Isaiah 57

Isaiah 57:1

THe righteous perisheth] Godly men are many of them taken away by death: a fore-running sign of some approaching judgement. See the like complaint, Psalms 12:1. Mic. 7. 2.

no man layeth it to heart] Heb. setteth it upon his heart. as vers. 11. Chap. 47. 7.

mercifull men are taken away] Heb. men of kindnesse; or, godlinesse, (Proverbs 11:17.) are gathered. Genesis 25:8. Psalms 27:10.

the righteous is taken away from the evil to come] Or, from that which is evil (Heb. from the face of, or, from before, the evil, as Jeremiah 42:17.) is the righteous gathered. As fruit is pluckt and carried into the house, or corn cut and brought into the barn, when a storm is coming, to escape it, 1 King. 14. 12, 13. 2 Kings 22:20.

Isaiah 57:2

He shall enter into peace, &c.] Or, He shall go in peace. 2 Kings 5:19. Or, That he goeth to peace; that they rest in their bds. (a change of the number; as Psalms 127:5. & Psalms 140:8. 1 Timothy 2:15.) that is, either that they depart in peace; while outward peace yet continueth, and with inward peace, quietly; 2 Kings 22:20. Luke 2:29. Or, that they depart and go hence to peace: the soul to joy and blisse, in heaven; the body to rest, till the resurrection, in the grave; which is as a bed, or chamber of quiet rest to it, Ecclesiastes 12:7. 2 Corinthians 5:8. Phil. 1. 23. & 3. 21. 1 Thes. 4. 14,—17. For this is that, that is not considered, because to the eye of flesh it appeareth not, but they seeme rather to have perished, vers. 1. 1 Corinthians 15:18.

each one walking in his uprightnesse] Or, that walketh uprightly; or, before him: that is, before God; sincerely, and circumspectly, as in his sight, Genesis 17:1. Proverbs 4:25. Chap. 38. 3. Psalms 119:168.

Isaiah 57:3

ye sonnes of the sorceresse, &c.] Not the children of Abraham, who was faithfull and obedient, Joh. 8. 39, 40, 44. but a degenerate and bastardly brood; the children of any rather then of him, Chap. 1. 4. and 2. 6. Hosea 1:2. and Hosea 2:2. Ezekiel 16:3. Matthew 3:7. 9. and 12. 34, 39. and 23. 33.

Isaiah 57:4

Against whom do ye sport your selves] Whom do ye thus mock and abuse? Psalms 22:7. and Psalms 35:21. Job 16:10. not so much Gods Prophets, that tell you of your excesses, Chap. 58. 1. as God himself, Exodus 16:8. Numbers 16:11. Luke 10:16. 1 Thes. 4. 8. See Chap. 37. 23.

children of transgression] Or, addicted to it.

a seed of falshood] Or, given to lies.

Isaiah 57:5

Enflaming your selves] Enflamed with filthy spirituall lust; and therein abusing your selves with your idols, Genesis 30:38. Hos. 7. 4, 6.

with idols] Heb. with Gods. Exodus 15:11. Or, among the oaks. Chap. 1. 26.

under every green tree] 2 Kings 16:4. Jeremiah 2:20. and Jeremiah 3:6.

slaying the children] Sacrificing them to idols: a savage practise, which the Jews had learned from the Gentiles, Lev. 18. 21. and 20. 2. Psal. 106. 35, 38. 2 Kings 16:3. and 2 Kings 21:6. and 2 Kings 23:10. 2 Chron. 28. 3. and 33. 6. Jeremiah 7:31. and Jeremiah 19:5. Ezekiel 16:20. and Ezekiel 20:26.

in the valleys] Or, besides the brooks. Leviticus 11:9-10. Psalms 104:10. See Chap. 17. 8.

clifts of the rocks] Judges 15:8; Judges 15:11.

Isaiah 57:6

Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion] Or, of the brook. In stead of me, who should be thy portion, Psalms 16:5. and Psalms 119:57. thy delight is in the smooth stones, whereof thine idols and altars are made. See Exodus 20:25. Or, in thine altars, erected in the valleys, besides the brooks, that abound with pebles, vers. 5. Jeremiah 2:23.

even to them] To thine idols there erected; or, there worshipped. vers. 7, 8.

Should I receive comfort in these] What joy, or comfort can I have of such a people; though they should withall serve me? Chap. 66. 3. Jeremiah 7:9-10. Ezekiel 20:39.

Isaiah 57:7

Ʋpon a loftie and high mountain hast thou set thy bed] Thine altars hast thou set up aloft in open view; like an impudent strumpet, that abuseth her self openly, in the sight of others, even of her husband himself, Ezek. 16. 24, 25. and 23. 41.

thither wentest thou up] As to a bed, to defile thy self, Genesis 49:4.

to offer sacrifice] To those thine idols. vers. 6.

Isaiah 57:8

Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance] Thou hast set up every where the marks and signs of thine idolatry: where Gods commandements should have been set. Deuteronomy 6:9. & Deuteronomy 11:20. & 27. 2, 3. there is no place free from them, either within doores, or without.

thou hast discovered thy self] Leviticus 18:6. By the practise of idolatry, which is as spirituall adulterie, Ezekiel 23:18.

to another then me] Or, to others besides me. or, to others leaving me, Ezekiel 14:7. Heb. from with me.

gone up] Or, hast gone up to wit; To bed with them, vers. 7.

hast enlarged thy bed] Encreased thine idolatry more and more, by the multitude of thine idols, 2 King. 21. 3, 5. Jeremiah 2:28. and Jeremiah 11:13. Ezek. 16. 5, 10, 14, 16. and 23. 14.

made thee a covenant with them] Or, hewed it for thy self larger then theirs. as Chap. 2. 6. Jeremiah 49:10. Heb. cut out. Jeremiah 34:8; Jeremiah 34:18. or, cut down. Chap. 37. 34. Thou hast engaged thy self by covenant with them to their idols, Deuteronomy 7:2,—4. Or, felled trees in thy groves, to make room for thine altars, larger then theirs, as striving to outstrip them in their idolatries, Ezekiel 5:6.

thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it] Or, thou providedst room. Or, in the place, or, any place (Heb. hand. as Chap. 56. 5.) where (that is, wheresoever) thou sawest it, Ezekiel 16:26; Ezekiel 16:28-29.

Isaiah 57:9

wentest to the king with ointment, &c.] Or, respectedst or, presentedst, the king (1 Samuel 9:7.) with ointment. Heb. oil. as Ecclesiastes 7:1. Chap. 39. 2. Sendest ambassadours to forain Kings, either for aid, trusting on them, and basely submitting thy self to them, 2 King. 16. 7, 8. and 18. 14, 15. Chap. 30. 1, 6. & 31. 1. Ezekiel 17:15. Hosea 5:13. & Hosea 12:1. Or, to communicate with them in their idolatries, 2 Kings 16:7. 8.

didst debase thy self even unto hell] Or, the grave. to the ground, or the lowest ground, Psal. 63. 9, 10. Chap. 51. 23.

Isaiah 57:10

wearied in the greatnesse of thy way] In running to and fro, to seek succours abroad Jeremiah 2. 36.

saidst thou not, There is no hope] Though thou sawest, that all thy labour was in vain; yet wouldest thou not acknowledge thine errour, and give over, Jeremiah 2:25.

thou hast found the life of thine hand] Or, living. or, troop. 2 Samuel 23:11. Thou imaginest still, that thou shalt by thine industrie find that that will preserve thy life: Or, such troops, as will be at hand to assist thee upon all occasions, vers. 13.

thou wast not grieved] Or, tired. or, wearied. Chap. 33. 24.

Isaiah 57:11

thou hast lied] Dealt disloially with me, Joshua 7:11. Chap. 59. 13.

hast not remembred me] Psalms 106:7.

nor laid it to thy heart] Heb. laid; or, put it upon thy heart. vers. 1.

have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not] Or, is it not because I have held my peace, and that long, that thou fearest me not? as Jeremiah 7:19. that thou standest not in awe of me. My lenitie and forbearance maketh thee grow worse and worse, Psalms 50:21. and Psalms 55:19. Ecclesiastes 8:11. Chap. 26. 10. Jeremiah 48:11.

Isaiah 57:12

I will declare thy righteousnesse] I will convince thee of thy lewdnesse, and thy wicked courses; which yet thou deemest right and just enough, Psalms 50:22. Proverbs 16:2. & Proverbs 21:2. Jeremiah 2:35.

for] Heb. and.

Isaiah 57:13

let thy companies deliver thee] Thy troops of strangers, vers. 9, 10. or, of strange Gods, Chap. 65. 11. Judg. 10. 13, 14. Jeremiah 2:28. and Jeremiah 11:12.

the wind shall carrie them all away] They shall all come to nought, Chap. 64. 6. Hosea 4:19.

he that putteth his trust in me, shall possesse the land] Yet the faithfull remnant shall be preserved, and return to repossesse their land, Psal. 37. 3, 11. Chap. 10. 21. & 30. 18. 19. & 37. 31, 32.

my holy mountain] Heb. mountain of holinesse. Chap. 11. 9.

Isaiah 57:14

shall say] It shall be said; (as Chap. 59. 19. Malachi 1:4.) proclamation shall be, to remove all impediments, that might hinder the passage of Gods people in their return, Chap. 40. 3. and 62 10.

Cast ye up] Or, Make causeys. Chap. 35. 8.

Isaiah 57:15

that inhabiteth eternitie] Who alone is truly eternall, 1 Timothy 6:16.

I dwell in the high and holy place] In heaven, Chap. 32. 15. and 66. 1. Psalms 115:3. where is nothing but holinesse, 2 Peter 3:13. whereof the Holy of holies in the Temple was a type, Hebrews 9:8; Hebrews 9:12; Hebrews 9:24.

with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit] In the soul of such an one: as in the highest heavens, so in the lowest and humblest heart, Psalms 34:18. and Psalms 51:17. and Psalms 138:6. Chap. 66. 2. John 14:23.

Isaiah 57:16

I will not contend for ever] I will not use my power as I might, against frail man, whose life is but a blast, or a breath, Genesis 6. 3. Job 37:23. Psal. 78. 38, 39. much lesse against mine own weak and tender hearted ones, Chap. 42. 3. Psal. 103. 9,—16.

the spirit should fail] Heb. be covered. Psalms 61:3. and Psalms 102:1. Would faint; being overwhelmed and oppressed with horror and despair, Lamentations 2:11-12; Lamentations 2:19.

I have made] Genesis 2:7. Ecclesiastes 12:7.

Isaiah 57:17

For the iniquitie of his covetousnesse was I wroth] For their vice; and faults; whereof this a chief one, 1 Timothy 6:10. I have beene displeased even with the better sort of my people, that have not run a madding after idols, as those other, vers. 3,—10.

smo him] Chap. 60. 10.

I hid me] I shewed my displeasure, by withdrawing the outward expressions of my favour for some time, 2 Samuel 14:24; 2 Samuel 14:32. Chap. 8. 17. & 42. 15. Psal. 27. 8, 9.

and he went on] Or yet; as Chap. 8. 9,—17. 6. or, because he walked; as Chap 64. 5.

frowardly] Heb. turning away. Chap. 53. 6.

in the way of his heart] After his own inordinate lust. See Chap. 53. 6.

Isaiah 57:18

I have seen his wayes and will heal him] Albeit they have carried themselves frowardly and untowardly; yet will I not wholly withdraw, nor for ever with-hold, my mercy from them, Jeremiah 3:22. & Jeremiah 30:17. Chap. 19. 22. vers. 19.

I will lead him] Chap. 58. 11.

to his mourners] To those among them that mourn for their sinnes, and the sinnes of others, and my judgements upon them for either, Chap. 61. 2. Ezekiel 6:9. & Ezekiel 7:16. & Ezekiel 9:4. Matthew 5:4.

Isaiah 57:19

I create the fruit of the lips; peace] I make good, whatsoever I speak, or promise, Joshua 23:14. 1 Kings 8:15. Chap. 55. 11. Romans 4:21. 1 Thes. 5. 24. Hebrews 11:11. Or, I make the words of my messengers matters of peace; and a means of making peace, Chap. 52. 7. 2 Cor. 5. 19, 20. Ephes. 2. 14, 17.

the fruit of the lips] Hebrews 13:15.

peace, peace] Firm, sure, solid, constant peace. Chap. 26. 3. 1 Chronicles 12:18.

to him that is farre off, and to him that is neare] As well to him that is abroad in captivitie, as to him that abideth yet at home. Or, both to Jew; a people neer to God, Psal, 148. 14. and to Gentile; who was formerly farre from him, Acts 2:38-39. Ephesians 2:17. Colossians 1:21. Chap. 56. 3.

I will heal him] Vers. 17. Chap. 19. 22. & 30. 26. & 58. 8.

Isaiah 57:20

the wicked are like the troubled sea] The wicked mans mind is unsettled, James 1:6. and his conscience unquiet, Job 15. 20, 21. and therefore he can never rest, Job. 20. 20. nor enjoy any sound and sure peace, vers. 21. Chap. 48. 22.