Isaiah 48:9-11

9-11. But if so perverse, why desire to restore them to Jerusalem and Judah? The answer is, For my name’s sake. I forbear with all the world: I forbear with the Jews especially, that in them, whom I have chosen morally to train the world, my name my honour, compassion, method of severe and kindly discipline may be shown to all. They are my people, the medium I have appointed through which the Redeemer and his salvation are to come to the whole world. Israel is of no account in himself. Silver is silver, though mixed with dross, which is easily purified by fire. But Israel, having more dross in his nature, I purify in the fiery furnace of affliction. The figure is taken from the ancient refiners, who subjected bullion more or less encumbered with dross to heats of varied degrees in the furnace. ( Grotius.) The subjection of Israel to the fiercer heats was the more perfectly to purify them, for He cannot tolerate the slightest impurity in his own. He compounds not with an infinitesimal degree thereof. He is no compromiser.