Isaiah57
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.
2He entereth into peace; they rest in their beds, each one that walketh in his uprightness.
3But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the harlot.
4Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and put out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,
5ye that inflame yourselves among the oaks, under every green tree; that slay the children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?
6Among the smooth stones of the valley is thy portion; they, they are thy lot; even to them hast thou poured a drink-offering, thou hast offered an oblation. Shall I be appeased for these things?
7Upon a high and lofty mountain hast thou set thy bed; thither also wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.
8And behind the doors and the posts hast thou set up thy memorial: for thou hast uncovered thyself to another than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them: thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it.
9And thou wentest to the king with oil, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thine ambassadors far off, and didst debase thyself even unto Sheol.
10Thou wast wearied with the length of thy way; yet saidst thou not, It is in vain: thou didst find a quickening of thy strength; therefore thou wast not faint.
11And of whom hast thou been afraid and in fear, that thou liest, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of long time, and thou fearest me not?
12I will declare thy righteousness; and as for thy works, they shall not profit thee.
13When thou criest, let them that thou hast gathered deliver thee; but the wind shall take them, a breath shall carry them all away: but he that taketh refuge in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain.
14And he will say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people.
15For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls that I have made.
17For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him; I hid my face and was wroth; and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart.
18I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.
19I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him that is far off and to him that is near, saith Jehovah; and I will heal him.
20But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.
21There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Isaiah 57.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The blessed death of the righteous. (1,2) . The abominable idolatries of the Jewish nation. (3-12). Promises to the humble and contrite. (13-21).
vv1-2
The righteous are delivered from the sting of death, not from the stroke of it. The careless world disregards this. Few lament it as a public loss, and very few notice it as a public warning. They are taken away in compassion, that they may not see the evil, nor share in it, nor be tempted by it. The righteous man, when he dies, enters into peace and rest.
vv3-12
The Lord here calls apostates and hypocrites to appear before him. When reproved for their sins, and threatened with judgments, they ridiculed the word of God. The Jews were guilty of idolatry before the captivity; but not after that affliction. Their zeal in the worship of false gods, may shame our indifference in the worship of the true God. The service of sin is disgraceful slavery; those who thus debase themselves to hell, will justly have their portion there. Men incline to a religion that inflames their unholy passions. They are led to do any evil, however great or vile, if they think it will atone for crimes, or purchase indulgence for some favourite lust. This explains idolatry, whether pagan, Jewish, or antichristian. But those who set up anything instead of God, for their hope and confidence, never will come to a right end. Those who forsake the only right way, wander in a thousand by-paths. The pleasures of sin soon tire, but never satisfy. Those who care not for the word of God and his providences, show they have no fear of God. Sin profits not; it ruins and destroys.
vv13-21
The idols and their worshippers shall come to nothing; but those who trust in God's grace, shall be brought to the joys of heaven. With the Lord there is neither beginning of days, nor end of life, nor change of time. His name is holy, and all must know him as a holy God. He will have tender regard to those who bring their mind to their condition, and dread his wrath. He will make his abode with those whose hearts he has thus humbled, in order to revive and comfort them. When troubles last long, even good men are tempted to entertain hard thoughts of God. Therefore He will not contend for ever, for he will not forsake the work of his own hands, nor defeat the purchase of his Son's blood. Covetousness is a sin that particularly lays men under the Divine displeasure. See the sinfulness of sin. See also that troubles cannot reform men unless God's grace work in them. Peace shall be published, perfect peace. It is the fruit of preaching lips, and praying lips. Christ came and preached peace to Gentiles, as well as to the Jews; to after-ages, who were afar off in time, as well as to those of that age. But the wicked would not be healed by God's grace, therefore would not be healed by his comforts. Their ungoverned lusts and passions made them like the troubled sea. Also the terrors of conscience disturbed their enjoyments. God hath said it, and all the world cannot unsay it, That there is no peace to those who allow themselves in any sin. If we are recovered from such an awful state, it is only by the grace of God. And the influences of the Holy Spirit, and that new heart, from whence comes grateful praise, the fruit of our lips, are his gift. Salvation, with all its fruits, hopes, and comforts, is his work, and to him belongs all the glory. There is no peace for the wicked man; but let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, and he will abundantly pardon.
Key Words
צַדִּיק: just
אָבַד: properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)
אַיִן: a non-entity; generally used as a negative particle
אִישׁ: a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
שׂוּם: to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
לֵב: the heart; also used (figuratively) very widely for the feelings, the will and even the intellect; likewise for the centre of anything
חֵסֵד: kindness; by implication (towards God) piety; rarely (by opposition) reproof, or (subject.) beauty
אֱנוֹשׁ: a man in general (singly or collectively)
אָסַף: to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e. remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)
Cross References
Isaiah 57Paul's direct allusion to "peace to him far off and near" representing Jews and Gentiles.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallels the perishing of the godly and merciful from the earth amidst general corruption.
Supported by JFB
Verbatim parallel in Isaiah: "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked."
Supported by Matthew Henry
Historical example of Josiah gathered to his grave in peace to escape coming national evil.
Supported by JFB
Slaying of children in the valley of Hinnom/Tophet under idolatrous pretenses.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Ezekiel's parallel depiction of Israel's spiritual adultery, building high places and beds of prostitution.
Supported by JFB
Isaiah's parallel of God dwelling in the high place and with the humble/contrite.
Supported by John Calvin
The true, ultimate Sabbath rest prepared for the people of God after death.
Supported by JFB
Making a wide mouth and drawing/shooting out the tongue in mocking derision.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
The forbidden Canaanite practice of serving false gods under every green tree.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Israel playing the harlot under every green tree and on every high hill.
Supported by John Calvin
Image of Israel sitting on a stately bed with an idolatrous table prepared.
Supported by JFB
The prophetic background of offering the "fruit of our lips" as praise to God.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The ancient expression of entering into peace, going to one's fathers in peace.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The Pentateuchal prohibition of offering children to Molech, referenced in verse 5.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Contrast: Israel placing idolatrous memorials behind doors instead of God's laws on posts.
Supported by JFB