1Spravedlivý hyne a nikdo si to nebere k srdci. Zbožní lidé jsou bráni pryč, a přitom není, kdo by rozuměl, že před příchodem zla je spravedlivý vzat. 2Ten, kdo žije správně, dojde pokoje, odpočine na svém loži. 3Ale vy přistupte sem, synové věštkyně, potomstvo cizoložníka a nevěstky! 4Z koho si děláte legraci, na koho si otvíráte ústa a vyplazujete jazyk? Což nejste vy děti vzpoury a potomstvo klamu? 5Vy, kteří se rozpalujete modloslužbou mezi duby, pod každým zeleným stromem a pobíjíte děti u potoků pod skalními převisy? 6Mezi hladkými potočními kameny je tvůj podíl, ano, ty jsou tvým údělem. Dokonce jsi jim vylévala litou oběť, přinášela přídavnou oběť. Cožpak se z těchto věcí potěším? 7Na vysokou a vyvýšenou horu jsi umístila své lože. A tam jsi vystoupila obětovat svou oběť. 8A za dveře a veřeje jsi umístila své znamení. Ano, opustila jsi mne a vyšla jsi nahoru, rozšířila jsi své lože a koupila sis od nich přízeň. Zamilovala sis jejich lože, viděla jsi jejich moc. 9Putovala jsi ke králi s olejem, připravila sis mnoho vonných mastí, posílala jsi do daleka posly a ponížila ses až do podsvětí. 10Unavila ses množstvím svých cest, ale neřekla jsi: Je to zbytečné. Nalezla jsi život ve své moci, proto jsi nezeslábla. 11Koho ses obávala a před kým jsi měla strach, že jsi lhala, na mne jsi nepamatovala a nevzala sis to k srdci? Mlčel jsem příliš dlouho. Proto se mě nebojíš? 12Já oznámím tvou spravedlnost a tvé skutky, ale neprospějí ti. 13Když budeš volat o pomoc, ať tě vysvobodí tvé sbírky model; všechny je odnese vítr a sebere vánek. Ale ten, kdo má útočiště ve mně, zdědí zemi a obsadí mou svatou horu. 14A řekne: Navršte, navršte násep, připravte cestu, zvedněte každou překážku z cesty mého lidu! 15Toto praví Vznešený a Vyvýšený, který přebývá ve věčnosti a jehož jméno je Svatý: Bydlím na vysokém a svatém místě, i s tím, kdo má zdeptaného a poníženého ducha, abych oživoval ducha ponížených a abych oživoval srdce zdeptaných. 16Vždyť nebudu navěky vést při, ani se nebudu hněvat navždy, protože jinak by duch přede mnou zemdlel, i dech všeho, co jsem učinil. 17Pro jeho zvrácenou zištnost jsem se rozhněval a bil jsem ho, ukryl jsem se a hněval jsem se, ale on šel odvrácen dál cestou svého srdce. 18Viděl jsem jeho cesty a uzdravím ho. Povedu ho a odplatím mu útěchou. Jeho truchlícím 19stvořím ovoce rtů. Pokoj, pokoj dalekému i blízkému, praví Hospodin, a uzdravím ho. 20Ale ničemové budou jako vzedmuté moře, když se nemůže utišit, jehož vody vyvrhují špínu a bláto. 21Ničemové nemají pokoj, praví můj Bůh.
Jamieson Fausset Brown Bible Commentary 1 THE PEACEFUL DEATH OF THE RIGHTEOUS FEW: THE UNGODLINESS OF THE MANY: A BELIEVING REMNANT SHALL SURVIVE THE GENERAL JUDGMENTS OF THE NATION, AND BE RESTORED BY HIM WHO CREATES PEACE. (Isa. 57:1-21)
no man layeth it to heart--as a public calamity.
merciful men--rather, godly men; the subjects of mercy.
none considering--namely, what was the design of Providence in removing the godly.
from the evil--Hebrew, from the face of the evil, that is, both from the moral evil on every side (
Isa 56:10-
Isa 56:12), and from the evils about to come in punishment of the national sins, foreign invasions, &c. (
Isa 56:9;
Isa 57:13). So Ahijah's death is represented as a blessing conferred on him by God for his piety (
1Kgs 14:10-13; see also
2Kgs 22:20).
2 Or, "he entereth into peace"; in contrast to the persecutions which he suffered in this world (
Job 3:13,
Job 3:17). The Margin not so well translates, "he shall go in peace" (
Ps 37:37;
Luke 2:29).
rest--the calm rest of their bodies in their graves (called "beds,"
2Chr 16:14; compare
Isa 14:18; because they "sleep" in them, with the certainty of awakening at the resurrection,
1Thess 4:14) is the emblem of the eternal "rest" (
Heb 4:9;
Rev 14:13).
each one walking in . . . uprightness--This clause defines the character of those who at death "rest in their beds," namely, all who walk uprightly.
3 But . . . ye--In contrast to "the righteous" and their end, he announces to the unbelieving Jews their doom.
sons of the sorceress--that is, ye that are addicted to sorcery: this was connected with the worship of false gods (
2Kgs 21:6). No insult is greater to an Oriental than any slur cast on his mother (
1Sam 20:30;
Job 30:8).
seed of the adulterer--Spiritual adultery is meant: idolatry and apostasy (
Matt 16:4).
4 sport yourselves--make a mock (
Isa 66:5). Are ye aware of the glory of Him whom you mock, by mocking His servants ("the righteous,"
Isa 57:1)? (
2Chr 36:16).
make . . . wide month-- (
Ps 22:7,
Ps 22:13;
Ps 35:21;
Lam 2:16).
children of transgression, &c.--not merely children of transgressors, and a seed of false parents, but of transgression and falsehood itself, utterly unfaithful to God.
5 Enflaming yourselves--burning with lust towards idols [GESENIUS]; or else (compare Margin), in the terebinth groves, which the Hebrew and the parallelism favor (see on
Isa 1:29) [MAURER].
under . . . tree-- (
2Kgs 17:10). The tree, as in the Assyrian sculptures, was probably made an idolatrous symbol of the heavenly hosts.
slaying . . . children--as a sacrifice to Molech, &c. (
2Kgs 17:31;
2Chr 28:3;
2Chr 33:6).
in . . . valleys--the valley of the son of Hinnom. Fire was put within a hollow brazen statue, and the child was put in his heated arms; kettle drums (Hebrew, toph) were beaten to drown the child's cries; whence the valley was called Tophet (
2Chr 33:6;
Jer 7:3).
under . . . clifts--the gloom of caverns suiting their dark superstitions.
6 The smooth stones, shaped as idols, are the gods chosen by thee as thy portion (
Ps 16:5).
meat offering--not a bloody sacrifice, but one of meal and flour mingled with oil. "Meat" in Old English meant food, not flesh, as it means now (
Lev 14:10).
Should I receive comfort--rather, "Shall I bear these things with patience?" [HORSLEY].
7 Upon . . . high mountain . . . bed--image from adultery, open and shameless (
Ezek 23:7); the "bed" answers to the idolatrous altar, the scene of their spiritual unfaithfulness to their divine husband (
Ezek 16:16,
Ezek 16:25;
Ezek 23:41).
8 "Remembrance," that is, memorials of thy idolatry: the objects which thou holdest in remembrance. They hung up household tutelary gods "behind the doors"; the very place where God has directed them to write His laws "on the posts and gates" (
Deut 6:9;
Deut 11:20); a curse, too, was pronounced on putting up an image "in a secret place" (
Deut 27:15).
discovered thyself--image from an adulteress.
enlarged . . . bed--so as to receive the more paramours.
made . . . covenant--with idols: in open violation of thy "covenant" with God (
Exod 19:5;
Exod 23:32). Or, "hast made assignations with them for thyself" [HORSLEY].
thy bed . . . their bed--The Jews' sin was twofold; they resorted to places of idolatry ("their bed"), and they received idols into the temple of God ("thy bed").
where--rather, "ever since that" [HORSLEY]. The Hebrew for "where" means "room" (Margin), a place; therefore, translate, "thou hast provided a place for it" (for "their bed"), namely, by admitting idolatrous altars in thy land [BARNES]; or "thou choosest a (convenient) place for thyself" in their bed [MAURER] (
Isa 56:5).
9 the king--the idol which they came to worship, perfumed with oil, like harlots (
Jer 4:30;
Ezek 23:16,
Ezek 23:40). So "king" means idol (
Amos 5:26;
Zeph 1:5); (malcham meaning "king") [ROSENMULLER]. Rather, the king of Assyria or Egypt, and other foreign princes, on whom Israel relied, instead of on God; the "ointment" will thus refer to the presents (
Hos 12:1), and perhaps the compliances with foreigners idolatries, whereby Israel sought to gain their favor [LOWTH] (
Isa 30:6;
Ezek 16:33;
Ezek 23:16;
Hos 7:11).
send . . . messengers far off--not merely to neighboring nations, but to those "far off," in search of new idols, or else alliances.
even unto hell--the lowest possible degradation.
10 greatness of . . . way--the length of thy journey in seeking strange gods, or else foreign aid (
Jer 2:23-
Jer 2:24). Notwithstanding thy deriving no good from these long journeys (so, "send . . . far off,"
Isa 57:9), thou dost not still give up hope (
Jer 2:25;
Jer 18:12).
hast found . . . life of . . . hand--for "thou still findest life (that is, vigor) enough in thy hand" to make new idols [MAURER], or to seek new alliance ("hand" being then taken for strength in general).
grieved--rather, "therefore thou art not weak" [MAURER]; inasmuch as having "life in thy hand," thou art still strong in hope.
11 Israel wished not to seem altogether to have denied God. Therefore they "lied" to Him. God asks, Why dost thou do so? "Whom dost thou fear? Certainly not Me; for thou hast not remembered Me." Translate, "seeing that thou hast not remembered Me."
laid it to . . . heart--rather, "nor hast Me at heart"; hast no regard for Me; and that, because I have been long silent and have not punished thee. Literally, "Have I not held My peace, and that for long? and so thou fearest Me not" (
Ps 50:21;
Eccl 8:11). It would be better openly to renounce God, than to "flatter Him" with lies of false professions (
Ps 78:36) [LUDOVICUS DE DIEU]. However,
Isa 51:12-
Isa 51:13 favors English Version of the whole verse; God's "silent" long-suffering, which was intended to lead them to repentance, caused them "not to fear Him" (
Rom 2:4-
Rom 2:5).
12 declare--I will expose publicly thy (hypocritical) righteousness. I will show openly how vain thy works, in having recourse to idols, or foreign alliances, shall prove (
Isa 57:3).
13 When thou criest--In the time of thy trouble.
companies--namely, of idols, collected by thee from every quarter; or else, of foreigners, summoned to thy aid.
wind . . . carry . . . away-- (
Job 21:18;
Matt 7:27).
vanity--rather, "a breath" [LOWTH].
possess . . . land . . . inherit--that is, the literal land of Judea and Mount Zion; the believing remnant of Israel shall return and inherit the land. Secondarily, the heavenly inheritance, and the spiritual Zion (
Isa 49:8;
Ps 37:9,
Ps 37:11;
Ps 69:35-
Ps 69:36;
Matt 5:5;
Heb 12:22). "He that putteth his trust in Me," of whatever extraction, shall succeed to the spiritual patrimony of the apostate Jew [HORSLEY].
14 shall say--The nominative is, "He that trusteth in Me" (
Isa 57:13). The believing remnant shall have every obstacle to their return cleared out of the way, at the coming restoration of Israel, the antitype to the return from Babylon (
Isa 35:8;
Isa 40:3-
Isa 40:4;
Isa 62:10-
Isa 62:11).
Cast . . . up--a high road before the returning Jews.
stumbling-block--Jesus had been so to the Jews, but will not be so then any longer (
1Cor 1:23); their prejudices shall then be taken out of the way.
15 The pride and self-righteousness of the Jews were the stumbling block in the way of their acknowledging Christ. The contrition of Israel in the last days shall be attended with God's interposition in their behalf. So their self-humiliation, in
Isa 66:2,
Isa 66:5,
Isa 66:10, &c., precedes their final prosperity (
Zech 12:6,
Zech 12:10-
Zech 12:14); there will, probably, be a previous period of unbelief even after their return (
Zech 12:8-
Zech 12:9).
16 For--referring to the promise in
Isa 57:14-
Isa 57:15, of restoring Israel when "contrite" (
Gen 6:3;
Gen 8:21;
Ps 78:38-
Ps 78:39;
Ps 85:5;
Ps 103:9,
Ps 103:13-
Ps 103:14;
Mic 7:18). God "will not contend for ever" with His people, for their human spirit would thereby be utterly crushed, whereas God's object is to chasten, not to destroy them (
Lam 3:33-
Lam 3:34;
Mic 7:8-
Mic 7:9). With the ungodly He is "angry every day" (
Ps 7:11;
Rev 14:11).
spirit . . . before me--that is, the human spirit which went forth from Me (
Num 16:22), answering to "which I have made" in the parallel clause.
17 covetousness--akin to idolatry; and, like it, having drawn off Israel's heart from God (
Isa 2:7;
Isa 56:11;
Isa 58:3;
Jer 6:13;
Col 3:5).
hid me-- (
Isa 8:17;
Isa 45:15).
went on frowardly--the result of God's hiding His face (
Ps 81:12;
Rom 1:24,
Rom 1:26).
18 Rather, "I have seen his ways (in sin), yet will I heal him," that is, restore Israel spiritually and temporally (
Jer 33:6;
Jer 3:22;
Hos 14:4-
Hos 14:5) [HORSLEY].
I will . . . restore comforts unto him and to his mourners--However, the phrase, "his mourners," favors English Version; "his ways" will thus be his ways of repentance; and God's pardon on "seeing" them answers to the like promise (
Isa 61:2-
Isa 61:3;
Jer 31:18,
Jer 31:20).
19 fruit of . . . lips--that is, thanksgivings which flow from the lips. I make men to return thanks to Me (
Hos 14:2;
Heb 13:15).
Peace, peace--"perfect peace" (see
Isa 26:3, Margin;
John 14:27). Primarily, the cessation of the trouble s now afflicting the Jews, as formerly, under the Babylonian exile. More generally, the peace which the Gospel proclaims both to Israel "that is near," and to the Gentiles who are "far off" (
Acts 2:39;
Eph 2:17).
20 when it cannot rest--rather, "for it can have no rest" (
Job 15:20, &c.;
Pro 4:16-
Pro 4:17). English Version represents the sea as occasionally agitated; but the Hebrew expresses that it can never be at rest.
21 (
Isa 48:22;
2Kgs 9:22).
my God--The prophet, having God as his God, speaks in the person of Israel, prophetically regarded as having now appropriated God and His "peace" (
Isa 11:1-
Isa 11:3), warning the impenitent that, while they continue so, they can have no peace.
