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). 2 He enters into peace; they rest in their beds, each one who walks in his uprightness. 3 "But draw near here, you sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the prostitute. 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, 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? 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? 7 On a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed; there also you went up to offer sacrifice. 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. 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 Sheol. 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. 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? 12 I will declare your righteousness; and as for your works, they shall not profit you. 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." 14 He will say, "Cast up, cast up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people." 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. 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. 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. 18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners. 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." 20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it can't rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt. 21 "There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."
This chapter is evidently closely connected in sense with Isaiah 56:9-12. In the closing part of the last chapter the prophet had said that the land of Israel would be invaded by foreign armies, represented under the image of ravening beasts come to devour. One of the causes of this he had also stated, namely, the general licentiousness, avarice, and intemperance of the rulers of the nation. The same general subject is pursued in this chapter, which has been very improperly separated from the preceding. In this the prophet states specifically the sins of the nation at large, evidently as a reason why the calamities of the foreign invasion were coming upon them. It is probable that the chapter has primary reference to the times of Manasseh. Of the characteristics of his cruel reign, see the Introduction, Section 3. It was a time of persecution and blood. The righteous were put to death; the public service of God was profaned and desecrated; and the evils of idolatry were seen and felt, under the royal patronage, throughout the land. Yet notwithstanding this, the nation was stupid and insensible. They were not affected as they should have been by the fact that the righteous were cut off by persecution, and that idolatry was patronized throughout the land. A few, like the prophets, felt, and deeply felt. Their hearts were desponding, and their spirits drooped. To encourage them, and to rebuke the mass of the stupid and guilty nation, was the design of this chapter.
It may be regarded as divided into three parts:
I. The fact that the righteous were put to death, and yet that the nation was sunk in deep and deplorable stupidity.
1. The proof of the insensibility of the nation, visible in the fact that the just were taken away, and that they were unmoved Isaiah 57:1.
2. A statement of the comparative happy condition of the righteous, though they suffered under persecution, and were put to a violent death (Isaiah 57:1, last part, Isaiah 57:2). So far as they were concerned it was well, for
(1) they were taken away from more fearful approaching evils.
(2) they entered into rest.
II. A solemn address of Yahweh, himself sitting as judge on the tribunal, and stating the crimes and demonstrating the guilt of the nation Isaiah 57:3-14.
1. The nation summoned before him as having been apostatized - under the image so common in the prophets of their being guilty of adultery Isaiah 57:3.
2. They were guilty of falsehood and unfaithfulness to him, and of deriding his government and laws Isaiah 57:4.
3. The statement of the prevalence of idolatry in all parts of the nation, under every green tree, in every valley, in the clefts of the rocks, upon every mountain, and in every secret place Isaiah 57:5-8.
4. They bad gone and sought alliance with foreign powers; under the image of a woman unfaithful to her marriage vow Isaiah 57:9.
5. They had not feared God in the prevalence of the evil and in the corruption of the nation Isaiah 57:10-11.
6. For all this God denounces heavy judgment Isaiah 57:12-14. Their works should not profit them Isaiah 57:12; nothing on which they relied could deliver them (Isaiah 57:13, first part); but the pious who confided in God should be protected (Isaiah 57:13, last part); and the stumbling-block should be taken up out of the way of his people Isaiah 57:14.
III. Consolation and assurances of pardon, protection, and peace to those who would repent and put their trust in God. Their state contrasted with that of the wicked Isaiah 57:15-21.
1. The righteous Isaiah 57:15-19.
(1) Though God was high and great and holy, yet he dwelt with the lowly and the penitent. They were, therefore, encouraged to return Isaiah 57:15.
(2) Though he had entered into controversy with his people for their sins, yet he would not continue it forever. The feeble powers of man could not long endure the expressions of his displeasure, and he therefore would withdraw the tokens of his wrath Isaiah 57:16.
(3) He had indeed punished his people for their covetousness, but he would restore comfort to those who mourned over their sins Isaiah 57:17-18.
(4) He was the author of peace, and all who were afar off, and all who were near, who would return to him, should enjoy it Isaiah 57:19.
2. The wicked. Their condition was one strongly contrasted with that of the righteous Isaiah 57:20-21.
(1) They were like the troubled sea Isaiah 57:20.
(2) They had no peace Isaiah 57:21.
After mentioning the removal of righteous persons as an awful symptom of the approach of Divine judgments, Isaiah 57:1, Isaiah 57:2, the prophet goes on to charge the nation in general with idolatry, and with courting the unprofitable alliance of idolatrous kings, Isaiah 57:3-12. In opposition to such vain confidence, the prophet enjoins trust in God, with whom the penitent and humble are sure to find acceptance, and from whom they should obtain temporal and spiritual deliverances, Isaiah 57:13-19. Awful condition of the wicked and finally impenitent, Isaiah 57:20, Isaiah 57:21.
I shall give Bishop Lowth's translation of the two first verses, and give the substance of his criticisms with additional evidence.
Isaiah 57:1. The righteous man perisheth, and no one considereth;And pious men are taken away, and no one understandeth,That the righteous man is taken away because of the evil.
Isaiah 57:2. He shall go in peace: he shall rest in his bed;Even the perfect man: he that walketh in the straight path.
INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 57
This chapter contains complaints of the stupidity and idolatry of the people, described in the latter part of the preceding chapter; and some promises of grace to the people of God. The stupidity of the former is observed, Isaiah 57:1 they not taking notice of the death of good men, nor of impending calamities they were taken from, whose happiness is described, Isaiah 57:2, then these idolatrous people are summoned before the Lord, Isaiah 57:3 and are charged with deriding the saints with idolatry and murder, Isaiah 57:4 and their idolatry is represented under the notion of adultery, attended with very aggravating circumstances, Isaiah 57:7 and yet these people still entertained presumptuous hopes of happiness, and boasted of, and trusted in, their righteousness and good works, which would be exposed, and be of no advantage to them, Isaiah 57:10, next follow promises of grace to the saints, that such that trusted in Christ should inherit the holy mountain, Isaiah 57:13 that the stumblingblock of his people should be removed, Isaiah 57:14, that he should dwell with the humble and contrite, Isaiah 57:15, and not be always wroth and contend with them, for a reason given, Isaiah 57:16 and that though he had smote them, and hid his face from them because of their sins, yet would heal them, lead them, and comfort them, and speak peace unto them, Isaiah 57:17 and the chapter is concluded with the character of the wicked, and an assurance that there is no peace for them, Isaiah 57:20.
(Isaiah 57:1, Isaiah 57:2) The blessed death of the righteous.
(Isaiah 57:3-12) The abominable idolatries of the Jewish nation.
(Isaiah 57:13-21) Promises to the humble and contrite.
*More commentary available by clicking individual verses.