Charles Spurgeon Commentary Isaiah 57:11

"And of whom hast thou been afraid and in fear, that thou liest, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of long time, and thou fearest me not?" — Isaiah 57:11 (ASV)

And of whom have you been afraid or feared, that you have lied, and have not remembered me, nor laid it to your heart? Have I not held my peace even of old, and you do not fear me?

This is the old trouble – that because God does not strike down sinners right then and there, they take liberties with him. They do not know that his patience – his slackness, as they call it – is long-suffering, because he is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance, and so he puts away his sword. Yet he says, Have I not held my peace even of old, and you do not fear me?

And of whom have you been afraid or feared, that you have lied, and have not remembered me?

"Me, your Maker, your Friend, to whom you must commit your very soul, unless that soul goes down into the pit, 'You have not remembered me,'."

Nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?

When God is very long-suffering, and leaves people alone in their sin, then, often, they completely forget him, and have no fear of him.