Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Isaiah 57
Isaiah 57:1-2The 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; he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness.
These verses reveal a startling truth: sometimes the death of a godly person is an act of God's mercy, sparing them from a coming calamity that the spiritually blind society cannot see.Isaiah 57:15For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
This is one of the most beautiful descriptions of God in the Old Testament. It shows He is both transcendent - infinitely high and holy - and intimately near to those who are humble and broken.Isaiah 57:21There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
The chapter concludes with this stark and absolute statement, making it clear that a life of wickedness is a life of inner turmoil, fundamentally cut off from the peace that only God can give.
Historical & Cultural Context
A Society Blind to Goodness
The chapter opens with a heartbreaking observation about the state of Judah. The people are so consumed with their own pursuits and corrupt worship that when good, righteous people die, no one even seems to notice or care. Isaiah points this out as a symptom of a deep spiritual sickness. This moral apathy serves as the backdrop for God's scathing rebuke of their idolatry, which He portrays as blatant spiritual adultery against Him.
A Promise of Healing for the Humble
After detailing the people's exhaustive and futile pursuit of false gods, the prophet's message pivots from judgment to hope. God Himself speaks, revealing His heart of compassion. He promises to clear the way for His people to return, to heal their waywardness, and to restore comfort. This section shows that God's ultimate goal is to revive the spirit of the humble and create peace where there was once turmoil, not solely to punish sin.
A Tale of Two Hearts: Idolatry vs. Humility
Isaiah 57 unfolds as a powerful sermon contrasting the fate of the righteous with the actions of the wicked. The scene shifts from a quiet lament over the unnoticed death of the godly to a fiery confrontation with a people engaged in blatant, self-destructive idolatry. The focus moves to God Himself, who declares where His true dwelling place is - not on the pagan high places, but in the humble human heart.
The Unseen Mercy in Death (Isaiah 57:1-2)
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.
Commentary:
The death of the righteous is not a tragedy but God's merciful protection from coming calamity.
The Frantic Emptiness of Idolatry (Isaiah 57:3-13a)
3 But you, draw near, sons of the sorceress, offspring of the adulterer and the loose woman.
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?
6 Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion; they, they are your lot; to them you have poured out a drink offering, you have brought a grain offering. Shall I relent for these things?
7 On a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifice.
8 Behind the door and the doorpost you have set up your memorial; for, deserting me, you have uncovered your bed, you have gone up to it, you have made it wide; and you have made a covenant for yourself with them, you have loved their bed, you have looked on nakedness.
9 You journeyed to the king with oil and multiplied your perfumes; you sent your envoys far off, and sent down even to Sheol.
10 You were wearied with the length of your way, but you did not say, "It is hopeless"; you found new life for your strength, and so you were not faint.
11 Whom did you dread and fear, so that you lied, and did not remember me, did not lay it to heart? Have I not held my peace, even for a long time, and you do not fear me?
12 I will declare your righteousness and your deeds, but they will not profit you.
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.
Commentary:
God condemns the people's exhaustive and adulterous pursuit of idols, which will prove useless in their time of need.
Related Verse Analysis
The God Who Dwells with the Lowly (Isaiah 57:13b-19)
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.
14 And it shall be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people's way."
15 For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16 For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made.
17 Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry, I struck him; I hid my face and was angry, but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart.
18 I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners,
19 creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the Lord, “and I will heal him.
Commentary:
The holy, eternal God promises to live with and restore those who are humble and repentant, offering them true peace.
No Peace for the Wicked (Isaiah 57:20-21)
20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt.
21 There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
Commentary:
The wicked are compared to a restless sea, living in constant turmoil with no access to the peace God provides.
God's Heart for the Humble
Idolatry as Futile Self-Exhaustion
Isaiah portrays idolatry as a wearying, pointless endeavor, not merely a sin. The people 'were wearied with the length of [their] way' (v. 10), chasing after gods that could not save. The chapter teaches that turning from God to any other source of security is an exhausting cycle that offers no real profit or peace.
The Paradox of God's Holiness and Humility
The chapter presents an important truth about God's nature in verse 15. He is the transcendent, holy One who inhabits eternity, yet He is also immanent, choosing to dwell with and revive the spirit of the lowly. This theme reveals that God's greatness is shown not in His distance, but in His compassionate closeness to the broken.
Peace as a Divine Gift
Peace is a central theme, presented as something God creates and speaks into existence ('creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace...'). It is offered to the repentant, but it is completely inaccessible to the wicked. This shows that true peace is not a result of circumstances, but a gift of God's healing presence that quiets the restless soul.
Finding Peace in a Restless World
Isaiah 57 describes people who wore themselves out pursuing false security. You can apply this by honestly examining what you run to when you're anxious or feel needy - is it your career, a relationship, entertainment, or your own strength? Verse 13 makes it clear that only those who take refuge in God find a true inheritance. Everything else is a 'collection of idols' the wind will carry away.
A contrite spirit is an honest one - a heart that admits its faults and its need for God. You can cultivate this by setting aside pride and defensiveness in your prayers, confessing your shortcomings without making excuses. Remember the promise of Isaiah 57:15: God's goal isn't to crush the lowly, but to 'revive the spirit' and 'revive the heart' of those who come to Him in humility.
This chapter teaches that our inner state is directly connected to our choices. When you choose selfishness, dishonesty, or pride, you are choosing the way of the 'tossing sea' described in verse 20, which leads to inner turmoil. When you choose humility, repentance, and trust in God, you are walking the path that leads to the 'peace, peace' He promises in verse 19. It's a daily reminder that how you live determines the condition of your soul.
God's Home is the Humble Heart
Isaiah 57 draws a sharp line between two ways of life: the frantic, empty pursuit of idols and the quiet trust of a humble heart. God exposes the futility of turning away from Him, showing that it only leads to exhaustion and turmoil. The chapter's core message is an important invitation: the holy, eternal God chooses to make His home with those who are broken and lowly, not with the powerful, offering them healing, comfort, and a peace the wicked can never know.
What This Means for Us Today
The path to God is not built by our own strength but is cleared by His grace. He says, 'Build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction.' This chapter invites us to stop striving in our own power and instead embrace a humble spirit, allowing God to heal our wayward hearts and lead us into His peace.
- What 'obstruction' in your heart or life do you need to ask God to remove?
- How can you practice being 'lowly in spirit' this week in your interactions and prayers?
- To whom can you be a messenger of God's healing peace?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
This chapter sets the stage by criticizing corrupt leaders and promising inclusion for foreigners and eunuchs who honor God, defining God's house as a place for all nations.
The following chapter continues the theme of true worship, contrasting hypocritical fasting with the true justice and mercy that pleases God.
Connections Across Scripture
Jeremiah uses very similar imagery of spiritual adultery on 'every high hill and under every green tree' to condemn Judah's idolatry.
Jesus's statement, 'Blessed are the poor in spirit,' directly echoes the heart of Isaiah 57:15, which promises God's presence with the 'lowly spirit.'
This verse reinforces Isaiah's message, stating, 'The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.'
Discussion Questions
- Isaiah 57:1 says the righteous perish and 'no one lays it to heart.' In what ways might our culture today overlook or devalue true righteousness?
- God describes Himself as both 'high and lifted up' and dwelling with the 'contrite and lowly' (Isaiah 57:15). Why is this combination of God's greatness and His closeness so crucial for our faith?
- The chapter ends with the stark statement, 'There is no peace... for the wicked.' How have you seen this principle of inner turmoil play out in the world or even in your own life when you've strayed from God's path?