Isaiah 57:17

17 propter iniquitatem avaritiae eius iratus sum et percussi eum abscondi et indignatus sum et abiit vagus in via cordis sui

Isaiah 57:17 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 57:17

For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote
him,
&c.] Not the greedy watchmen of the church of Rome, ( Isaiah 56:10 Isaiah 56:11 ) , but teachers and preachers in the reformed churches, who mind their own things, and not the things of Christ; seek after good benefices and livings, temporalities and pluralities, and to be lord bishops; taking the oversight of the flock for filthy lucre sake; which may easily be observed to be the predominant sin of the preachers and professors of the reformed churches; for which God has a controversy with them, and, resenting it, has smote and rebuked them in a providential way; and has threatened them, as he did the church at Sardis, the emblem of the reformed churches, that he will come upon them as a thief, ( Revelation 3:4 ) . I hid me, and was wroth:
showed his displeasure by departing from them; and how much God has withdrawn his presence, and caused his spirit to depart from the churches of the Reformation, is too notorious: and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart;
took no notice of the reproofs and corrections of God; was unconcerned at his absence; not at all affected with his departure, and the withdrawings of his Spirit; these had no effect to cause a reformation, as is now too visibly the case; the same evil is pursued with equal eagerness; this is a way the heart of man is set upon, and they do not care to be turned out of it; and are like froward peevish children under the rod, receive no correction by it.

Isaiah 57:17 In-Context

15 quia haec dicit Excelsus et Sublimis habitans aeternitatem et sanctum nomen eius in excelso et in sancto habitans et cum contrito et humili spiritu ut vivificet spiritum humilium et vivificet cor contritorum
16 non enim in sempiternum litigabo neque usque ad finem irascar quia spiritus a facie mea egredietur et flatus ego faciam
17 propter iniquitatem avaritiae eius iratus sum et percussi eum abscondi et indignatus sum et abiit vagus in via cordis sui
18 vias eius vidi et dimisi eum et reduxi eum et reddidi consolationes ipsi et lugentibus eius
19 creavi fructum labiorum pacem pacem ei qui longe est et qui prope dixit Dominus et sanavi eum
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.