The prophetic books are foretelling — about the future — and forthtelling — speaking about the condition of our hearts. It speaks also about the holy God, and therefore, how we relate to Him.
Isaiah 56 spoke of the failure of leaders and Isaiah 57 moves on to focus on the people. But yet, it doesn’t just speak about sin, but helps us to see and encounter the God of glory.
(A) Sin blinds (Isa 57:1-5)
In Isaiah 57:1-3, there are 2 groups with different experiences. The righteous and devout are dying and diminishing, and this is seen a good thing for them — for they are being spared the coming judgement. But this is also a worrying thing, for there are fewer righteous in the land. And no one takes it to heart or cares.
Isaiah 57:3 speaks of coming judgement. The word “draw near” is a summon, and they are being called to receive their judgement. The description of son and offspring here is not referring to a genetic lineage, but is speaking of what they are like/who they are following.
Isaiah 57:4 show us the posture of those who are being judged. They mock the coming judgment and smirk, instead of feeling ashamed or repenting from their sins. They are described as “children of transgression” and “the offspring of deceit”.
From 2 Kings 16:1-4, we read of how Ahaz was one of Israel’s wicked kings, and he was mentioned earlier in the book of Isaiah. His example helps us understand Isaiah 57:5. Him, and the people, were sacrificing to other gods. They were meant to be of God and belonging to God, yet devoted their time and energy to worshipping other gods. They even engaged in child sacrifice. Friends, we know instinctively that a tiny casket at the funeral of a child is a tragic thing. How much more so is this intentional effort to take the lives of children away in service of another God.
Yet, this people is so blinded by sin that they don’t feel shame and persist in their actions. They smirk and do not take it to heart that the righteous are perishing.
Do you know the righteous in the land? When the good ones die young, do you just think it’s life? When churches fall into disrepair, when their faithful pastor who spent his life devoted to the work pass away, do we care? What do we care about? Friends, the state of our land and our churches tell us many things. These are things we should pray for and be concerned about.
These verses should also cause us to point and think about the heart of sin. Now, we might think that we are not so crass as these people. But what do we think about the issue of abortion? Are our hearts broken? Do we pray about it?
These verses should cause us to cry out with Isaiah, that we are people of unclean lips among a people of unclean lips.
Sin blinds explicitly or dulls our senses. It can also lure us to sleep, the sleep of our conscience. David writes these words in Psalm 36:1-2, “Transgression speaks to the wicked deep in his heart; there is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.” Beware the blindness and deceitfulness of sin.
In our day, we may be quick to avoid and remove shame, but shame can be a good thing. It can alert us to sin in our lives, sin that we should deal with. Ignoring it is to our detriment.
(B) Sin entices (ISa 57:6-10)
In the next few verses, we see that Israel seems to go on a journey and indulged in various activities. First, they went to the valley (Isa 57:6a) and to the mountain (Isa 57:7a). They went everywhere and they were worshipping creation — a mighty mountain, a smooth stone. They went to the valley to offer drink and grain offering (Isa 57:6b). At the mountain, they set their bed and made their sacrifice (Isa 57:7b). This is all that they are doing. This is similar to what Paul writes and describes in Romans 1:22-23. But before we think it’s an ancient animistic practice, let’s consider how we too, worship the work of our hands. We too, worship created things.
They journeyed to the king with oil (Isa 57:9a), seeking one with power. Israel even went down even to Sheol (Isa 57:9d), to the place of the dead or death. They also multiplied their perfumes and sent their envoys far off (Isa 57:9b-c). Isaiah 30:1-2 and Isaiah 39:1-2 show us how God’s people flirted with both Egypt and Babylon because of security and power. In Ezekiel 16, we have a description of God’s indictment of adulterous and unfaithful Israel. Instead of trusting in God, who made all things and is in control of all things, Ezekiel described Israel as "playing the whore” and intentionally sought out other kings and human powers (c.f. Ezekiel 16:26, 28, 29).
And lest we think that we are exempt, we too, are tempted to find our security with someone of power. Perhaps, we think we’re safer if our bosses like us. Or if we befriend a certain person with standing.
Isaiah 57:10 concludes by shedding light on the extent of their activities — they went about it relentlessly.
How does Isaiah interpret and indict this activity? For all of Israel’s activity, they are entering death. This can be seen in Isaiah 57:8. They try to retain some semblance of God’s people by setting a memorial (c.f. Deut 6:9), but they were an adulterous people. They were a people gripped by sin, that they go out and entice for themselves many lovers. They were not the victims of sin but found for themselves gods everywhere.
Today, do we turn to money, power, relationships, self? We turn to different things and end up being wearied without end.
This covenantal language speaks of an identity-defining relationship. Hear carefully the warning from God’s word. If your covenant is with a dying world, your destiny is death and judgement follows. Ezekiel 16 describes this spiritual adultery with vivid language, and it also shows us what God thinks about His people.
(C) Sin abandons (Isa 57:11-13)
Idolatrous Israel was also called to remember God, especially how He has held His peace and did not deal with them as they deserved (Isa 57:11). These verses contain strong rebuke but also see His heart. As it is written in Romans 2:4-5, Are we ones who presume on the riches of His kindness? Do we forget that His kindness is meant to lead us to repentance?
The people will see the futility of idols (Isa 57:13a). Isaiah also spoke of idols as burdens to us and we are foolish to think that they can unburden us.
God will also judge their righteousness that are but filthy rags (Isa 57:12). What does your heart treasure as its utmost righteousness? Are you blind to the evil in your heart?
What is true righteousness? The only real righteousness comes in the one who takes refuge in Him. There can be rest from the endless striving that pursuing idols of this world results in. He promises true refuge.
Is there still hope for such a people? There is a promise for such a people. Those who takes refuge in Him shall posses the land and inherit his holy mountain (Isa 57:13b). But we began the chapter with reading about how the righteous have passed. Thus, how can they possess the land?
Earlier in Isaiah 25, Isaiah wrote about a feast on this mountain where the God who swallowed up death is.
Later, in Jesus’ life, Jesus began His ministry at a wedding and did His first miracle (c.f. Jn 2:1-12). The end of His ministry and life on earth ended up on the cross, where He swallowed up death and also bore the shame that we have. Jesus partially fulfills what is written in Isaiah 25, and this is what we are still holding on to, and looking forward to its full fulfilment.
Do you struggle with sin? Are you ashamed and determined to hide it? Don’t be deceived and blinded by it. Resolve today to part from your sin. Part from your sin by taking refuge in Christ. Let us turn to Him that we might share in His inheritance.