Isaiah 57:13-21

13 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.”

Comfort for the Contrite

14 And it will be said: “Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”
15 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.
16 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.
17 I was enraged by their sinful greed; I punished them, and hid my face in anger, yet they kept on in their willful ways.
18 I have seen their ways, but I will heal them; I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners,
19 creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near,” says the LORD. “And I will heal them.”
20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea, which cannot rest, whose waves cast up mire and mud.
21 “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

Isaiah 57:13-21 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 31

  • 1. Jeremiah 22:20; Jeremiah 30:15
  • 2. S Judges 10:14
  • 3. Isaiah 40:7,24
  • 4. S Psalms 118:8
  • 5. S Psalms 37:9
  • 6. Isaiah 2:2-3; Isaiah 56:7; Isaiah 65:9-11
  • 7. S Isaiah 11:16
  • 8. Isaiah 62:10; Jeremiah 18:15
  • 9. S Isaiah 52:13
  • 10. S Deuteronomy 33:27; S Psalms 90:2
  • 11. S Job 16:19
  • 12. Psalms 147:3
  • 13. Psalms 34:18; Psalms 51:17; Isaiah 66:2; Micah 6:8; Matthew 5:3
  • 14. S 2 Kings 22:19; S Job 5:18; S Matthew 23:12; Isaiah 61:1
  • 15. S Psalms 50:21; Isaiah 3:13-14
  • 16. S Psalms 85:5; Psalms 103:9; S Isaiah 54:9; Micah 7:18
  • 17. S Genesis 2:7; Zechariah 12:1
  • 18. S Isaiah 56:11; Jeremiah 8:10
  • 19. S Isaiah 1:15
  • 20. Isaiah 1:4; S Isaiah 30:15; S Isaiah 53:6; Isaiah 66:3
  • 21. S Deuteronomy 32:39; S 2 Chronicles 7:14; S Isaiah 30:26
  • 22. S Psalms 48:14; S Isaiah 42:16; S Isaiah 48:17
  • 23. Isaiah 49:13; Isaiah 61:1-3
  • 24. Isaiah 6:7; Isaiah 51:16; Isaiah 59:21; Hebrews 13:15
  • 25. S Isaiah 2:4; Isaiah 26:3,12; Isaiah 32:17; S Luke 2:14; Ephesians 2:17
  • 26. Acts 2:39
  • 27. Job 18:5-21
  • 28. S Genesis 49:4; Ephesians 4:14; Jude 1:13
  • 29. Psalms 69:14
  • 30. S Isaiah 26:3; Isaiah 59:8; Ezekiel 13:16
  • 31. S Isaiah 48:22
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.