Isaiah 57

(Bp. Lowth. The call upon the wild beasts of the forest to execute judgments upon these apostates from religion and piety, is indeed highly poetical; but when they are resembled to dumb, dreaming, and greedy dogs, the wolves and lions of the forest are certainly the proper instruments of their correction. (Compare (Jeremiah 12:7, 9).) Cuape. LVII. Ver. 1—21. The death of the righteous lamented, and the hypocrisy of idolaters reproved, with promises to the penitent.—After lamenting the decease of the righteous, (perhaps with reference either to Hezekiah or Josiah,) and the insensibility of the people on the occasion, the prophet proceeds to charge the nation in general with apostacy, and as in some preceding chapters, with a partiality for alliances with pagan princes.

In opposition to this, they are recommended to humble themselves before the God of Israel, whose name is holy, and whose habitation is eternity, but who, though he holds his court on high, disdains not to hold communion with the meek and humble upon earth. For though, while man perseveres in rebellion, he can have no ground to hope for grace, God will no more contend with him, lest “the spirit (of man) should fail before him.” (Compare (Psalms 78:38-39). ciii.; 9, 13, 14.) ‘Riek” 2 This chapter concludes, like ch. xlviii., with excluding the wicked and impenitent from any share of the blessings promised to the humble and believing.

Notes on the verses

Cup. LVI. Ver. 2. He shall enter into ‘peace.—See margin. So Lowth, Compare (Genesis 15:15).— They shall rest in their beds.—That is, each of them.—Walking in his uprightness—That is, perhaps, walking “through the valley of the shadow of death.” (Psalms 23:4). Lowth, however, renders this verse very differently; “He shall rest in his bed, even the perfect man: he that walketh in the straight path.” Ver. 3. Seed of the adulterer.—That is, the idolater. See ver. 5. Ver. 5. Inflaming yourselves.—Lowth, “Burning with the lust of” idols.—Slaying the children in the valleys—That is, in passing through the fire to Moloch, which was no doubt fatal to many, though others might escape. Ver. 6. Among the smooth stones of the stream.—These were worshipped by the superstitious heathen, and Clement of Alexandria uses the phrase, “the worshipper of a smooth stone” proverbially, for an idolater.—[Arnobius gives an account of his own practice in this respect before he became a Christian: “‘When I saw a smooth stone, smeared with oil, as if some power had been present, I worshipped it, addressed it, I requested benefits, not at all thinking of the block.” Hence Theophrastus marked this as a strong feature of a superstitious man: “Passing by the anointed stones in the streets, he takes out his phial of oil, and pours it on them, and having fallen on his knees, and made his adorations, he departs.”]—Bagster. Ver. 7. Set thy bed—That is, set up idolatry. Ver. 8. Behind the doors…. thy remembrance.—That is, domestic idols.—Thou lovedst their = is, the apparatus of their idolatry, ver. 7,—where thou sawest it.—See margin. Lowth, “Thou hast provided a place for it:” meaning, for the idol and its altar. Ver. 9. And thou wentest, &c.—Lowth, “Thou hast visited the king with a present of oil.” This may refer to either the king of Assyria or Egypt. Compare Hosea xii. 1.—Even to hell.—Lowth, “To hades,” meaning to the very lowest degree. Ver. 10. In the greatness.—Lowth, “Length of thy ways,” or journey.—Thou hast found the life of thy hand.—Rather, “thou feet found (supported) life by thy hand;” i.e. by the labour of thy hand. To the same sense, Gataker, Lowth, and Boothroyd. Ver. 11. That thou hast lied.—Lowth, “Dealt falsely.” Ver. 12. Declare thy righteousness.—Perhaps the word might be rendered “expose,” develop, or lay open thy righteousness, and show its hypocrisy. See Gataker, Lowth, on the authority of the LXX, Syriac, and Arabic, reads, “my righteousness;” but we think without occasion. Ver. 19. Fruit of the lips.—“The sacrifice of praise,” says St. Paul, “is the fruit of the lips.” God creates this fruit of the lips, by giving new subject and cause of thanksgiving by His mercies conferred on His people. The great subject of thanksgiving is peace; reconciliation and pardon offered to them that are nigh and to them that are far off, not only to the Jew, but also to the Chap. LVI. Ver. 1. Cry aloud—See margin; i.e., perhaps, “Cry till thou art hoarse.”