the hope of pardon is also extended to us.

As you have made a deep revolt. Instead of this rendering, the word עמק, (gnāmăk), which means “to be deep,” is explained by some as meaning “to multiply,” and the metaphor is thought to be borrowed from heaps: “As you have heaped up your sins, so return now.” But I prefer the first explanation. סרה (sārāh) means “revolt.” Others explain it to mean “depravity” here, but the word “revolt” is more appropriate. The Prophet therefore invites them to return to the Lord.

O children of Israel. In calling them by this name, he does not intend to show them respect, but reproaches them for their ingratitude. For they were degenerate sons who had revolted from the faith and obedience of their fathers, and therefore this title contains an indirect reproach. Yet he means that the Lord had not forgotten the covenant which He made with their fathers, even though they had departed widely from Him by their treachery. For He declares that He will acknowledge them as “the children of Israel” and will fulfill all that He promised to Abraham and the other patriarchs, if they return to Him with all their heart.