By Eugene Garner

ISAIAH - CHAPTER 57

MESSIANIC BLESSINGS CONTINGENT ON RIGHT
HEARTS

The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.

    1. Such was the blind thoughtlessness in Israel that the righteous man, who was faithful to the covenant, could perish and no one would "lay it to heart", or really CARE, (12:1; Mic. 7:2).
    2. No one ever seemed to consider the divine mercy manifested, in God's taking away so many of the righteous, before the calamity of divine judgment fell upon the rebellious nation, (Matt. 5:7).
    3. Having faced oppression, and been distressed by the wickedness of their fellows, they have "dieth in faith" - exalted now to a realm of eternal joy and peace, (Heb. 11:13; Phil. 1:21,23; Luke 23:43).

   But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore. Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood, Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks? Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these? Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice. Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered thyself to another than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it. And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell. Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; yet saidst thou not, There is no hope: thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved.

    1. A sharp rebuke is addressed to those apostates who, in pride, vaunt themselves against the righteous, (vs. 3-4).
      a. The language of verse 3 is far from complimentary; yet, it clearly describes the idolatry of God's own covenant people - especially under kings Ahaz and Manasseh, (comp. Mal. 3:5; Matt. 16:4).
      b. Why should such a people sneer, jeer and stick out their tongues at the righteous? (vs. 4a; II Chron. 36:16-17).
      c. Are they not a disloyal brood - children of SIN and DISGRACE? (vs. 46).
    2. Verses 5 and 6 are addressed to the devotees of the cult of nature - who follow their own lusts.
      a. With burning lust they sought out their idols under every green tree, (vs. 5a; II Kings 17:9-12).
      b. In the valley of Tophet, outside Jerusalem, they burned their children in the brazen arms of Moloch - while beating drums to drown out their agonizing cries! (vs. 5b; II Chron. 28:3,33:6; comp. II Kings 17:31).
      c. They chose idols from smooth stones and poured out their libations before them, (vs. 6a).
      d. Can the true and living God, their Creator and Preserver, be expected to bear this with patience?
    3. The gross wickedness of their adulterous worship of nature is portrayed in verses 7-8; here it becomes more evident, however, that the prophet uses literal language to graphically set forth a SPIRITUAL DEPARTURE.
      a. The complaint is not only against illicit sexual experience, but also of the nation's infidelity to her divine HUSBAND!
      b. It is entirely possible that there is a reference here to the Asherah worship in which carvings of human sexual organs played a prominent roll, and which also led to the exposure of the secret organs of the worshippers themselves.
      c. The charge is that, deserting her Lord, Israel has spread wide her adulterous bed and, while gazing upon the symbols of her harlotry, bargained with those whose embraces she loved! (vs. 8; contrast Deut. 6:5.6, 9; 11:18-20).
    4. To what limitless extremes they were willing to go (away from God) in these cultic exertions! (vs. 9-10).
      a. Anointing themselves for Molech, they have sent him presents of oil and perfume (vs. 9a) - indicating their actual offering of sacrifice to a heathen deity!
      b. Sending her ambassadors afar, she has debased herself to the very depths of Sheol - which evidently suggest necromancy.
      c. Exhausting as were her labors to collect all sorts of foreign icons, with which she desecrated the very temple of Jehovah, she never stopped to consider the vanity of her actions!
      d. Quickened by the strength of Him whose name she has so wretchedly dishonored, Israel has not fainted with discouragement, but has pursued her harlotry with vigor!
      e. Before passing too harsh judgment on a privileged people who could so thoughtlessly dishonor their Lord, it might be best to recognize and judge the various forms of infidelity piously indulged by too many professing Christians - even churchmen, in our day. How zealously do many pursue unworthy goals, by unworthy methods, in order to gain the recognition, prestige and applause of this world - thus, effectively "denying the Lord that bought them"!

   And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not? I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee.
   When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain:

    1. The obstinate persistence of Israel's rebellion leads to hopelessness and irreversible ruin!
    2. God wants to know what they fear so greatly as to make them forget Him - though they still profess to love and serve Him, (vs. 11a; comp. 51:12-13; Prov. 29:25; Jer. 3:21).
    3. For a long time He has held His peace (see 1:4-6), even in the face of their proud rebellion; yet, they have not reverenced Him, (vs. 11b; 42:14; Psalm 50:21-23).
    4. Since they claim to be "righteous", God will expose their righteousness for what it REALLY IS (59:6; 65:2, 6-7); nor will it profit them at all! (comp. 64:6-7; Matt. 5:20; 7:21-27).
    5. When confronted by their spiritual bankruptcy, and overwhelmed by a sense of their wretchedness (in the face of impending judgment), let them cry to their collection of international deities, and delight themselves in all the help their strange gods may offer! (Jer. 22:20; 30:12-15).
    6. Actually, there will be NO HELP - for their idols are HELPLESS; a gust of wind will blow them all away!
    7. But those who take refuge in the Lord - seeking Him sincerely, and trusting Him with all their hearts - will find all the security they need.
      a. They will possess the land of their fathers, (49:8; 60:21).
      b. And they will be permitted to share, by inheritance, the blessedness of His coming Kingdom, (65:9)!

   And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumbling-block out of the way of my people. For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made. For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners. I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.

    1. Separation is essential to the full realization of God's ultimate salvation (vs. 14; comp. 62:10; Jer. 18:15; II Cor. 6:17); idolatry is a stumbling-block that the nation has deliberately chosen - and which must be abandoned before fellowship can be restored between Israel and her Maker.
    2. God dwells only with that which harmonizes with His holiness, (vs. 15).
      a. He whose name is HOLY - high, lofty and inhabiting eternity - offers to commune with such as are of a humble and contrite heart, (40:29; comp. Matt. 5:3; Isa. 66:1-2).
      b. He will revive the spirit of the humble and the heart of the contrite, (Psa. 34:18; 51:17; 147:3).
    3. God will not be angry with His people forever (Gen. 6:3; Psa. 85:5; 103:9-14; Mic. 7:18-20); if He were, the whole creation would perish, (vs. 16).
    4. The sins of all must be dealt with, (vs. 17).
      a. The sin of covetousness led to divine wrath and judgment against Israel, (56:11; Jer. 6:13).
      b. Though God's face was hidden in wrath, Israel refused to repent, but went onward with a heart that persistently turned away from the true and living God, (1:4; Jer. 3:14, 22).
    5. For such as truly repent there is forgiveness, comfort, peace, and healing - with no national distinctions or barriers, (vs. 18-19; Acts 2:39; Eph. 2:17).
      a. But, until there is such "repentance" as involves forsaking of sin there can be no spiritual health.
      b. The message of perfect peace is a divine message for those whose hearts are right before God, (26:12; 32:17-18; comp. Psa. 37:37; Jn. 14:27; 16:33; Eph. 2:14-15).
    6. Peace is impossible for those who persist in their wickedness (vs. 20-21); they are constantly tossed about - like the waves of a turbulent sea, (3:9, 11; Job 18:5-14; Isa. 48:22; 59:8).