Isaiah 57:15-21

15 For thus says the 1high and exalted One Who 2lives forever, whose name is Holy, "I 3dwell on a high and holy place, And also with the 4contrite and lowly of spirit In order to 5revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite.
16 "For I will 6not contend forever, 7Nor will I always be angry; For the spirit would grow faint before * Me, And the 8breath of those whom I have made.
17 "Because of the iniquity of his 9unjust gain I was angry and struck him; I hid My face and was angry, And he went on 10turning away, in the way of his heart.
18 "I have seen his ways, but I will 11heal him; I will 12lead him and 13restore comfort to him and to his mourners,
19 Creating the 14praise of the lips. 15Peace, peace to him who is 16far and to him who is near," Says the LORD, "and I will heal him."
20 But the 17wicked are like the tossing sea, For it cannot * be quiet, And its waters toss up refuse and mud.
21 "18There is no peace," says 19my God, "for the wicked."

Isaiah 57:15-21 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.

Cross References 19

  • 1. Isaiah 52:13
  • 2. Deuteronomy 33:27; Isaiah 40:28
  • 3. Isaiah 33:5; Isaiah 66:1
  • 4. Psalms 34:18; Psalms 51:17; Isaiah 66:2
  • 5. Psalms 147:3; Isaiah 61:1-3
  • 6. Genesis 6:3
  • 7. Psalms 85:5; Psalms 103:9; Micah 7:18
  • 8. Isaiah 42:5
  • 9. Isaiah 2:7; Isaiah 56:11; Jeremiah 6:13
  • 10. Isaiah 1:4; Jeremiah 3:14, 22
  • 11. Isaiah 19:22; Isaiah 30:26; Isaiah 53:5
  • 12. Isaiah 52:12
  • 13. Isaiah 61:1-3
  • 14. Isaiah 6:7; Isaiah 51:16; Isaiah 59:21; Hebrews 13:15
  • 15. Isaiah 26:12; Isaiah 32:17
  • 16. Acts 2:39; Ephesians 2:17
  • 17. Job 18:5-14; Isaiah 3:9, 11
  • 18. Isaiah 48:22; Isaiah 59:8
  • 19. Isaiah 49:4

Footnotes 2

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