Isaiah 57:11

And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not? AND OF WHOM HAST THOU BEEN AFRAID OR FEARED, THAT THOU HAST LIED, AND HAST NOT REMEMBERED ME? 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. Thy feeling it needful to dissemble and play the hypocrite to me would seem to imply fear of me: but real fear me is out of the question in thy case; because thou hast not remembered me. NOR LAID (IT) TO THY HEART - rather, 'nor hast Me at heart. HAVE NOT I HELD MY PEACE EVEN OF OLD, AND THOU FEAREST ME NOT? Thou 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...

11._And whom hast thou worshipped and feared? _Here he breaks out more vehemently against the Jews, because they were destitute of the fear of God, though they boasted of their holiness and sheltered themselves under an empty title of religion. Not only do hypocrites flatter themselves in their superstitions, but they are likewise regarded by the common people as holy and pious; and, therefore, they act haughtily and insolently towards God and men. But the Prophet declares that true fear of God cannot exist, where the worship is not pure and agreeable to his word. All the opinions entertained by men, as to the plausible forms of worship observed by superstitious persons, are absolute wickedness and folly, he declares, therefore, that there is no fear of him and no religion among them, although they are greatly delighted with their masks. What is more, by their religious ceremonies, as ma...

3-12 The Lord here calls apostates and hypocrites to appear before him. When reproved for their sins, and threatened with judgments, they ridiculed the word of God. The Jews were guilty of idolatry before the captivity; but not after that affliction. Their zeal in the worship of false gods, may shame our indifference in the worship of the true God. The service of sin is disgraceful slavery; those who thus debase themselves to hell, will justly have their portion there. Men incline to a religion that inflames their unholy passions. They are led to do any evil, however great or vile, if they think it will atone for crimes, or purchase indulgence for some favourite lust. This explains idolatry, whether pagan, Jewish, or antichristian. But those who set up anything instead of God, for their hope and confidence, never will come to a right end. Those who forsake the only right way, wander in...

Verse Isaiah 57:11. _NOR LAID_ IT _TO THY HEART_ - "Nor revolved it in thy hand"] _Eight_ MSS., (_four_ ancient,) and the _two_ oldest editions, with another, add the conjunction ו _vau_, ולא velo: which is confirmed by all the ancient Versions. _EVEN OF OLD_ - "And winked"] For ומעולם _umeolam_, which makes no good sense or construction in this place, _twenty-three_ MSS. (_seven_ ancient) and _three_ editions have מעלם, (to be thus pointed מעלם _malim_;) παροπω, _Septuagint; quasi non videns_, "as if not seeing," _Vulgate_. See Psalms 10:1. The truth of this reading, so confirmed, admits of no doubt. In one of my own MSS. the ו _vau_ has been written, but afterwards struck out. Is it not beca

AND OF WHOM HAST THOU BEEN AFRAID - The sense of this verse is exceedingly obscure. The design is evidently to reprove the Jews for the course which they had been pursuing in practicing idolatry, and in seeking the alliance of foreign powers. The main scope of the passage seems to be, to state that all this was proof that they did not fear God. Their conduct did not originate from any reverence for him, or any respect to his commands. And the question, ‘of whom hast thou been afraid?’ seems to mean that they had not been afraid of God. If they had had any reverence for any being or object that had led to the course which they had pursued, it was not for God. THAT THOU HAST LIED - That thou hast been false and unfaithful to God. The image is here kept up of unfaithfulness to the marriage vow Isaiah 57:6....

EXPOSITION ISAIAH 57:1, ISAIAH 57:2 THE EARLY DEATH OF RIGHTEOUS MEN ACCOUNTED FOR. The Hebrews were given to expect that long life should, as a general rule, accompany righteousness (Exodus 20:12; 1 Kings 3:14; Psalms 91:16; Proverbs 3:1,...

AND OF WHOM HAST THOU BEEN AFRAID OR FEARED, THAT THOU HAST LIED,.... By assuming the name of Christian, when it did not belong to her; as it does not to the church of Rome which is antichristian: this lie is told, not out of any fear of God, or reverence of Christ; for she has no fear or reverence of either; but to serve a purpose, to blind the eyes of men under the Christian name, and, with a pretence to serve the cause of Christianity, to get all Christendom under her power: AND HAST NOT REMEMBERED ME; or, "for thou hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart?" or, "put me upon thy heart" x; had no regard to Christ, nor had true faith in him, nor love to him; but all the reverse; degraded him in his offices, corrupted his doctrines, ordinances, and worship. The Targum is, "and hast not remembered my worship, nor put my fear upon thy heart:'' AND HAVE NOT HELD MY PEACE EVEN OF...

A lament for the death of the righteous many of them put to death by persecution. Isaiah 57:1. _The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness._ When there is a storm coming on, you may see the shepherds among the hills, gathering their sheep and taking them home, and when good men die in large numbers, and the Church's ranks are thinned, it is sometimes a token that bad times are coming on, and so God takes away the righteous from the evil to come. Oh! did men know what the world loses when a good man dies, they would regret it far more than the death of emperors and kings who fear not God. But as for those who are made righteous by the grace of God, they need no

Chapter s 56:9-57:14 must be read continuously. CHAPTER S 56:9-57:21 The Condition of the Apostate Nation and the two Classes 1. _The condition of the shepherds of Israel (Isaiah 56:9) _ 2. _Apostate Israel (Isaiah 57:1) _ 3. _The two classes (Isaiah 57:15) _ The final chapter of this second section corresponds to the last chapter of the first section (chapter 48). The sad condition of the people Israel is pictured. This is their national apostasy throughout this age, while strangers are joined to the Lord and the church is gathered. The worst is yet to come. Chapter 57:9 looks forward to the great apostasy during the great tribulation. The king is the Antichrist, who takes his seat in t

AN INVECTIVE AGAINST THE PRO-SAMARITANS. Yahweh turns now bitterly to upbraid the pro-Samaritan party in the community, among whom flourished many of the primitive Palestinian religious practices. To defame his mother was to an Eastern the most offensive of insults; but the terms used are figurative (idolatry being often in OT described as adultery). How can this false brood deride the pious! (Isaiah 57:5 is probably an illustrative quotation). The adulteress has chosen for her portion the smooth (perhaps slippery ones, _i.e._ false gods) in place of Yahweh. On the high places she has set her bed, _i.e._ practised heathen rites, which were in fact notoriously sensual. The memorial is probably a phallic symbol; incited by it (so read for to another than me) she strips and prepares her bed and hires for herself such as she loves intercourse with (slightly emending made thee a covenant).