Introduction

‘The righteous perish, and no one takes it to heart; the devout are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.’ Isaiah 57:1-2

This chapter begins by telling us about the ruler’s unconcern over the injustice in the land. How terrible the condition of a nation when the few righteous people left in it are taken by death, Isaiah 57:1 / 1 Kings 14:10-14 / 2 Kings 21:16, and no one cares. It is ‘far better’ to depart and be with Christ, Isaiah 57:2 / Philippians 1:21-24.

‘But you—come here, you children of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes! Who are you mocking? At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue? Are you not a brood of rebels, the offspring of liars? You burn with lust among the oaks and under every spreading tree; you sacrifice your children in the ravines and under the overhanging crags. The idols among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion; indeed, they are your lot. Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings and offered grain offerings. In view of all this, should I relent? You have made your bed on a high and lofty hill; there you went up to offer your sacrifices. Behind your doors and your doorposts you have put your pagan symbols. Forsaking me, you uncovered your bed, you climbed into it and opened it wide; you made a pact with those whose beds you love, and you looked with lust on their naked bodies. You went to Molek with olive oil and increased your perfumes. You sent your ambassadors far away; you descended to the very realm of the dead! You wearied yourself by such going about, but you would not say, ‘It is hopeless.’ You found renewal of your strength, and so you did not faint.’ Isaiah 57:3-10

Here we read of the hopeless state of God’s people is condemned. These people were indeed the children of apostasy. They are described as sorcerers, adulterers, and prostitutes, Isaiah 57:3. They were children of lawbreakers and liars, Isaiah 57:4. The society morally degraded to the point of sacrificing the children to false gods they imagined in their minds, Isaiah 57:5-6 / 2 Chronicles 33:6 / Psalm 106:37-38 / Jeremiah 7:31 / Jeremiah 19:5.

Hailey, in his commentary, paraphrases these lines as follows.

‘The citizens of Judah are children of idolatry, the offspring of people who forsook Jehovah for the witchcraft of the heathen and they are the posterity of spiritual adulterers who went ‘whoring’ after false gods. The rejection of Jehovah had resulted in apostasy and excessive wickedness.’

Their sexual passions were unleashed behind closed doors where they practised orgies and fornication, Isaiah 57:7. They believed in an assortment of gods who would condone their wicked behaviour and as a result, they sacrificed to gods which they believed were in the valleys, on mountains, in their houses, and wherever they would satisfy their lusts with immoral behaviour, Isaiah 57:7-8.

They adored the genital organs and they worshipped Molek with its perfumed debauchery, Isaiah 57:9, which was characteristic of the Ammonites. Their situation was ‘hopeless’, Isaiah 57:10, that is, they didn’t have the moral sense of realising that they were on a road to no moral return. Their lifestyle of debauchery would be the end of them, Isaiah 57:10.

Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.

‘These verses stress two things, 1. The debasing of the people even unto Sheol by their shameless worship of pagan gods, and 2. Their seeking foreign aid, instead of relying upon Jehovah. Also, Isaiah 57:10, indicates that they went far beyond their ordinary strength in such shameful activities.’

‘Whom have you so dreaded and feared that you have not been true to me, and have neither remembered me nor taken this to heart? Is it not because I have long been silent that you do not fear me? I will expose your righteousness and your works, and they will not benefit you. When you cry out for help, let your collection of idols save you! The wind will carry all of them off, a mere breath will blow them away. But whoever takes refuge in me will inherit the land and possess my holy mountain.” Isaiah 57:11-13

Here we read that the sin of God’s people will finally destroy them. Divine forbearance must give way to intervention and punishment. They feared man more than God, Isaiah 57:11, and so, followed after the social pressures to live according to the degraded morals of the day but now it was time for judgment.

Coffman, in his commentary, says the following.

‘Israel’s original possession of the land was unconditional. It was given to them in fulfilment of the promise to Abraham, Genesis 12:7, and it was intended to be theirs permanently, ‘forever’, Exodus 32:13, but the retaining of the land was conditional, Leviticus 26:14-15.’

God sarcastically refers to their self-righteousness, Isaiah 57:12. They claimed to be righteous but their righteousness was according to the religion that they had created after their own desires. The destiny of idol gods and their worshipers is destruction, for when the worshipers are taken away, so are the gods that they created in their minds, Isaiah 57:13.

COMFORT FOR THE CONTRITE

‘And it will be said: “Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.” For this is what the high and exalted One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. I will not accuse them forever, nor will I always be angry, for then they would faint away because of me—the very people I have created. I was enraged by their sinful greed; I punished them, and hid my face in anger, yet they kept on in their wilful ways. I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners, creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near,” says the LORD. “And I will heal them.” But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud. “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.” Isaiah 57:14-21

All who repent will be delivered and only the penitent have the promise of blessings. To those who persist in wickedness and impenitence, there will be no peace or forgiveness. The way to build up was prepared for restoration by removing the wickedness of the people that was defined in the preceding verses, Isaiah 57:14 / Isaiah 40:3 / Isaiah 62:10. Although God is exalted above the heavens, Isaiah 57:15, at the same time the omnipresent God lives in the hearts of the humble and contrite.

While living in the hearts of the contrite, God judges those who live in sinful rebellion, Isaiah 57:15. God judged His people for their rebellion, Isaiah 57:16, and then hid Himself from them while they were in captivity, Isaiah 57:17. Once they repented, He revealed Himself in order to heal them of their sinful ways, Isaiah 57:18. He tore them down through captivity and He built them up through restoration to their homeland, Isaiah 57:18.

When they return their will be praise, peace and healing, Isaiah 57:19. Although the wicked will have no peace in this life, Isaiah 57:20-21 / 2 Peter 2:22 / James 1:6 / Jude 1:13, the repentant enjoys the peace of God that passes all understanding, Philippians 4:7.

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