Isa 57 | MHM | STEP | Death of the Righteous. Isaiah shifts from criticizing the leaders to showing how careless and unaware the people have become. Just as the leaders were blind, the people also fail to notice important things happening around them. In these verses, Isaiah teaches about what it means when good people die, and how the rest of the world rarely pays attention to these events. v. 1 : God sometimes removes righteous people from the world through death. The righteous perish , and even those who are merciful are taken away . Good people are not protected from death, and sometimes they die even more quickly, especially during times of danger or persecution. When righteous people die, it is often a great loss for their communities—and sometimes, cruel people are responsible for their deaths. This happened before the exile to Babylon, when many good people died and very few were left (Jeremiah 5:1; Psalm 12:1 ). Sometimes, God allows the most valuable people to be taken away. However, most people do not recognize the importance of the death of the righteous. No man lays it to heart —nobody considers what God might be saying through these events. Few people mourn the loss as they should or think deeply about what it means. The death of good people should make us stop and think, asking what God is teaching us and how we might fill the gap they leave behind. When people ignore these signs from God, it shows a lack of understanding and respect for God’s blessings. Sometimes, the world even celebrates when good people die (Revelation 11:10 ), not realizing what a loss it really is.

‏ Isaiah 57

Death of the Righteous.

Isaiah shifts from criticizing the leaders to showing how careless and unaware the people have become. Just as the leaders were blind, the people also fail to notice important things happening around them. In these verses, Isaiah teaches about what it means when good people die, and how the rest of the world rarely pays attention to these events.

v. 1: God sometimes removes righteous people from the world through death. The righteous perish, and even those who are merciful are taken away . Good people are not protected from death, and sometimes they die even more quickly, especially during times of danger or persecution. When righteous people die, it is often a great loss for their communities—and sometimes, cruel people are responsible for their deaths. This happened before the exile to Babylon, when many good people died and very few were left (Jeremiah 5:1; Psalm 12:1 ^a). Sometimes, God allows the most valuable people to be taken away.

However, most people do not recognize the importance of the death of the righteous. No man lays it to heart—nobody considers what God might be saying through these events. Few people mourn the loss as they should or think deeply about what it means. The death of good people should make us stop and think, asking what God is teaching us and how we might fill the gap they leave behind. When people ignore these signs from God, it shows a lack of understanding and respect for God’s blessings. Sometimes, the world even celebrates when good people die (Revelation 11:10 ^b), not realizing what a loss it really is.

v. 2: For the righteous, death is actually a blessing. They are taken away from the evil to come. God, in kindness, lets them die before trouble comes, so they do not have to suffer through hard times (2 Kings 22:20 ^c). Their death can also be a warning to the world, because they were the people who helped protect others through their prayers and good lives. When God removes them, it can mean trouble is coming for those left behind.

Those who lived upright lives receive peace when they die. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds . This means their souls go to a place of perfect peace, and their bodies rest in the grave until the resurrection day. Death is a rest for God’s people, especially after a hard life (Revelation 14:13; Job 3:17 ^d). For those who walk uprightly, death is not the end, but the beginning of true rest and joy with God.

A Charge against the People

In this section, God brings serious accusations against the sinful generation in Israel. The prophet calls the people to listen to the charges God has against them. These people are described as rebellious by nature and by choice. God is about to show how they have turned away from Him, mocked His word, and filled the land with idolatry and injustice. Even after many warnings and patient waiting, they refused to repent.

v. 3: God calls out to the people, saying, “Draw near, sons of the sorceress, offspring of adulterers and prostitutes.” This means they are acting like children of evil, both by their actions and by following the sins of their ancestors. Sin is compared to sorcery and adultery because it is unfaithfulness to God and a turning to evil powers instead of Him. God is saying, “You are children of rebellion and lies, not of faithfulness” .

v. 4: God accuses them of mocking and disrespect. They make fun of God and His prophets, sticking out their tongues and making faces. Their disrespect is not just towards people, but towards God Himself. By mocking the messengers, they are mocking the One who sent them. God says they are “children of transgression, a seed of falsehood,” meaning that sin and lying are deeply rooted in them .

v. 5: The people are described as inflamed with passion for idols, worshipping them under every green tree. They even commit terrible acts like sacrificing their own children in hidden places. This shows how far they have gone into idolatry and cruelty. Their hearts burn for false gods, and they are willing to do horrible things for them .

v. 6: They choose to worship “smooth stones” in the valleys as their portion, offering food and drink to these lifeless objects. God is offended by this, asking, “Should I receive comfort in these?” They treat rocks as their gods, pouring out offerings to them instead of to the true God. This is both foolish and insulting to God .

v. 7: The people set up idol shrines on high mountains, showing they are not ashamed of their sins. They openly worship false gods and make sacrifices, abandoning their covenant with God. Instead of hiding their sins, they commit them where everyone can see. Their pride in idolatry is bold and public .

v. 8: They even bring idols into their homes, placing them behind doors and doorposts. The places meant for reminders of God’s law are used instead to remember false gods. This shows how deeply idolatry has entered their daily lives and homes. They have left their loyalty to God and embraced other gods, loving their idolatrous practices .

v. 9: The people go to great lengths to impress foreign kings and gods, spending riches on perfumes and gifts to win favor. They travel far to make alliances and learn new idolatries, lowering themselves and disgracing their nation. Instead of trusting God, they seek help and identity in other nations and their false gods .

v. 10: Although they become tired chasing after these idols and foreign powers, they refuse to give up. Even when their efforts bring no hope or satisfaction, they stubbornly refuse to see that their ways are useless. Prosperity in sin keeps them from repenting, so they do not feel sorry for their actions .

v. 11: God asks who they have feared or been afraid of that they would lie and forget Him. They do not remember God or respect Him, even though He has been patient and silent. Instead of fearing God, they ignore Him and are not ashamed of their sins .

v. 12: God says He will expose their so-called righteousness and works, showing them for what they really are—empty and unprofitable. Their outward religious acts cannot help them, and their sinful ways will bring no benefit. God will show everyone that their self-righteousness is false and useless .

Vanity of Idols; Divine Greatness and Condescension.

Here, God contrasts the weakness of idols with his own power and mercy. He shows that idols and worldly things cannot save anyone in times of trouble. In contrast, God is mighty and compassionate, able to help those who trust in him. He promises hope and comfort to everyone who truly depends on him, especially the humble and those with a broken heart.

v. 13: God tells the people that their idols and alliances are useless. He says, When you cry out, let your companies deliver you . In times of trouble, their idols and false friends cannot help them. God warns that idols will be blown away like chaff by the wind—completely powerless. Those who trust in idols will find only emptiness and disappointment. But those who trust in God will be safe and secure. They will possess the land and inherit my holy mountain (Psalm 37:3 ^e), enjoying both earthly and spiritual blessings.

v. 14: God promises to make the way easy for those who trust in him. He says, Cast up, cast up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people . When the time comes for God to deliver his people, he will remove obstacles and make their path smooth. This is also a picture of how the gospel makes it easier for people to come to God. God’s servants are to help others find the way and not make it harder for them (Isaiah 40:3–4 ^f).

v. 15: God describes himself as the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy . He is greater than anything we can imagine, ruling over all creation, and living forever. Yet, even though he is so great, he is close to those who are humble and have a contrite heart. God promises to live with and comfort those who are sorry for their sins. He will revive their hearts and give new hope to those who are broken and repentant.

v. 16: God will not stay angry forever with those who trust in him. He says, I will not contend for ever, neither will I always be wroth: for the spirit would fail before me, and the souls which I have made . God is patient and merciful. He understands that people are weak, and he will not let his anger last forever. Instead, he shows compassion and wants to restore and revive those who turn back to him. God’s mercy is not based on what we deserve, but on his understanding of our weakness and his love for us (Psalm 78:39; Hebrews 12:9 ^g).

The Divine Forbearance and Mercy.

This passage explains how God deals with his people when they sin, especially with the sin of covetousness. Isaiah describes two kinds of people: those who are stubborn and keep doing wrong, and those who are humble and receive God’s peace. Even when people are stubborn, God shows patience and mercy because of his own goodness, not because of anything good in them.

v. 17: God was angry with his people because of their greed and selfishness. For the iniquity of his covetousness I was wroth, and smote him . Covetousness, or loving money and things too much, was a big problem among the Israelites (Jeremiah 6:13; Colossians 3:5 ^h). God punished them for this sin, but even after being punished, they did not turn away from their greed. They continued to do as they pleased and ignored God’s warnings.

v. 18: Even though the people were stubborn, God still chose to show mercy. He saw how they lived, but he said, I have seen his ways, and will heal him . God promises to heal their hearts, guide them, and restore comfort to those who mourn over sin. God’s grace is stronger than human sin, and he is ready to forgive and help those who turn to him, even when they have done wrong for a long time.

v. 19: God promises to bring peace to those who come to him, both to those who are far away and those who are near. I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near . God gives people reasons to praise him, and he brings peace through his word. This peace is for everyone—Jews and Gentiles, people of all nations (Ephesians 2:17 ⁱ). When God brings peace, we should respond with thanksgiving and praise.

v. 20–21: But those who refuse to turn from their wickedness will not find peace. The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest (Isaiah 57:20 ^j). They are always restless and full of trouble, like a stormy ocean tossing up dirt and mud. Their hearts are never calm, and they cannot find true happiness or security. God says clearly, There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked (Isaiah 57:21; Isaiah 48:22 ^k). Only those who trust in God and turn from sin can know true peace.