Warning

Recall that Isaiah spends 39 chapters talking about Judah’s rebellion against the Lord… Constantly pleading with them to return to the Lord.. .to trust Him.. not to make alliances with pagan nations. not to worship idols… not to fear Assyria, but to fear the Lord. Judah does not listen.

From chapter 40-48, God promises two things. 1 Judah will go into captivity at the hands of the Babylonians. 2. They will return home under the hand of Cyrus, King of Persia. All the things in those chapters are 150-200 years in the future.

The next section is 49-57. These are chapters about Jesus, the coming Messiah.

In these chapters, the Lord encourages patience while they are waiting on Messiah and promises to take care of things. We learn about Jesus as a Suffering Servant Savior totally submitted to the Father’s plan. Several times there is a call for a deeper commitment to Messiah. We are promised so salvation and blessings because of what Jesus would one day do. Chapter 53 pointed out the horrible pain and suffering Jesus would go through to deliver us. Because of that sacrifice, God promises restoration, healing, and blessing. That led up to last week “Invited”- God invites you to come to Him, be saved, be forgiven. And last Sunday night “Included” God includes anyone in this offer who will turn to Him.

These chapters have dealt with Jesus coming the first time to die on the cross for sin, and the second coming, to return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. All of that would be hundreds and thousands of years in the future from Isaiah’s day.

In chapters 56-57, Isaiah returns to His day with some harsh things to say.

Someone might say “I like to go to church and leave feeling good...” What if you don’t need to feel good? What if you need to repent. What if you need to be warned that if you don’t heed the good news, there will be bad news?

Condemnation of Bad Leaders

Isaiah 56:9–12 HCSB

All you animals of the field and forest, come and eat! Israel’s watchmen are blind, all of them, they know nothing; all of them are mute dogs, they cannot bark; they dream, lie down, and love to sleep. These dogs have fierce appetites; they never have enough. And they are shepherds who have no discernment; all of them turn to their own way, every last one for his own gain. “Come, let me get some wine, let’s guzzle some beer; and tomorrow will be like today, only far better!”

Call of Gentiles to punish- animals come and eat.

The spiritual leaders are compared to three things.

Watchmen who can’t see and perceive.

Watchdogs who can’t bark… they just eat and sleep.

Shepherds who won’t tend the flock. they do all they do for personal gain.

Let it never be said that Riddles Bend has a pastor who is not on watch, guarding against the enemy of the people.

Everything rises and falls by leadership.

Earlier in chapter 53.6 it was the sheep going their own way, now we learn why; the shepherds were in it for themselves.

Consolation of Death

Isaiah 57:1–2 HCSB

The righteous one perishes, and no one takes it to heart; faithful men are swept away, with no one realizing that the righteous one is swept away from the presence of evil. He will enter into peace— they will rest on their beds — everyone who lives uprightly.

How bad is it in Isaiah’s day?

The righteous die and not one cares.

The righteous die and that is their only chance for peace.

That’s pretty bad… a culture that celebrates wickedness and snubs righteousness.

The Revelation talks about the two witness who serve the Lord during the Tribulation period. They are murdered and lie in the street, while the whole world celebrates their deaths.

Condemnation of Rampant Idolatry

Isaiah 57:3–10 HCSB

But come here, you sons of a sorceress, offspring of an adulterer and a prostitute! Who is it you are mocking? Who is it you are opening your mouth and sticking out your tongue at? Isn’t it you, you rebellious children, you race of liars, who burn with lust among the oaks, under every green tree, who slaughter children in the wadis below the clefts of the rocks? Your portion is among the smooth stones of the wadi; indeed, they are your lot. You have even poured out a drink offering to them; you have offered a grain offering; should I be satisfied with these? You have placed your bed on a high and lofty mountain; you also went up there to offer sacrifice. You have set up your memorial behind the door and doorpost. For away from Me, you stripped, went up, and made your bed wide, and you have made a bargain for yourself with them. You have loved their bed; you have gazed on their genitals. You went to the king with oil and multiplied your perfumes; you sent your couriers far away and sent them down even to Sheol. You became weary on your many journeys, but you did not say, “I give up!” You found a renewal of your strength; therefore you did not grow weak.

I believe this is like a summary of the poor spiritual condition of Isaiah’s day.

Their false worship included:

syncretism. The mixing up of desirable aspects of multiple religions. Not pure worship of the revealed God of the Bible. Sending messengers to kings of other nations who worshipped other gods.

sexual perversion and prostitution as a part of idol worship.

Child sacrifice.

Futility of Forgetting God

Isaiah 57:11–13 HCSB

Who was it you dreaded and feared, so that you lied and didn’t remember Me or take it to heart? Have I not kept silent for such a long time and you do not fear Me? I will expose your righteousness, and your works—they will not profit you. When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! The wind will carry all of them off, a breath will take them away. But whoever takes refuge in Me will inherit the land and possess My holy mountain.

“ the only way we ever sing is by suppressing God, by forgetting, by tuning out his voice, switching channels, and listening to other voices.”

Don’t forget what God has done. Don’t forget what God has said. Don’t forget what God desires. Don’t forget what requires.

Promise of Forgiveness

Isaiah 57:14–21 HCSB

He said, “Build it up, build it up, prepare the way, remove every obstacle from My people’s way.” For the High and Exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy says this: “I live in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and lowly of spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the oppressed. For I will not accuse you forever, and I will not always be angry; for then the spirit would grow weak before Me, even the breath of man, which I have made. Because of his sinful greed I was angry, so I struck him; I was angry and hid; but he went on turning back to the desires of his heart. I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, creating words of praise.” The Lord says, “Peace, peace to the one who is far or near, and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the storm-tossed sea, for it cannot be still, and its waters churn up mire and muck. There is no peace for the wicked,” says my God.

Here Isaiah ends this section with a reminder that God desire to forgive, he desires to restore, he desires to heal (all the themes of this section).

BUT THERE IS NO PEACE FOR THE WICKED.

There is in these few chapters a realistic view of the way things really are.

In light of all God has promised, the multitudes are going on their merry way.