# Isaiah 57 📖: Peace for the Contrite [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-Isaiah Overview]] | [[Isaiah 56]] | [[Isaiah 58]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) [[#Verse 01.]] The godly perish, but no one cares. Honest people disappear, when no one minds that the godly disappear because of evil. [[#Verse 02.]] Those who live uprightly enter a place of peace; they rest on their beds. [[#Verse 03.]] “But approach, you sons of omen readers, you offspring of adulteresses and prostitutes! [[#Verse 04.]] At whom are you laughing? At whom are you opening your mouth and sticking out your tongue? You are the children of rebels, the offspring of liars, [[#Verse 05.]] you who inflame your lusts among the oaks and under every green tree, who slaughter children near the streams under the rocky overhangs. [[#Verse 06.]] Among the smooth stones of the stream are the idols you love; they, they are the object of your devotion. You pour out liquid offerings to them, you make an offering. Because of these things how can I relent from judgment? [[#Verse 07.]] On every high, elevated hill you prepare your bed; you go up there to offer sacrifices. [[#Verse 08.]] Behind the door and doorpost you put your symbols. Indeed, you depart from me and go up and invite them into bed with you. You purchase favors from them; you love their bed, and gaze longingly on their naked bodies. [[#Verse 09.]] You take olive oil as tribute to your king, along with many perfumes. You send your messengers to a distant place; you go all the way to Sheol. [[#Verse 10.]] Because of the long distance you must travel, you get tired, but you do not say, ‘I give up.’ You get renewed energy, so you don’t collapse. [[#Verse 11.]] Whom are you worried about? Whom do you fear, that you would act so deceitfully and not remember me or think about me? Because I have been silent for so long, you are not afraid of me. [[#Verse 12.]] I will denounce your so-called righteousness and your deeds, but they will not help you. [[#Verse 13.]] When you cry out for help, let your idols help you! The wind blows them all away, a breeze carries them away. But the one who looks to me for help will inherit the land and will have access to my holy mountain.” [[#Verse 14.]] He says, “Build it! Build it! Clear a way! Remove all the obstacles out of the way of my people!” [[#Verse 15.]] For this is what the high and exalted one says, the one who rules forever, whose name is holy: “I dwell in an exalted and holy place, but also with the discouraged and humiliated, in order to cheer up the humiliated and to encourage the discouraged. [[#Verse 16.]] For I will not be hostile forever or perpetually angry, for then man’s spirit would grow faint before me, the life-giving breath I created. [[#Verse 17.]] I was angry because of their sinful greed; I attacked them and angrily rejected them, yet they remained disobedient and stubborn. [[#Verse 18.]] I have seen their behavior, but I will heal them. I will lead them, and I will provide comfort to them and those who mourn with them. [[#Verse 19.]] I am the one who gives them reason to celebrate. Complete prosperity is available both to those who are far away and those who are nearby,” says the Lord, “and I will heal them. [[#Verse 20.]] But the wicked are like a surging sea that is unable to be quiet; its waves toss up mud and sand. [[#Verse 21.]] There will be no prosperity,” says my God, “for the wicked.” ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary ###### Overall. ###### Verse 01. ###### Verse 02. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. ###### Verse 05. ###### Verse 06. ###### Verse 07. ###### Verse 08. ###### Verse 09. ###### Verse 10. ###### Verse 11. ###### Verse 12. ###### Verse 13. ###### Verse 14. ###### Verse 15. ###### Verse 16. ###### Verse 17. ###### Verse 18. ###### Verse 19. ###### Verse 20. ###### Verse 21. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights 1. Verses 3-13 describe idolatry, including worship under green trees and in valleys. 2. Sacrificing children in the valleys (57:5) reflects the horrific practices tied to Molech worship (2 Kings 23:10). 3. The smooth stones of the valley (57:6) probably refer to stones used in idol worship. 4. The bed on a high mountain (57:7) uses the imagery of adultery for spiritual unfaithfulness. 5. Going to the king with olive oil (57:9) may refer to Molech, whose name sounds like the Hebrew word for king (*melek*). 6. The high and exalted One who lives forever (57:15) uses language similar to Isaiah's vision in 6:1. 7. Paul echoes 57:19 in Ephesians 2:17: peace to those far away and those near. 8. The wicked are like the tossing sea that churns up mud (57:20). 9. There is no peace for the wicked (57:21) repeats 48:22 and closes the second section of chapters 40-66. 10. Build up, prepare the road (57:14) recalls the highway imagery of 40:3. ## 🧠 Chapter Summary > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the high and exalted One who lives with the humble and contrite (57:15). He came preaching peace to those far away and those near (57:19; Ephesians 2:17), giving rest to the righteous even in death. ## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. The righteous die and no one considers that they are taken from coming calamity (57:1-2). How does this change the way we think about the death of believers? 2. Israel wore itself out chasing other gods but would not admit it was hopeless (57:10). What do people pursue that leaves them exhausted? 3. God lives in a high and holy place and also with the contrite and humble (57:15). What does it mean to have a contrite heart? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 2: The righteous enter into peace and rest. - 📖 verse 15: God lives in a high and holy place and also with the contrite and humble. - 📖 verse 19: Peace, peace to those far and near; I will heal them. ## 🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference - 🔗 [[Ephesians 02#Verse 13.|Ephesians 2:13-17]] - He preached peace to those far and near. - 🔗 [[Psalm 51#Verse 17.|Psalm 51:17]] - A broken and contrite heart God will not despise. - 🔗 [[Matthew 05#Verse 03.|Matthew 5:3-4]] - Blessed are the poor in spirit and those who mourn. - 🔗 [[Philippians 01#Verse 21.|Philippians 1:21-23]] - To die is gain. - 🔗 [[James 04#Verse 06.|James 4:6-10]] - God gives grace to the humble. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection 📝 SOAP: [[Isaiah 57 - SOAP|Death Is A Doorway]] ## 📂 Internal Notes