Isaiah - 57: No Peace for the Wicked

As in much of Isaiah's writings - and, indeed, the whole of Scripture - this chapter presents a contrast between evil and righteous people. While we mainly see a focus on the promised Messiah as our hope, here the main focus is a warning to the wicked. The title for this chapter comes from the last verse thereof.

Isaiah 57:1-2 (HCSB) The righteous one perishes, and no one takes it to heart; faithful men are swept away, with no one realizing that the righteous one is swept away from the presence of evil. He will enter into peace— they will rest on their beds— everyone who lives uprightly.

In the world at large, when a righteous one dies, people don't mourn. As for the public record of what's happenin' now, they are swept into Orwell's "Memory Hole." What the wicked of the world cannot see is that being swept away from them into the first death brings rest and peace for the righteous. We know that all who live godly lives in Christ Jesus will face persecution. We know that the evil men rejoice when saints are killed. We also know we have a refuge in the risen Lord Jesus that protects us from the second death, bringing us peace and rest that the world cannot know.

Isaiah 57:3-5 (HCSB) But come here, you sons of a sorceress, offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute! Who is it you are mocking? Who is it you are opening your mouth and sticking out your tongue at? Isn’t it you, you rebellious children, you race of liars, who burn with lust among the oaks, under every green tree, who slaughter children in the wadis below the clefts of the rocks?

Here's the first contrast of the destiny of the righteous with that of the wicked. The righteous enter into peaceful rest; the wicked are weighed and measured and found to be wanting. Look at all the descriptive words used here to describe the wicked and see how much of this evil is accepted as righteous in our culture right now. It's small talk when the Super Bowl's winning quarterback has a wife who's a witch; it's hushed up when a congressman has a mistress who's a communist Chinese spy. God is not mocked - nothing is hidden, nothing escapes. He asks these wicked people to examine themselves, to question what they are doing as He calls them rebellious liars and murderers of children. It's important to see that our nation is no different in its moral fiber than was national Israel - unregenerate people do wicked things!

Isaiah 57:6-10 (HCSB) Your portion is among the smooth ⌊stones⌋ of the wadi; indeed, they are your lot. You have even poured out a drink offering to them; you have offered a grain offering; should I be satisfied with these? You have placed your bed on a high and lofty mountain; you also went up there to offer sacrifice. You have set up your memorial behind the door and doorpost. For away from Me, you stripped, went up, and made your bed wide, and you have made a bargain for yourself with them. You have loved their bed; you have gazed on their genitals. You went to the king with oil and multiplied your perfumes; you sent your couriers far away and sent ⌊them⌋ down even to Sheol. You became weary on your many journeys, ⌊but⌋ you did not say, “I give up!” You found a renewal of your strength; therefore you did not grow weak.

YHWH posits 5 accusations against the wicked, as each of these verses start with an accusatorial "YOU" or "YOUR". Now the wages of sin are revealed. Those who murdered children in the wadi will face death there, as their blood will be poured out as they poured out offerings to their demons. They have sacrificed and made their homes at the high places - recall how many times Israel was told to take down the high places. The presence of the high places became an indication of Israel's morality; showing the lack of fear of God and the embrace of demons (see 2 Kings 17:7-23).

The wicked think they are far removed from God as they pursue their demon gods - sex is in view in verse 8. The wide bed refers to the pagan prostitutes' practice, Israel made a deal with them as they lusted after these strange women. The wicked lust after wealth and power as well, seeking to cushion their lives with luxury, no matter the cost. They renewed their strength in the pursuit of their lusts - so powerful are the desires of the wicked heart of the natural man.

Isaiah 57:11-13 (HCSB) Who was it you dreaded and feared, so that you lied and didn’t remember Me or take it to heart? Have I not kept silent for such a long time and you do not fear Me? I will expose your righteousness, and your works—they will not profit you. When you cry out, let your collection ⌊of idols⌋ deliver you! The wind will carry all of them off, a breath will take them away. But whoever takes refuge in Me will inherit the land and possess My holy mountain.

We know from the Scriptures that the carnal man never tires of hearing something new, always seeks after a sign that what he pursues is right for him. When carnal man does not see God (he suppresses his knowledge by his unrighteousness - Rom 1:18) he tells himself God is not real, he forgets what he knows about YHWH and hardens his heart against truth - fearing poverty in any form more than fearing God.

God IS NOT mocked; He will expose all the deeds and thoughts of the wicked - their righteousness is no more than menstrual rags, their deeds will not profit them. They devote themselves to dumb gods with no speech or sight or hearing; worthless idols that will be blown away and destroyed. BUT those who take refuge in YHWH will be taken care of. Note this: do not worry yourselves about what you eat or drink or wear, for your Father in heaven knows you have need of these things. But seek first His kingdom and all these lesser things will be given to you! Trust in God and He will provide bounty and peace and rest on His holy mountain - Zion.

Isaiah 57:14-16 (HCSB) He said, “Build it up, build it up, prepare the way, remove ⌊every⌋ obstacle from My people’s way.” For the High and Exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy says this: “I live in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and lowly of spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the oppressed. For I will not accuse ⌊you⌋ forever, and I will not always be angry; for then the spirit would grow weak before Me, even the breath ⌊of man⌋, which I have made.

God tells His people to prepare the way - foretelling the mission of John the Baptizer. Rather than put stumbling blocks of man's traditions in the way of people, we are to remove obstacles and proclaim the peace that comes with faith in Christ! There is peace with God, rest for weary souls who find their way to Mount Zion, the high and holy place where God's Spirit is. Those who are oppressed by the world, who hunger after righteousness will be revived, for God will not accuse and be angry with His people forever - for fragile man would grow too weary to continue on.

Isaiah 57:17-19 (HCSB) Because of his sinful greed I was angry, so I struck him; I was angry and hid; but he went on turning back to the desires of his heart. I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, creating words of praise.” The LORD says, “Peace, peace to the one who is far or near, and I will heal him.

Before being raised up in Christ, we were children of wrath like the rest. Because of our sin and selfishness God was angry and punished His people, his Himself in our times of rebellion. With His restrain removed, we turned back to the sinful desires of our hearts. But because He had set us apart from before the foundation of the world, there was never any possibility that He would abandon us to ourselves - God will heal, God will lead His people and restore us, comfort us and put words of praise into our mouths. For the promised Messiah proclaims peace, peace to those who are near (ethnic Israel, who had the oracles of God) and those who are far off (Gentiles, who were excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world). To these, the wounds of Christ bring healing.

Isaiah 57:20-21 (HCSB) But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its waters churn up mire and muck. There is no peace for the wicked,” says my God.

The wicked are in constant state of excitement as they accuse every one of the very things they do. They churn up the vile underbelly of the culture and declare it be virtue. They cannot live in peace with those who not agree with them, because own consciences accuse them of their sin. When you see the vile behavior and hear the vile speech of the popular and powerful in our world right now, it ought to cause you and me to vomit. But we need to take note of this: these wicked people have no peace with God and their souls are tormented by what they know about Him from the world He created. The wicked have no peace, says their Creator.

If you are raised up in Christ, you are an ambassador of peace; a messenger of reconciliation with God. All the more now we need to understand that the message the wicked consider foolishness is the only message that can bring life that is at peace with God.

Preach Christ to the wicked - whether they be at your place of work, school, home, of fellowship. There is no road to peace except the road of repentance and faith in Christ. Preach grace found in Christ as the only salve for what causes the souls of the wicked to wear themselves as they try to drown out their knowledge of Him. They will have no peace unless He gives it. His message of reconciliation is the only gospel we've been given - it is was brought us peace; it will bring peace to all of His people.