But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Proving that the old fathers did not 'look only for transitory promises' (Article VII, 'Book of Common Prayer').
Now - as the case is.
Is not ashamed - Greek adds, 'of them.' Not merely once did God call Himself their God, but He IS NOW not ashamed to have Himself called so, they being alive with Him where He is. For, by the law, God cannot come into contact with anything dead. None remained dead in Christ's presence (Luke 20:37-38). The Lord of heaven and earth, when asked, What is thy name? said, omitting all His other titles, "I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" (Theodoret). Not only is He not ashamed, but glories in the relation to His people. "Wherefore" does not mean that God's good pleasure is the meritorious, but gracious, consequence of their obedience (which last is the work of His Spirit in them). He first so "called" Himself, then they so called Him.
For - proof of His being "their God;" namely, "He hath prepared (in His eternal counsels, Matthew 20:23; Matthew 25:34, and by the progressive acts of redemption, John 14:2) for them a city," that where He reigns their yearning desires shall not be disappointed (Hebrews 11:14; Hebrews 11:16).
A city. Compare its garniture by God, Revelation 21:10-27.