Charles Spurgeon Commentary Isaiah 57:16

"For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls that I have made." — Isaiah 57:16 (ASV)

For the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

It would destroy them. Man could not bear God's anger forever.

For I will not contend forever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

See the tender meaning of God's message in this verse. He has been encouraging the guilty one, and making him feel the enormity of his offenses; and then he says, "I will not do that anymore, lest I should crush him. He is too weak to bear any more punishment or reproof; therefore I will not any longer afflict him, but I will turn to him in mercy, 'for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.'"

For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth:

God does not like being angry, and though sin provokes him, yet he does not feel at ease when he is wrathful.