Isa. 57 The blessed death of the righteous not duly lamented by the Jews; who also commit idolatry, and trusted in man: they are threatened, Isa. 57:1–12; Evangelical promises to the penitent, Isa. 57:13–19. No peace to the wicked, Isa. 57:20–21.

The righteous; just and holy men, who are the pillars of the place and state in which they live; yea, as the Jews call them, the pillars of the world. No man; few or none of the people. So he showeth that the corruption was general, in the people no less than in the priests.

He shall enter into peace; this just and merciful man shall enter into a state of peace and rest, where he shall be out of the reach of the approaching miseries. Or, He shall go (to wit, to his fathers, as it is fully expressed, Gen. 15:15; or, he shall die; going being put for dying, as 1 Chron.

Draw near hither, to God’s tribunal, to answer for yourselves, and to hear what I have to say against you, and to receive your sentence. Sons of the sorceress; not by propagation, but by imitation; such being frequently called a man or woman’s sons that learn their art, and follow their example:…

Against whom do ye sport yourselves? consider whom it is that you mock and scoff when you deride God’s prophets, as they did, Isa. 28:14, Isa. 28:22, and know that it is not so much men that you abuse as God, whose cause they plead, and in whose name they speak.

Inflaming yourselves with idols, Heb. Being inflamed, &c. lusting after them, and mad upon them, as the phrase is, Jer. 50:38; fervent both in making and in worshipping of them, as was observed, Isa. 44:12;c. It is a metaphor borrowed from whoredom, to which idolatry is oft compared.

Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion; thou hast chosen for thy portion those idols which were either made of those smooth stones which were cast up by rivers, or which were worshipped upon altars made of such stones, or which were worshipped by the sides of brooks or rivers, where…

Upon a lofty and high mountain, in high places, which were much used for religious worship, both by Israelites and by heathens, hast thou set thy bed; thine altar, as appears from the sacrifice here following, in which thou didst commit spiritual whoredom with idols. Compare Ezek. 23:17, Ezek.

Behind the doors also and the posts; which by a figure called hendiaduo may be put for the door-posts, as it is expressed, Deut. 11:20. Behind the posts of the doors of thine house; where the heathens are said to have placed their tutelar gods, to whose protection they committed themselves and…

Thou wentest, either by thyself, or by thy messengers, as it follows. Or, thou didst look, to wit, earnestly, with expectation and vehement affection. To the king; either to Moloch, which was as it were the king or chief of their idols, and which signifies a king.

Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; thou hast not eased or relieved, but only tired thyself with all thy tedious journeys and laborious endeavours.

And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared? and what or who are they the fear of whom drives thee to these wicked and desperate courses? Are they not men, weak and mortal creatures, such as wholly depend upon me, and can do nothing to thee either against me or without me? That thou hast lied; that…

I will declare; I will no longer be silent and patient towards thee. Thy righteousness and thy works; which may be put for the righteousness of thy works, by that known figure, of which See Poole “Isa.

When thou criest, to wit, unto me for deliverance, let thy companies deliver thee; expect it not from me, whom thou hast forsaken and despised, but from those foreign troops to whom thou hast sought and trusted for succour.

And shall say, Heb. And he shall say; or, And one shall say. God will raise up a man who shall say these words, and that with authority and efficacy, so as the thing shall be done. Cast ye up; make causeways, where it is needful, for their safe and easy passage.

Whose name is Holy; who is omnipotent, everlasting, and unchangeable, holy in all his words and ways, and therefore both can and will deliver his people, as he hath promised to do.

I will not contend for ever; I will not constantly proceed to the utmost severity with sinful men in this life, and therefore I will put an end to the miseries of the Jews, and turn their captivity.

Covetousness; of which sin the Jews were eminently guilty, as is expressly affirmed, Jer. 6:13, Jer. 8:10. But this is not mentioned exclusively as to other sins, but synecdochically, so as to comprehend all those sins for which God contended with them.

I have seen his ways; I have taken notice of these evil ways in which he seems resolved to walk, and that he is neither bettered by mercies nor judgments. And will heal him; or, yet I will heal him.

I create, I will by my almighty power and in a wonderful manner produce, the fruit of the lips; Peace: either, 1. Praise or thanksgiving, which is called the fruit of our lips, Hos. 14:2, Heb. 13:15, and peace: or rather, 2.

Their minds are restless, being perpetually hurried and tormented with their own lusts and passions, and with the horror of their guilt, and the dread of the Divine vengeance due unto them, and ready to come upon them.

Though they may have as great a share of prosperity as the best of men have, as appears from Ps. 37:35, Ps. 73:3;c. Eccles. 8:14, Eccles. 9:2; yet they have no share in this inward, and spiritual, and everlasting peace.