What do top commentators say Isaiah 57:12 means?
What do top commentators say Isaiah 57:12 means?
SCRIPTURE
"I will declare thy righteousness; and as for thy works, they shall not profit thee." — Isaiah 57:12 (ASV)
A Sarcastic Rebuke:
Commentators unanimously explain that God's statement, 'I will declare thy righteousness,' is deeply ironic. He is not praising the people but sarcastically exposing the true, worthless nature of their actions—like idol worship and foreign alliances—which they considered righteous. God is about to reveal these works as a complete sham.
The Failure of Self-Made Works:
Scholars like Spurgeon and Calvin highlight a timeless warning in this verse against self-righteousness. People often trust in their own religious works and moral efforts, believing they will gain God's favor. However, God declares that any righteousness not founded in Him is a delusion that will ultimately 'not profit' a person when it truly matters.
God's Revealing Judgment:
This verse shows that while people can deceive themselves, God is the ultimate judge who reveals the truth. As John Calvin notes, wickedness can pass for righteousness as long as God is silent. But a time of reckoning will come when God 'declares' the reality of the situation, and the works people thought were profitable will be shown to be ruinous.
If God ever takes the self-righteous man's righteousness, and explains what it really is, he will soon reveal to its owner that it is a mere delusion and sham that will not profit him at all.