John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 46:12

"Hearken unto me, ye stout-hearted, that are far from righteousness:" — Isaiah 46:12 (ASV)

Hear me. He again rebukes the Israelites because they could not place their confidence in God or receive any consolation in adversity. That rebuke is indeed sharp and severe, but it was well deserved by those whose hearts were not soothed by any promise or any invitation, however gracious, that God addressed to them.

We should observe the two epithets he employs here: Hardened in heart and Far from righteousness.

By these expressions, he means that those who are poor and distressed shut the door to God’s assistance because of their obstinacy. For by murmuring or fretting, they shake off the fear of God and thus throw themselves into despair, so that they openly rage against God.

He addresses the Jews, who, though almost overwhelmed, were nevertheless filled with pride and insolence and, having thrown off the fear of God, rose to increasingly outrageous madness. This same pattern frequently occurs today with many people, whom distresses and afflictions render more rebellious. Accordingly, they refused to receive any medicine or any remedy for their distresses.

If anyone prefers to consider the word righteousness to mean “the assistance of God” (as in the following verse), he is welcome to that opinion, which is indeed not inappropriate. This is because obstinate people, who refuse to believe God’s promises, drive God away from them and reject His grace. For they do not allow God to bestow benefits upon them, even though He offered them His assistance.