Isaiah 57
57
Israel’s Idolatry
1The godly perish,
but no one seems to notice.
The faithful ones are taken away,
and no one understands.
It is because of evil
that they are preserved from calamity,
2and the godly ones enter into peace,
resting serenely upon their death beds.
3“But you—come here, you son of a sorceress!
You’re nothing but an offspring
of an adulteress and a prostitute. # 57:3 This is a vivid picture of those who practice idolatry. See James 4:4.
4Who do you think you’re mocking?
At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue?
Why, you’re a rebellious child, the offspring of liars!
5You burn with lust for other gods
among the oak groves and under every green tree.
You sacrifice your own children in the caves # 57:5 See 2 Chron. 28:3; 33:6.
near the bed of a stream.
6From there you take smooth stones
and worship them as idols.
Yes, they become your idols!
You bring them grain offerings
and pour out wine as drink offerings.
Do you think I will not seek vengeance for this?
7On a high hill, you practice ritual sex # 57:7 Or “On high you set up your bed.”
and go up to the lofty place to offer sacrifice.
8Hidden inside your front doors
you have set up your obscene idols. # 57:8 Or “[phallic] symbols.”
Forsaking me, you went up
and uncovered yourself
and climbed into your wide bed.
You made covenant with them for yourselves,
you slept with them, and you gazed upon their nakedness.
9You journeyed to the king # 57:9 Or “to [the Canaanite god] Molech.” with oil
along with many perfumes.
You sent your envoys to exotic lands,
even down to the underworld. # 57:9 Or “to Sheol.”
10Though all your wanderings wearied you,
you never said, ‘I give up.’
Your strength was renewed
so that you did not faint.
11“Why were you so afraid of them that you told lies
and did not remember me or even care what I thought?
Is it because I have been patient and long silent
that you no longer fear me?
12I will denounce your presumed ‘righteousness’
and your ‘good works,’
so don’t trust in your idols to help you.
13Let’s see if your pantheon of idols can save you when you cry out!
They will be blown away by the wind; # 57:13 Or “spirit.”
merely a breath will carry them off!
But whoever makes me a hiding place
will possess the land and inherit my holy mountain.” # 57:13 That is, Mount Zion. The believer today inherits the kingdom of God, the Zion-realm. See Ps. 37:9, 11; 69:35–36; Isa. 49:8; Matt. 5:5; Heb. 12:22.
A Promise of Revival and Healing
14Yahweh says, “Let the people return to me.
Build! Build up the road, clear the way, and get it ready!
Remove every obstacle from their path.”
15For this is what the high and majestic one says,
the one who fills the eternal realm with glory, # 57:15 The Hebrew word shakan (related to shekinah) means “to dwell or settle.” The implication is that God inhabits eternity, filling it with his glory.
whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in high and holy places
but also with the bruised and lowly in spirit,
those who are humble and quick to repent.
I dwell with them to revive the spirit of the humble,
to revive the heart of those who are broken over their sin.
16You will not find me continually accusing them # 57:16 Or “continually striving with them.”
or holding anger against them,
lest they feel defeated and lose heart before me.
For I am the One who gave the breath of life to my people.
17It was their sin and greed that made me angry,
so I struck them and hid my face from them.
But they continued in rebellion, following their own desires.
18Even though I’ve seen their ways, I will heal them. # 57:18 This is the same Hebrew word found in Isa. 53:5. See Hos. 6:1–3.
I will guide them forward and repay them with comfort,
giving mourners the language of praise. # 57:18 It is possible to see in this verse the progression of the worshiper from the outer court (healing), forward into the Holy Place, until he is drenched with God’s comforting presence in the Holy of Holies, where he releases his language of praise.
19I offer peace to those who are far from me,
and I offer peace to those who are near, # 57:19 See Eph. 2:11–22.
and I will heal their deepest wounds,” says Yahweh.
20“But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea,
whose restless waves are never still,
stirring up mud and mire.
21There is no peace # 57:21 Or “well-being” or “prosperity.” for the wicked,” says my God.
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Isaiah 57: TPT
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Learn More About The Passion TranslationIsaiah 57
57
1 THE RIGHTEOUS man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; and merciful and devout men are taken away, with no one considering that the uncompromisingly upright and godly person is taken away from the calamity and evil to come [even through wickedness].
2 He [in death] enters into peace; they rest in their beds, each one who walks straight and in his uprightness.
3 But come close, you sons of a sorceress [nursed in witchcraft and superstition], you offspring of an adulterer and a harlot.
4 Against whom do you make sport and take your delight? Against whom do you open wide your mouth and put out your tongue? Are you not yourselves the children of transgression, the offspring of deceit–
5 You who burn with lust [inflaming yourselves with idols] among the oaks, under every green tree, you who slay the children [in sacrifice] in the valleys under the clefts of the rocks?
6 Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion; they, they [the idols] are your lot; to them you have poured out a drink offering, you have offered a cereal offering. Should I be quiet in spite of all these things [and leave them unpunished–bearing them with patience]?
7 Upon a lofty and high mountain you have openly and shamelessly set your [idolatrous and adulterous] bed; even there you went up to offer sacrifice [in spiritual unfaithfulness to your divine Husband].
8 Behind the door and the doorpost you have set up your [idol] symbol [as a substitute for the Scripture text God ordered]. Deserting Me, you have uncovered and ascended and enlarged your bed; and you have made a [fresh] bargain for yourself with [the adulterers], and you loved their bed, where you saw [a beckoning hand or a passion-inflaming image]. [Deut. 6:5, 6, 9; 11:18, 20.]
9 And you went to the king [of foreign lands with gifts] or to Molech [the god] with oil and increased your perfumes and ointments; you sent your messengers far off and debased yourself even to Sheol (Hades) [symbol of an abysmal depth of degradation].
10 You were wearied with the length of your way [in trying to find rest and satisfaction in alliances apart from the true God], yet you did not say, There is no result or profit. You found quickened strength; therefore you were not faint or heartsick [or penitent].
11 Of whom have you been so afraid and in dread that you lied and were treacherous and did not [seriously] remember Me, did not even give Me a thought? Have I not been silent, even for a long time, and so you do not fear Me?
12 I will expose your [pretended] righteousness and your doings, but they will not help you.
13 When you cry out, let your [rabble] collection of idols deliver you! But the wind shall take them all, a breath shall carry them away. But he who takes refuge in Me shall possess the land [Judea] and shall inherit My holy mountain [Zion, also the heavenly inheritance and the spiritual Zion]. [Ps. 37:9, 11; 69:35, 36; Isa. 49:8; Matt. 5:5; Heb. 12:22.]
14 And the word of One shall go forth, Cast up, cast up, prepare the way! Take up the stumbling block out of the way [of the spiritual return] of My people.
15 For thus says the high and lofty One–He Who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, but with him also who is of a thoroughly penitent and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the thoroughly penitent [bruised with sorrow for sin]. [Matt. 5:3.]
16 For I will not contend forever, neither will I be angry always, for [if I did stay angry] the spirit [of man] would faint and be consumed before Me, and [My purpose in] creating the souls of men would be frustrated.
17 Because of the iniquity of his [Judah's] covetousness and unjust gain I was angry and smote him. I hid my face and was angry, and he went on turning away and backsliding in the way of his [own willful] heart.
18 I have seen his [willful] ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him also and will recompense him and restore comfort to him and to those who mourn for him. [Isa. 61:1, 2; 66:10.]
19 Peace, peace, to him who is far off [both Jew and Gentile] and to him who is near! says the Lord; I create the fruit of his lips, and I will heal him [make his lips blossom anew with speech in thankful praise]. [Acts 2:39; Eph. 2:13-17, 18; Heb. 13:15.]
20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, for it cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt.
21 There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.
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