Isaiah 57:14-21

Peace for the Contrite

14 And one shall say, "Build up, build up! Clear [the] way! Remove [the] obstacles from the way of my people!"
15 For thus says [the] high and lofty one who resides forever, and [whose] name [is] holy: "I reside [in] a high and holy place, and with [the] {contrite} and humble of spirit, to revive [the] spirit of [the] humble, and to revive [the] heart of [the] {contrite}.
16 For I will not attack forever, and I will not be angry forever, for [the] spirit will grow faint before me, and [the] breaths [that] I myself I have made.
17 I was angry because of his sin of gain, and I struck him; I hid and I was angry, but he walked apostate, in the ways of his heart.
18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; and I will lead him and give him and his mourners comfort as a recompense,
19 creating fruit of lips. Peace, peace to the far and near," says Yahweh, "and I will heal him.
20 But the wicked [are] like the churning sea, that is not able to keep quiet, and its waters toss up mire and mud.
21 There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."

Isaiah 57:14-21 Meaning and Commentary

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, Isa 57:1 they not taking notice of the death of good men, nor of impending calamities they were taken from, whose happiness is described, Isa 57:2, then these idolatrous people are summoned before the Lord, Isa 57:3 and are charged with deriding the saints with idolatry and murder, Isa 57:4-6 and their idolatry is represented under the notion of adultery, attended with very aggravating circumstances, Isa 57:7-9 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, Isa 57:10-12, next follow promises of grace to the saints, that such that trusted in Christ should inherit the holy mountain, Isa 57:13 that the stumblingblock of his people should be removed, Isa 57:14, that he should dwell with the humble and contrite, Isa 57:15, and not be always wroth and contend with them, for a reason given, Isa 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, Isa 57:17-19 and the chapter is concluded with the character of the wicked, and an assurance that there is no peace for them, Isa 57:20,21.

Footnotes 5

Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.