Chapter 57

The righteous are at peace.  They rest in God.  These verses:

1 The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity; 2 he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness. [Isa 57:1-2 ESV]

Perishes.  Taken away from calamity.  Do these two go together?  Seems to say that God saves the righteous from wrath and punishment sent upon the unrighteous by bringing them home to Him.  MSB puts it this way:  "In contrast to the evil leaders, who were engaged in debauchery and self-indulgence, were the righteous  who were removed from impending divine judgements.  The righteous do suffer by oppression and distress at what is going on around them, but they die in faith and enjoy their eternal reward."

Wow.  Wonder if I could word this properly for a FB post to calm the fears of saved people who are experiencing earthly misgivings?  People like me!

In contrast, the unrighteous - idolators, sorcerers, worshipers on the high places - these are not in God's favor.  These verses:

4 Whom are you mocking? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit, 5 you who burn with lust among the oaks, under every green tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks? [Isa 57:4-5 ESV]

Two ideas here:

First, this would be a great FB post linked to one of those articles I've seen lately about people holding up signs saying Jesus should stay dead, or some other outrageously impudent statement about the living God.  This addresses them so directly.  They are evil and descended from evil.  They are killers of children.  That are immoral and unrighteous.    But the verse with their fate needs to be included also.  Bring it here when you find it....Best possibility within the chapter is this:

13 When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! The wind will carry them all off, a breath will take them away. But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land and shall inherit my holy mountain. [Isa 57:13 ESV]  Could use 13a only.  Says God will not be there for such people when they ultimately face their doom.  No compassion for them at all.

Second, this phrase "cleft of the rock" shows up so often.  In this verse, it is where children are sacrificed.  In Revelation it is where men hide themselves to escape final destruction.  In the song, it is where Jesus hides the soul of the righteous.  A very different place than what I picture.  Must be another verse that uses this phrase in a positive way.  Hmm...the song is written by Guy Penrod, in the Gaither Vocal Band.  The one with the really long gray hair.

2023 - Perhaps, also, we are to notice the irony of people trying to hide from God at the end in the same places they used to provoke him by murdering the innocent in the Old Testament.  Do they not see that he already knows about those places where they've chosen to hide from him?  But I did a little research on it, and while it is an interesting thought, I don't believe it really holds up very well.  I think I am trying to make a connection that does not exist.  Closest I could get was this one:  15 Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 calling to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" [Rev 6:15-17 ESV].  You might make a case that "among the rocks" is "cleft", but I think it's a stretch. 

The summary verse for the indictment of idol worshipers, for those who don't fear God:

13 When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! The wind will carry them all off, a breath will take them away. But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land and shall inherit my holy mountain. [Isa 57:13 ESV]

Those of lowly and contrite hearts will dwell with the Holy One of Israel.  Peace is promised to them.  Seems to be addressed to those in captivity who are still worshiping God, who still believe and follow Him and pray to Him.  God encourages them that this will not last forever, that He will forgive, He will bring them home.  Then, there is this last verse, which makes it clear that this rest and peace is still not for just everyone:

21 There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked." [Isa 57:21 ESV]

Reading this in 2020, I would tie it back to the first two verses in this chapter.  The righteous live among the wicked, the righteous in some measure also suffer as God punishes and contends with the wicked and persuades them to return to Him, and also certainly punishes them for their unrighteousness.  These last verses - 14-21, are a reminder to those caught up in the swirl of God's dealing with the unrighteous that He has a place for them.  He knows their names.  He says this is not going to go on forever, they can look forward to a more peaceful time.  God also says here that some, at least, will repent because of His actions.  There will be some who are pulled out of this quagmire, who are saved from hell, by the chastisement and punishment of God.  It is for those that He does these things!!!  Here it is in so many words!!!  But when all is said and done, some will still be in vs 21.  No peace for the wicked.  Wow.  This too would be a good FB post if I could get it into the right words.

(2024 - If I really want to do a post one day, this one from Isaiah is good.  When grocery and gas prices spike, think of this.  When the guilty go free, think of this.  When the innocent suffer without cause, think of this.  It is not about me, it is not about you.  It is about those whom God would persuade and convince to turn to him.  We have peace already, they are still looking for it.)