Isaiah Chapter 57

From The Open Bible Project

57:1 The righteous perishes, and no man lays it to heart; and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil [to come].

  • (a) From the plague that is at hand, and also because God will punish the wicked.

57:2 He enters into peace; they rest in their beds, each one who walks in his uprightness.

  • (b) The soul of the righteous will be in joy, and their body will rest in the grave to the time of the resurrection, because they walked before the Lord.

57:3 "But draw near here, you sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the prostitute.

  • (c) He threatens the wicked hypocrites, who under the pretence of the name of God�s people, derided God�s word and his promises: boasting openly that they were the children of Abraham, but because they were not faithful and obedient as Abraham was, he calls them bastards and the children of sorcerers, who forsook God, and fled to wicked means for comfort.

57:4 Against whom do you sport yourselves? Against whom do you make a wide mouth, and stick out your tongue? Aren't you children of disobedience, a seed of falsehood,

57:5 you who inflame yourselves among the oaks, under every green tree; who kill the children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks?

57:6 Among the smooth [stones] of the valley is your portion; they, they are your lot; you have even poured a drink offering to them. You have offered an offering. Shall I be appeased for these things?

  • (e) Meaning every place was polluted with their idolatry: or every fair stone they found they made into an idol.
  • (f) In the sacrifices which you offering before these idols thought you served God.

57:7 On a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed; there also you went up to offer sacrifice.

  • (g) That is, your altars in an open place, like an impudent harlot, that cares not for the sight of her husband.

57:8 Behind the doors and the posts you have set up your memorial: for you have uncovered to someone besides me, and have gone up; you have enlarged your bed, and made you a covenant with them: you loved their bed where you saw it.

  • (h) Instead of setting up the word of God in the open places on the posts and doors to have it in remembrance, (Deuteronomy 6:9,27:1) you have set up signs and marks of your idolatry in every place.
  • (i) That is, increased your idolatry more and more.

57:9 You went to the king with oil, and did increase your perfumes, and did send your ambassadors far off, and debased yourself even to [22] Sheol [See Isaiah Footnotes 22].

  • (k) You sought the favour of the Assyrians by gifts and presents to help you against the Egyptians and when they failed you sought the Babylonians, and more and more tormented yourself.

57:10 You were wearied with the length of your way; yet you didn't say, 'It is in vain.' You found a reviving of your strength; therefore you weren't faint.

  • (l) Although you saw all your labours to be in vain, yet would you never acknowledge your fault and leave off.
  • (m) He derides their unprofitable diligence, who thought to have made all sure, and yet were deceived.

57:11 "Of whom have you been afraid and in fear, that you lie, and have not remembered me, nor laid it to your heart? Haven't I held my peace even of long time, and you don't fear me?

  • (n) Broken promises with me.
  • (o) Meaning, that the wicked abuse God�s leniency, and grow to further wickedness.

57:12 I will declare your righteousness; and as for your works, they shall not profit you.

  • (p) That is, your naughtiness, idolatry and impiety which the wicked call God�s service: thus he derides their obstinacy.

57:13 When you cry, let those who you have gathered deliver you; but the wind shall take them, a breath shall carry them all away: but he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain."

  • (q) Meaning, the Assyrians and others, whose help they looked for.

57:14 He will say, "Cast up, cast up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people."

  • (r) God will say to Darius and Cyrus.

57:15 For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

57:16 For I will not contend forever, neither will I be always angry; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls who I have made.

  • (s) I will not use my power against frail man, whose life is but a blast.

57:17 For the iniquity of his covetousness was I angry, and struck him; I hid [my face] and was angry; and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart.

  • (t) That is, for the vices and faults of the people, which is here meant by covetousness.

57:18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners.

  • (u) Though they were obstinate, yet I did not withdraw my mercy from them.

57:19 I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is near," says Yahweh; "and I will heal them."

  • (x) That is, I frame the speech and words of my messengers who will bring peace.
  • (y) As well to him that is in captivity as to him that remains at home.

57:20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it can't rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.

  • (z) Their evil conscience always torments them and therefore they can never have rest, (Isaiah 48:22).

57:21 "There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."

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