Jesaja 57

1 De rechtvaardige komt om, en er is niemand, die het ter harte neemt; en de weldadige lieden worden weggeraapt, zonder dat er iemand op let, dat de rechtvaardige weggeraapt wordt voor het kwaad.

2 Hij zal ingaan in den vrede; zij zullen rusten op hun slaapsteden, een iegelijk, die in zijn oprechtheid gewandeld heeft.

3 Doch nadert gijlieden hier toe, gij kinderen der guichelares! gij overspelig zaad, en gij, die hoererij bedrijft!

4 Over wien maakt gij u lustig, over wien spert gij den mond wijd open en steekt de tong lang uit? Zijt gij niet kinderen der overtreding, een zaad der valsheid?

5 Die hittig zijt in de eikenbossen, onder allen groenen boom; slachtende de kinderen aan de beken, onder de hoeken der steenrotsen.

6 Aan de gladde stenen der beken is uw deel, die, die zijn uw lot; ook stort gij denzelven drankoffer uit, gij offert hun spijsoffer; zou Ik Mij over deze dingen troosten laten?

7 Gij stelt uw leger op een hogen en verhevenen berg; ook klimt gij derwaarts op, om slachtoffer te offeren.

8 En achter de deur en posten zet gij uw gedenkteken; want van Mij wijkende ontdekt gij u, en klimt op; gij maakt uw leger wijd, en maakt u een verbond met enigen uit dezelve, gij hebt hun leger lief in elke plaats, die gij ziet.

9 En gij trekt met olie tot den koning, en gij vermenigvuldigt uw welriekende zalven; en gij zendt uw gezanten verre weg, en vernedert u tot de hel toe.

10 Gij zijt vermoeid door uw grote reis, maar gij zegt niet: Het is buiten hoop; gij hebt het leven uwer hand gevonden, daarom wordt gij niet ziek.

11 Maar voor wien hebt gij geschroomd of gevreesd? Want gij hebt gelogen, en zijt Mijner niet gedachtig geweest, gij hebt Mij op uw hart niet gelegd; is het niet, om dat Ik zwijg, en dat van ouds af, en gij vreest Mij niet?

12 Ik zal uw gerechtigheid bekend maken, en uw werken, dat zij u geen nut doen zullen.

13 Wanneer gij roepen zult, zo laat die, die van u vergaderd zijn, u redden; doch de wind zal hen allen wegvoeren, de ijdelheid zal hen wegnemen. Maar die op Mij betrouwt, die zal het aardrijk erven, en Mijn heiligen berg erfelijk bezitten.

14 En men zal zeggen: Verhoogt de baan, verhoogt de baan, bereidt den weg, neemt den aanstoot uit den weg Mijns volks.

15 Want alzo zegt de Hoge en Verhevene, Die in de eeuwigheid woont, en Wiens Naam heilig is: Ik woon in de hoogte en in het heilige, en bij dien, die van een verbrijzelden en nederigen geest is, opdat Ik levend make den geest der nederigen, en opdat Ik levend make het hart der verbrijzelden.

16 Want Ik zal niet eeuwiglijk twisten, en Ik zal niet geduriglijk verbolgen zijn; want de geest zou van voor Mijn aangezicht overstelpt worden, en de zielen, die Ik gemaakt heb.

17 Ik was verbolgen over de ongerechtigheid hunner gierigheid, en sloeg hen; Ik verborg Mij, en was verbolgen; evenwel gingen zij afkerig henen in den weg huns harten.

18 Ik zie hun wegen, en Ik zal hen genezen; en Ik zal hen geleiden, en hun vertroostingen wedergeven, namelijk aan hun treurigen.

19 Ik schep de vrucht der lippen, vrede, vrede dengenen, die verre zijn, en dengenen, die nabij zijn, zegt de HEERE, en Ik zal hen genezen.

20 Doch de goddelozen zijn als een voortgedreven zee, want die kan niet rusten, en haar wateren werpen slijk en modder op.

21 De goddelozen, zegt mijn God, hebben geen vrede.

Jesaja 57 Commentary

Chapter 57

The blessed death of the righteous. (1,2) The abominable idolatries of the Jewish nation. (3-12) Promises to the humble and contrite. (13-21)

Verses 1-2 The righteous are delivered from the sting of death, not from the stroke of it. The careless world disregards this. Few lament it as a public loss, and very few notice it as a public warning. They are taken away in compassion, that they may not see the evil, nor share in it, nor be tempted by it. The righteous man, when he dies, enters into peace and rest.

Verses 3-12 The Lord here calls apostates and hypocrites to appear before him. When reproved for their sins, and threatened with judgments, they ridiculed the word of God. The Jews were guilty of idolatry before the captivity; but not after that affliction. Their zeal in the worship of false gods, may shame our indifference in the worship of the true God. The service of sin is disgraceful slavery; those who thus debase themselves to hell, will justly have their portion there. Men incline to a religion that inflames their unholy passions. They are led to do any evil, however great or vile, if they think it will atone for crimes, or purchase indulgence for some favourite lust. This explains idolatry, whether pagan, Jewish, or antichristian. But those who set up anything instead of God, for their hope and confidence, never will come to a right end. Those who forsake the only right way, wander in a thousand by-paths. The pleasures of sin soon tire, but never satisfy. Those who care not for the word of God and his providences, show they have no fear of God. Sin profits not; it ruins and destroys.

Verses 13-21 The idols and their worshippers shall come to nothing; but those who trust in God's grace, shall be brought to the joys of heaven. With the Lord there is neither beginning of days, nor end of life, nor change of time. His name is holy, and all must know him as a holy God. He will have tender regard to those who bring their mind to their condition, and dread his wrath. He will make his abode with those whose hearts he has thus humbled, in order to revive and comfort them. When troubles last long, even good men are tempted to entertain hard thoughts of God. Therefore He will not contend for ever, for he will not forsake the work of his own hands, nor defeat the purchase of his Son's blood. Covetousness is a sin that particularly lays men under the Divine displeasure. See the sinfulness of sin. See also that troubles cannot reform men unless God's grace work in them. Peace shall be published, perfect peace. It is the fruit of preaching lips, and praying lips. Christ came and preached peace to Gentiles, as well as to the Jews; to after-ages, who were afar off in time, as well as to those of that age. But the wicked would not be healed by God's grace, therefore would not be healed by his comforts. Their ungoverned lusts and passions made them like the troubled sea. Also the terrors of conscience disturbed their enjoyments. God hath said it, and all the world cannot unsay it, That there is no peace to those who allow themselves in any sin. If we are recovered from such an awful state, it is only by the grace of God. And the influences of the Holy Spirit, and that new heart, from whence comes grateful praise, the fruit of our lips, are his gift. Salvation, with all its fruits, hopes, and comforts, is his work, and to him belongs all the glory. There is no peace for the wicked man; but let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, and he will abundantly pardon.

Chapter Summary

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.