Matthew Henry Commentary Isaiah 57
Matthew Henry Commentary
Isaiah 57
Matthew Henry Commentary
Isaiah 57
"But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the harlot. Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and put out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood, ye that inflame yourselves among the oaks, under every green tree; that slay the children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks? Among the smooth [stones] of the valley is thy portion; they, they are thy lot; even to them hast thou poured a drink-offering, thou hast offered an oblation. Shall I be appeased for these things? Upon a high and lofty mountain hast thou set thy bed; thither also wentest thou up to offer sacrifice. And behind the doors and the posts hast thou set up thy memorial: for thou hast uncovered [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 oil, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thine ambassadors far off, and didst debase thyself even unto Sheol. Thou wast wearied with the length of thy way; yet saidst thou not, It is in vain: thou didst find a quickening of thy strength; therefore thou wast not faint. 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? I will declare thy righteousness; and as for thy works, they shall not profit thee." — Isaiah 57:3-12 (ASV)
The Lord here calls apostates and hypocrites to appear before him. When reproved for their sins, and threatened with judgments, they ridiculed the word of God. The Jews were guilty of idolatry before the captivity; but not after that affliction. Their zeal in the worship of false gods, may shame our indifference in the worship of the true God.
The service of sin is disgraceful slavery; those who thus debase themselves to hell will justly have their portion there. Men incline to a religion that inflames their unholy passions. They are led to do any evil, however great or vile, if they think it will atone for crimes or purchase indulgence for some favourite lust. This explains idolatry, whether pagan, Jewish, or antichristian.
But those who set up anything instead of God, for their hope and confidence, will never reach a good end. Those who forsake the only right way wander in a thousand by-paths. The pleasures of sin soon tire, but never satisfy. Those who do not care for the word of God and his providences show they have no fear of God.
Sin does not profit; it ruins and destroys.
"When thou criest, let them that thou hast gathered deliver thee; but the wind shall take them, a breath shall carry them all away: but he that taketh refuge in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain. And he will 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. 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. For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him; I hid [my face] and was wroth; and he went on backsliding 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 Jehovah; and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." — Isaiah 57:13-21 (ASV)
The idols and their worshippers will come to nothing; but those who trust in God's grace will be brought to the joys of heaven. With the Lord there is neither beginning of days, nor end of life, nor change of time. His name is holy, and all must know Him as a holy God.
He will have tender regard for those who consider their condition and dread His wrath. He will make His dwelling with those whose hearts He has thus humbled, in order to revive and comfort them. When troubles last long, even good people are tempted to entertain hard thoughts of God. Therefore He will not contend forever, for He will not forsake the work of His own hands, nor defeat the purchase of His Son's blood.
Covetousness is a sin that particularly subjects people to Divine displeasure. See the sinfulness of sin. See also that troubles cannot reform people unless God's grace works in them. Peace will be published, perfect peace. It is the fruit of preaching lips, and praying lips.
Christ came and preached peace to Gentiles, as well as to the Jews; to later ages, who were far off in time, as well as to those of that age. But the wicked would not be healed by God's grace, therefore would not be healed by His comforts. Their ungoverned lusts and passions made them like the troubled sea.
Also, the terrors of conscience disturbed their enjoyments. God has said it, and all the world cannot unsay it, That there is no peace for those who allow themselves in any sin. If we are recovered from such an awful state, it is only by the grace of God. And the influences of the Holy Spirit, and that new heart, from which comes grateful praise, the fruit of our lips, are His gift.
Salvation, with all its fruits, hopes, and comforts, is His work, and to Him belongs all the glory. There is no peace for the wicked person; but let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, and he will abundantly pardon.
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