John Calvin Commentary Isaiah 62:12

"And they shall call them The holy people, The redeemed of Jehovah: and thou shalt be called Sought out, A city not forsaken." — Isaiah 62:12 (ASV)

And they shall call you a holy people. He describes the benefit of the Lord's coming; that is, because by showing that he takes care of his elect as his heritage, he will make it evident to the whole world that the covenant of adoption, which he made with Abraham, was not deceptive. He therefore calls them “a holy people,” because the Lord has separated and consecrated them to himself. For, although he governs all nations, he has condescended to choose the seed of Abraham, that he might make them the object of his special care (Exodus 19:6).

The redeemed of Jehovah. In the sense just stated, God declares that they will be a holy people when he will appear as their Savior and Redeemer; for as the people are said to be “profaned” when they lie amidst filth, being afflicted and distressed by the reproaches of the wicked, so they are said to be “sanctified” when the Lord actually shows that he presides over their salvation.

This was accomplished by a wonderful redemption. At that time, God also testified that he remembered his heritage, which, in the eyes of men, he appeared to have forsaken and disregarded. For in these words, Sought out, not forsaken, a contrast is denoted between the time when God divorced his people and the time when he again reconciled to himself those whom he had cast off.

CHAPTER 63.