Isaiah 57

Chap. LVII. ver. 1. The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: &c.] The death of good Hezekiah is probably denoted. Dr. Wells. The Prophet complains of the general neglect of people, to consider the loss of good and useful men, as a presage of evil: when God in mercy taketh away such, it should be a warning to us to look for evil to come. Bp. Sanderson.

spirit, &c.] It is humility which brings down “the high and lofty One, that inhabiteth eternity,” to dwell amongst us, and conduct us through our pilgrimage of life to the lot of our inheritance, to the mount of holiness here, of joy and happiness hereafter. The corruption of nature, and perverse habits of sin, are the “stumbling-blocks” (ver. 14,) in our way; if these be “taken up,” and removed by repentance toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, we shall “possess the land, and inherit his holy mountain;” that is, be true members of his Church upon earth, and receive the inheritance in his kingdom of heaven, which was promised us in our baptism. Wogan. 19. I create the fruit of the lips; The sacrifice of praise, saith St Paul, Heb. xiii. 15, “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 those among his people, who acknowledge and bewail their transgressions, and return to Him. The great subject of thanksgiving is peace; reconcilation and pardon offered to them that are nigh, and to them that are afar off; not only to the Jew, but also to the Gentile, as St. Paul more than once applies those terms, Eph. ii. 13. 17; see also Acts ii. 39. Bp. Lowth.

Isaiah 57:2

2. He shall enter into peace:] The same sense is expressed at large, Gen. xv. 15, “Thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace.” Bp. Lowth. These words appear to be an allusion to the future state; what more natural signification have they than that expressed in the Book of Wisdom, chap. iii. 1. 3, “The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God;—they are in peace!” Dr. S. Clarke. Thus is the happiness of heaven frequently described to us in Scripture; and certainly it is no small encouragement towards making us love religion, that it promised to us in the next life a freedom from all the evils and troubles of this. Abp. Tillotson.

— they shall rest in their beds, &c.] As death is compared to sleep, so is the grave to a bed. See chap. xiv. 18. W. Lowth.

Isaiah 57:3

3. — wherefore have we afflicted our soul.] By fasting and humiliation: a phrase used particularly of the great day of expiation, Lev. xvi. 29; xxiii. 27. W. Lowth. See notes on the former of these places. — in the day of your fast ye find pleasure.] It appears that, instead of producing the right effect of humility and self-denial, their fasting increased their pride, and inflamed, rather than subdued, their irregular lusts and passions. Wogan. Travellers inform us, that in the

Isaiah 57:5

5. — under every green tree, &c.] See note on chap. i. 29.

— slaying the children in the valleys] Offering them in sacrifice to Moloch; a sin severely prohibited, Lev. xx. 2, &c.; yet much practised in the times of the idolatrous kings of Judah, 2 Kings xxiii. 10; 2 Chron. xxviii. 3. The valley of Hinnon was chiefly noted for this inhuman practice, Jer. vii. 31. W. Lowth.

Isaiah 57:6

6. Among the smooth stones &c.] Of the worship of rude stones consecrated, there are many testimonies of the ancients. They are called “smooth stones,” as being made smooth by the lapse of the stream. Bp.

tain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.

Isaiah 57:7

7. Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice.] The bed here mentioned may most fitly be understood of such an one as was used at feasts, and was prepared for the entertainment which was made with part of the oblation. W. Lowth. There is at the same time a continued allusion to the practices of an adulteress.

Isaiah 57:8

8. Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance:] That is, the image of their tutelary gods, or something dedicated to them; in direct opposition to the law of God, which commanded them to write upon the door posts of their house, and upon their gates, the words of God’s law, Deut. vi. 9; xi. 20. If they chose for them such a situation as more private, it was in defiance of a particular curse denounced, Deut. xxvii. 15. Bp. Lowth.

Isaiah 57:9

9. — thou wentest to the king with ointment, &c.] See chap. xxx. 6. They rourled the king of Egypt, or of Assyria, as best served their interest. W. Lowth. Hosea reproaches the Israelites for the same practice, chap. xii. 1. It is well known that in all parts of the East whoever visits a great person must carry him a present. Bp. Lowth. See note on 1 Sam. ix. 7.

Isaiah 57:10

10. Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; &c.] Thou hast tried all ways to save thyself from the evils that threaten thee: with what pains didst thou court the favour of foreign princes! and to no purpose: yet thou didst not refrain: “thou hast found the life of thine hand,” that is, thou hast made a shift by these methods to support thyself for the present, therefore thou hast felt no remorse. W. Lowth, Bp. Wilson.

Isaiah 57:11

11. — have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?] That is, And therefore thou fearest me not? Sinners take encouragement to continue in sin, from God’s patience and long-suffering. See Ps. 1. 21; Eccles. viii. 11. W. Lowth.

Before CHRIST about 6/5. for thou art for thine throne. provided toom. respected the king. God giveth evangelical promises to the penitent. Before CHRIST about 6:8. c Chap. 40. 3. & 62. 10. turning away.

Isaiah 57:20

20. — the wicked are like the troubled sea, &c.] The wicked are represented here as full of uneasy and disquieting thoughts; they have no real comfort of mind from the pleasures of this world, must necessarily want all effectual support under the many evils and calamities of life, and are troubled perpetually with the reproofs of conscience, and unwelcome thoughts of death. Bp. Pearce. The impenitent and wicked are excluded from all share in the peace mentioned ver. 19, that reconcilement and pardon which is promised to the penitent only. The forty-eighth chapter ends with the same declaration as this: “There is no peace to the wicked.” Bp. Lowth. See the note there. Chap. LVIII. ver. 2. Yet they seek me daily.] To “seek” God is the same as to “draw nigh” unto Him in his ordinances. W. Lowth. Isaiah is commanded to shew the Jews especially their hypocrisy in drawing nigh to God with their bodies only. Bp. Wilson.