9 For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.
9 For my own name's sake I delay my wrath; for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you, so as not to destroy you completely.
9 "For my name's sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off.
9 But out of the sheer goodness of my heart, because of who I am, I keep a tight rein on my anger and hold my temper. I don't wash my hands of you.
9 "For My name's sake I will defer My anger, And for My praise I will restrain it from you, So that I do not cut you off.
9 Yet for my own sake and for the honor of my name, I will hold back my anger and not wipe you out.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 48:9
Commentary on Isaiah 48:9-15
(Read Isaiah 48:9-15)
We have nothing ourselves to plead with God, why he should have mercy upon us. It is for his praise, to the honour of his mercy, to spare. His bringing men into trouble was to do them good. It was to refine them, but not as silver; not so thoroughly as men refine silver. If God should take that course, they are all dross, and, as such, might justly be put away. He takes them as refined in part only. Many have been brought home to God as chosen vessels, and a good work of grace begun in them, in the furnace of affliction. It is comfort to God's people, that God will secure his own honour, therefore work deliverance for them. And if God delivers his people, he cannot be at a loss for instruments to be employed. God has formed a plan, in which, for his own sake, and the glory of his grace, he saves all that come to Him.