Isaiah 57
57
Israel’s Futile Idolatry
1The righteous man perishes,
and no one lays it to heart;
#
Ps. 12:1
devout men are taken away,
while no one understands.
For the righteous man is taken away from calamity;
2 # [Luke 2:29] he enters into peace;
they rest #2 Chr. 16:14; Ezek. 32:25in their beds
who walk in their uprightness.
3But you, draw near,
sons of the sorceress,
# [John 8:41, 42] offspring of the adulterer and the loose woman.
4Whom are you mocking?
Against whom #[Ps. 35:21] do you open your mouth wide
and stick out your tongue?
Are you not children of #ch. 46:8, 9 transgression,
# [ch. 1:4] the offspring of deceit,
5you who burn with lust among #ch. 1:29; 2 Kgs. 16:4 the oaks,#57:5 Or among the terebinths
under every green tree,
#
Ezek. 16:20, 21 who slaughter your children in the valleys,
under the clefts of the rocks?
6Among the smooth stones of #[2 Kgs. 23:10]the valley is your portion;
they, they, are your lot;
to them you have poured out a drink offering,
you have brought a grain offering.
Shall I relent for these things?
7 #
1 Kgs. 14:23; Ezek. 16:16, 24 On a high and lofty mountain
you have set your bed,
and there you went up to offer sacrifice.
8Behind the door and the doorpost
you have set up your memorial;
for, deserting me, #Ezek. 16:25; [Hos. 1:2] you have uncovered your bed,
you have gone up to it,
# [Ezek. 23:17] you have made it wide;
and you have made a covenant for yourself with them,
you have loved their bed,
you have looked on nakedness.#57:8 Or on a monument (see 56:5); Hebrew on a hand
9You journeyed to the king with oil
and multiplied your perfumes;
#
Ezek. 16:26, 28, 29 you sent your envoys far off,
and sent down even to Sheol.
10You were wearied with the length of your way,
#
Jer. 2:25; 18:12 but you did not say, “It is hopeless”;
you found new life for your strength,
and so you were not faint.#57:10 Hebrew and so you were not sick
11 # [ch. 51:12, 13] Whom did you dread and fear,
#
Ps. 78:10, 36 so that you lied,
and did not remember me,
did not lay it to heart?
#
Ps. 50:21
Have I not held my peace, even for a long time,
and you do not fear me?
12I will declare your righteousness and your deeds,
but they will not profit you.
13 #
Jer. 11:12 When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you!
The wind will carry them all off,
a breath will take them away.
#
Ps. 37:9 But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land
and shall inherit #ch. 11:9; 56:7; 65:11, 25my holy mountain.
Comfort for the Contrite
14And it shall be said,
# ch. 62:10; [ch. 40:3] “Build up, build up, prepare the way,
remove every obstruction from my people’s way.”
15For thus says #[Mic. 6:6] the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is #Luke 1:49 Holy:
#
Ps. 113:6 “I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also #Ps. 34:18; 138:6 with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
# [ch. 42:3] to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16 #
Gen. 6:3; Ps. 103:9 For I will not contend forever,
nor will I always be angry;
for the spirit would grow faint before me,
and the breath of life that I made.
17Because of the iniquity of his #ch. 56:11; Jer. 6:13unjust gain I was angry,
I struck him; I hid my face and was angry,
but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart.
18I have seen his ways, #Jer. 3:22 but I will heal him;
I will lead him #ch. 61:3and restore comfort to him and his mourners,
19 # ch. 50:4 creating #Heb. 13:15 the fruit of the lips.
# [Eph. 2:17] Peace, peace, #Acts 2:39 to the far and to the near,” says the Lord,
# [See ver. 18 above] “and I will heal him.
20 #
Jude 13
But the wicked are like the tossing sea;
for it cannot be quiet,
and its waters toss up mire and dirt.
21 # ch. 48:22 There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
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Isaiah 57
57
God's Faithful People Suffer
1God's faithful people
are dragged off and killed,
and no one even cares.
Evil sweeps them away,
2but in death they find peace
for obeying God.#57.1,2 Evil … God: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
The Lord Condemns Idolatry
3You people are unfaithful!
You go to fortunetellers,
and you worship idols.
Now pay close attention!
4Who are you making fun of?
Who are you sneering at?
Look how your sins
have made fools of you.
5All you think about is sex
under those green trees
where idols are worshiped.
You sacrifice your children
on altars built in valleys
under rocky slopes.
6You have chosen to worship
idols made of stone;#57.6 You have … stone: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
you have given them offerings
of wine and grain.
Should I be pleased?
7You have spread out your beds
on the tops of high mountains,
where you sacrifice to idols.
8Even in your homes
you have placed pagan symbols
all around your huge beds.
Yes, you have rejected me,
sold yourselves to your lovers,
and gone to bed with them.#57.8 them: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verse 8.
9You smear on olive oil
and all kinds of perfume
to worship the god Molech.#57.9 the god Molech: Or “the king.” In Hebrew “Molech” and “king” sound alike.
You even seek advice
from spirits of the dead.
10Though you tired yourself out
by running after idols,
you refused to stop.
Your desires were so strong
that they kept you going.
11Did you forget about me
and become unfaithful
because you were more afraid
of someone else?
Have I been silent so long#57.11 so long: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
that you no longer fear me?
12You think you're so good,
but I'll point out the truth.
13Ask your idols to save you
when you are in trouble.
Be careful though—
it takes only a faint breath
to blow them over.
But if you come to me
for protection,
this land and my holy mountain
will always belong to you.
The Lord Helps the Helpless
14The Lord says,
“Clear the road!
Get it ready for my people.”
15 #
3 Macc 2.2; 2.15. Our holy God lives forever
in the highest heavens,
and this is what he says:
Though I live high above
in the holy place,
I am here to help those
who are humble
and depend only on me.
16My people, I won't stay angry
and keep on accusing you.
After all, I am your Creator.
I don't want you to give up
in complete despair.
17Your greed made me furious.
That's why I punished you
and refused to be found,
while you kept returning
to your old sinful ways.
18I know what you are like!
But I will heal you, lead you,
and give you comfort,
until those who are mourning
19 #
Eph 2.17. start singing my praises.#57.18,19 until … praises: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
No matter where you are,
I, the Lord, will heal you#57.19 heal you: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
and give you peace.
20The wicked are a restless sea
tossing up mud.
21 #
Is 48.22. But I, the Lord, have promised
that none who are evil
will live in peace.
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