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?
11. Most critics detect in this verse a milder tone on the part of the Divine speaker, as if He would find a partial excuse for the apostasies of the people in their undue fear of other gods, and distrust of Jehovah, who had so long time kept silence (cf. ch. Isa 51:12 f., Isa 42:14). If this impression be right, the theory that the Samaritans are the persons addressed at once falls to the ground. Another view is, however, possible. The question of whom hast thou been afraid and feared? may imply a simple negative answer, “thou hast been absolutely fearless.” The language of the verse yields itself to either interpretation.
that thou hast lied ] Or, “for thou art treacherous.”
have not I held my peace, &c. ] Or “Is it not so? I have been silent” etc.: “It was because I held my peace that thou didst not fear me, but other gods.” Cf. Psa 50:21 (“These things thou didst and I kept silence” etc).
even of old ] (Isa 42:14). The LXX. and Vulg. evidently vocalised the word differently ( for ), so as to read “and covered (sc. my eyes)”; (cf. Psa 10:1; Isa 1:15).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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 Isa 57:6-8.
And hast not remembered me – The proof of this was, that they had fallen into idolatry, and had sought the alliance and friendship of foreign powers.
Have not I held my peace – The idea here seems to be, that God had been silent a long time, and they had, therefore, been emboldened to sin. He had, as it were, connived at their apostasy and infidelity; and they had thus cast off the fear of him, and given themselves wholly to idolatry. Compare Ecc 8:11.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 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 vau, velo: which is confirmed by all the ancient Versions.
Even of old – “And winked”] For umeolam, which makes no good sense or construction in this place, twenty-three MSS. (seven ancient) and three editions have , (to be thus pointed malim😉 , Septuagint; quasi non videns, “as if not seeing,” Vulgate. See Ps 10:1. The truth of this reading, so confirmed, admits of no doubt. In one of my own MSS. the vau has been written, but afterwards struck out. Is it not because I was silent, and winked?
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
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 thou hast dealt thus disloyally and perfidiously with me, and sought for such foreign assistances, contrary to my command, and thy solemn covenant,
and hast not remembered me: hast thou forgotten all those great things which I have done for thee, and all those promises which I have made to thee, and constantly performed, when thou hast not grossly violated the conditions upon which they were made?
Nor laid it to thy heart; or thus, nor set me upon thine heart, as these very words are rendered, Son 8:6. And so this is a repetition of what is said in the foregoing clause in other words. The sense is, Thou hast not seriously and affectionately considered what I am, how all-sufficient, and faithful, and gracious, for then thou wouldst not have distrusted or disobeyed me.
Have not I held my peace even of old? have not I forborne to reprove and punish thee for this and for other sins, from time to time, ever since thou wast my people, that by this goodness I might oblige thee to love me, and to cleave unto me?
And thou fearest me not; or, therefore thou dost not fear or regard me. Thus thou abusest mine indulgence and long-suffering, taking occasion from thence to despise me.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
11. Israel wished not to seemaltogether 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 . . .heartrather, “nor hast Me at heart”; hast no regardfor Me; and that, because I have been long silent and have notpunished thee. Literally, “Have I not held My peace, and thatfor long? and so thou fearest Me not” (Psa 50:21;Ecc 8:11). It would be betteropenly to renounce God, than to “flatter Him” with lies offalse professions (Ps 78:36)[LUDOVICUS DEDIEU]. However, Isa 51:12;Isa 51:13 favors EnglishVersion of the whole verse; God’s “silent”long-suffering, which was intended to lead them to repentance, causedthem “not to fear Him” (Rom 2:4;Rom 2:5).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
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 old, and thou fearest me not or, “therefore thou fearest me not” y; because as yet the vials of God’s wrath are not poured out, or his judgment inflicted on antichrist; but, ever since he began to reign, he has enjoyed great prosperity; therefore he fears not God, nor regards man; but says, “I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow”, Re 18:7.
x “nam mei non es recordata, neque posuisti me super cor tuum”, Grotius. y “idcirco me non times”, Calvin, Piscator, Gataker.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
From fear of man, Israel, and still more Judah, had given up the fear of Jehovah. “And of whom hast thou been afraid, and ( whom) didst thou fear, that thou becamest a liar, and didst not continue mindful of me, and didst not take it to heart?” It was of men – only mortal men, with no real power (Isa 51:12) – that Israel was so needlessly afraid, that it resorted to lies and treachery to Jehovah ( k , ut , an interrogative sentence, as in 2Sa 7:18; Psa 8:5): purchasing the favour of man out of the fear of man, and throwing itself into the arms of false tutelar deities, it banished Jehovah its true shelter out of its memory, and did not take it to heart, viz., the sinfulness of such infidelity, and the eventful consequences by which it was punished (compare Isa 47:7 and Isa 42:25).
With Isa 57:11 the reproaches are addressed to the present. The treachery of Israel had been severely punished in the catastrophe of which the captivity was the result, but without effecting any improvement. The great mass of the people were as forgetful of God as ever, and would not be led to repentance by the long-suffering of God, which had hitherto spared them from other well-merited punishments. “Am I not silent, and that for a long time, whereas thou wast not afraid of me?” A comparison with Isa 42:14 will show that the prophecy returns here to its ordinary style. The lxx and Jerome render the passage as if the reading were (viz., = , quasi non videns ), and this is the reading which Lowth adopts. We may see from this, that the original text had a defective , which was intended, however, to be read . The prophet applies the term olam (see Isa 42:14) to the captivity, which had already lasted a long time – a time of divine silence: the silence of His help so fas as the servants of Jehovah were concerned, but the silence of His wrath as to the great mass of the people.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
Vs. 11-13: WRETCHEDNESS, NOT RIGHTEOUSNESS
1. The obstinate persistence of Israel’s rebellion leads to hopelessness and irreversible ruin!
2. God wants to know what they fear so greatly as to make them forget Him – though they still profess to love and serve Him, (vs. 11 a; comp. Isa 51:12-13; Pro 29:25; Jer 3:21).
3. For a long time He has held His peace (see Isa 1:4-6), even in the face of their proud rebellion; yet, they have not reverenced Him, (vs. 11b; Isa 42:14; Psa 50:21-23).
4. Since they claim to be “righteous”, God will expose their righteousness for what it REALLY IS (Isa 59:6; Isa 65:2; Isa 65:6-7); nor will it profit them at all! (comp. Isa 64:6-7; Mat 5:20; Mat 7:21-27).
5. When confronted by their spiritual bankruptcy, and overwhelmed by a sense of their wretchedness (in the face of impending judgment), let them cry to their collection of international deities, and delight themselves in all the help their strange gods may offer! (Jer 22:20; Jer 30:12-15).
6. Actually, there will be NO HELP- for their idols are HELPLESS; a gust of wind will blow them all away!
7. But those who take refuge in the Lord – seeking Him sincerely, and trusting Him with all their hearts – will find all the security they need.
a. They will possess the land of their fathers, (Isa 49:8; Isa 60:21).
b. And they will be permitted to share, by inheritance, the blessedness of His coming Kingdom, (Isa 65:9)!
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
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 manifest proofs, they show that they have no reverence or fear of God; for God testifies, by Moses, that he makes trial whether or not they love him with all their heart, when he permits superstition and idolatry to be introduced by the false prophets. (Deu 13:3) All that fly to them, therefore, show that they are altogether destitute of the fear of God; for, if they considered that they must one day give an account to him, they would not so daringly trample under foot his commandments.
And hast not remembered me. When he complains of having been forgotten, he shows that it was through obstinate wickedness that they fought against God, and not through ignorance that they wandered from him; because, having a sure rule of leading a holy life, they willingly revolted from him, and broke the promise which they had made to him. We ought to consider diligently how dreadful is the thunder launched against hypocrites, who mock at all threatenings, and cover themselves by vain disguises, when he declares that they are destitute of the fear of God, and that they are liars and have forgotten him.
Is it not because I held my peace? (113) Here I have thought it right to insert the word “because,” which needs to be supplied, in order to bring out more fully the Prophet’s meaning; for those who do not supply some word subject themselves to a vast amount of trouble in bringing out an exposition; and we know how frequently this mode of expression is employed by the Hebrew writers. He reproaches the Jews with having abused God’s forbearance and patience, by which their hearts ought rather to have been softened. But such is the wickedness of men, that it renders them bolder in transgression, and leads them to think that they may do what they please without being punished.
Accordingly, in the last clause of the verse I consider the particle ו ( vau) to mean therefore. “And therefore thou dost not fear me, because I held my peace, whereas thou oughtest rather to have been melted by my goodness.” Hence we infer that the Jews could not complain of God’s excessive severity, since he bore patiently with them for a long time, and they grew worse and worse in consequence of having been exempted from punishment. It was therefore necessary that he should assume a totally different character, and punish them more severely for their iniquities.
(113) “Have I not held my peace?” (Eng. Ver.)
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
3. STUPIDITY
TEXT: Isa. 57:11-13
11
And of whom hast thou been afraid and in fear, that thou liest, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of long time, and thou fearest me not?
12
I will declare thy righteousness; and as for thy works, they shall not profit thee.
13
When thou criest, let them that thou hast gathered deliver thee; but the wind shall take them, a breath shall carry them all away; but he that taketh refuge in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain.
QUERIES
a.
What righteousness did Judah have to declare?
b.
When would Judah cry?
PARAPHRASE
Israel, what has preoccupied you and possessed you? Who has so impressed you that you have so thoroughly devoted yourself to that which is false? Why have you forgotten Me? Apparently you no longer fear Me because I have withheld My hand of judgment so long from you. Let Me tell you that I am soon going to show you, in no uncertain terms, what I think of your alleged righteousness. I am also going to show you that the idols you have made for yourself are not gods at all. Then you will cry out for deliverance but I will say, Let your idol-gods deliver you. They will be proven to be absolutely useless. They will disappear like a feather in a windstorm. In that time of trial, the person who puts his trust in Me will be able to look forward in hope that I will fulfill My promises to the faithful.
COMMENTS
Isa. 57:11 ENTRENCHED: The Hebrew word daagethe is translated afraid but more properly means anxious or preoccupied. The word thyireyi is from the root yera and is translated fear; it is the most generic word for fear in Hebrew and generally means reverential fear. These people were not trembling with a paralyzing terror; they were just totally preoccupied with worshipping their idols and all the false living that went with it. They were living a lie and had totally committed themselves to it. This was a result of their breaking covenant with Jehovah. It was stupidity. And Jehovah was about to expose that stupidity. They were so thoroughly engrossed in their plunge into self-indulgence they did not remember Jehovah. How quickly men forget!
The goodness of God in holding His peace and withholding His judgments did not cause them to remember Him in thankfulness. They were not moved by His grace to repent. Their selfish, twisted minds rationalized that they were getting away with their wickedness. Israel had wanted to be like the nations for a long time (cf. 1Sa. 8:4 ff). For centuries she had preoccupied herself with the approval of men. When that consumes a nation or a man, Jehovah is forgotten. You cannot be a friend of the world and a friend of God (Jas. 4:4).
Isa. 57:12-13 EXPOSED: All the time the Hebrews were engaging in idolatry they were also maintaining a facade of righteousness by offering sacrifices in the temple and by observing certain Sabbath regulations (cf. Amo. 8:4-6; Isa. 1:10-15, etc.). But Jehovah will not hold His peace forever. He will soon come forth in judgment upon this people and then their sham righteousness will be exposed. The world will see then just where Israel has put its trust. Jehovah will demonstrate that all their pretended righteousness was unacceptable to Him. Not only that, He will expose once and for all the impotency of the idols they worshipped. Their enemies (Assyria and Babylon) will come in succession and attack them, destroy their cities and carry them away into exile. Their enemies will also carry their idol-gods away on horseback, Their idol-gods will not deliver them from their enemies. Their enemies will mock their idols, their temple, their worship and even Jehovah, Of course, Jehovah will not be mocked. He will eventually destroy their enemies also, When the Hebrews cry out for deliverance, they will see clearly that idols are not gods. What misery and wretchedness is in store for the one who has been so thoroughly preoccupied and possessed by idol-mania. Despair, frustration, shame and guilt will be his end.
To the contrary, the one who has listened to the prophets of God and trusted Jehovahs word will find blessedness. The Hebrew word khoseh, translated refuge, means confidence, trust, or flee to for safety. The man whose preoccupation is to seek the approval of the Lord will find fulfillment, satisfaction and hope in the ultimate blessings of God. This is the man who keeps covenant with Jehovah.
QUIZ
1.
What kind of fear did the people have?
2.
What was false about them?
3.
Why had they forgotten Jehovah?
4.
What was God going to do about their sham righteousness?
5.
What is the character of the man who receives Jehovahs blessing?
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(11) And of whom hast thou been afraid . . .?The question implies that Judah had been led by the fear of man to forsake the fear of Jehovah, and this had led her to what was, in the fullest sense of the word, the false step of an alliance with Assyria, which was an acted lie.
Have I not held my peace . . .?The words suggest, half-pityingly, the cause of the peoples little faith. From of old, i.e., during the period that preceded the captivity, or perhaps in the dark time of Manasseh, Jehovah had been silent, and His long- suffering had been mistaken for apathy, and therefore the people had not feared Him.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. Of whom hast thou been afraid Much in these verses is very obscure, and this verse more than all. The question and context imply that there really was one or more who were objects of fear. But they were not such as would relieve from fear. Is there here an obscure reference to Israel and Judah in the times of Ahaz and Hezekiah? Much like this could have been asked in the past days of Isaiah. Look at chap. 28. The facts of that history seem prophetically paralleled along almost all the earthly life of the Jews. The Jews relied, not on Jehovah, but on earthly powers, to deliver them. One time it is Egypt; another, Syria; at another, it is Assyria. So through all their future, the same question applies. Not Jehovah, indeed, but weak man is carnal Israel’s reliance. Is not this the key to the meaning, and are not the words following, to Isa 57:13, sheer irony on the same line of thought? The description of life at Jerusalem in Isaiah’s time, and long afterward, is put in strong colours, but the inward spirit of that life is not overdrawn. In the reign of Ahaz idolatry became rampant, even on the surface; in Hezekiah’s time it was repressed, but not fully suppressed; in Manasseh’s, it was outrageous. Josiah attempted to crush it forever, but it was too late. The proneness to idolatry in the nation could not be arrested its onward rush dashed the nation to ruin. Captivity and exile alone cured the evil. A similar spiritual aspect, though assuming a different phase, largely appeared in the ruling class at Jerusalem in Christ’s time; and so far forth this prophecy has continued application.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Isa 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?
Ver. 11. And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared? ] q.d., Not me surely, as thou oughtst; but thy fellow creatures, whom thou shouldst have looked upon as so many mice.
That thou hast lied,
Have I not held my peace?
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Isa 57:11-13
11Of whom were you worried and fearful
When you lied, and did not remember Me
Nor give Me a thought?
Was I not silent even for a long time
So you do not fear Me?
12I will declare your righteousness and your deeds,
But they will not profit you.
13When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you.
But the wind will carry all of them up,
And a breath will take them away.
But he who takes refuge in Me will inherit the land
And will possess My holy mountain.
Isa 57:11-13 This strophe starts with a series of questions from YHWH to His faithless covenant people. The tragedy was that they were religious (cf. Isa 57:12-13 a) but had
1. not remembered (Qal PERFECT, BDB 269, KB 269, negated) Him
2. nor give Me a thought (lit. lay it to heart of you, Qal PERFECT, BDB 962, KB 1321, negated)
The reasons they had neglected YHWH was His silence (Isa 57:11 d). This may refer to true prophets who were not sent or at least not heard.
The idols are vanity and emptiness. The wind will carry them away and along with them, those who trust in them.
Isa 57:11
NASB, NJBfor a long time
NKJVfrom of old
TEVfor so long
JPSOAso long
REBlook away
NABunseeing
The JPSOA mentions an emendation that results in and shut my eyes (p. 898), which is followed by REB and NAB. The same Hebrew consonants can be translated and from eternity or and being hidden.
Isa 57:13 -e But those few faithful ones who trust in YHWH and take refuge (Qal PARTICIPLE, BDB 340, KB 337) in Him will be preserved and rewarded by the giving of
1. the Promised Land
2. YHWH’s presence (i.e., the temple)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT:57:14-21
14And it will be said,
Build up, build up, prepare the way,
Remove every obstacle out of the way of My people.
15For thus says the high and exalted One
Who lives forever, whose name is Holy,
I dwell on a high and holy place,
And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit
In order to revive the spirit of the lowly
And to revive the heart of the contrite.
16For I will not contend forever,
Nor will I always be angry;
For the spirit would grow faint before Me,
And the breath of those whom I have made.
17Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry and struck him;
I hid My face and was angry,
And he went on turning away, in the way of his heart.
18I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners,
19Creating the praise of the lips.
Peace, peace to him who is far and to him who is near,
Says the LORD, and I will heal him.
20But the wicked are like the tossing sea,
For it cannot be quiet,
And its waters toss up refuse and mud.
21There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.
Isa 57:14 There is a series of IMPERATIVES whereby YHWH commands that all necessary preparations be made for His faithful ones to return from exile (cf. Isa 40:3-4; Isa 62:10).
1. build up (twice) – Qal IMPERATIVE, BDB 699, KB 757
2. prepare the way – Piel IMPERATIVE, BDB 815, KB 937
3. remove every obstacle – Hiphil IMPERATIVE, BDB 926, KB 1202
Isa 57:15 Notice the titles and characterizations of God.
1. the high One – Qal PARTICIPLE, BDB 926, KB 1202 (same VERB used in Isa 57:14 translated remove, i.e., lift up)
2. the exalted One – Niphal PARTICIPLE, BDB 669, KB 724 (same VERB used in Isa 57:7; Isa 57:13, but in different senses)
3. who lives forever – Qal PARTICIPLE, BDB 1014, KB 1496, (lit. who inhabits eternity; the NET Bible [p. 1275] thinks in this context it should be understood as the One who rules forever)
4. whose name is Holy (see Special Topic: Holy )
5. dwells on a high and holy place – Qal IMPERFECT, BDB 1014, KB 1496 (in contrast to the fertility gods)
6. with a contrite (BDB 194 I) and lowly (BDB 1050) spirit (BDB 924)
7. to revive the heart of the contrite – Hiphil INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT, BDB 310, KB 309, used twice
a. of YHWH, #6
b. of His faithful
Isa 57:16 -b This continues a description of YHWH by YHWH.
1. I will not contend forever – Qal IMPERFECT, BDB 936, KB 1224, cf. Gen 6:3
2. neither will I always be angry – Qal IMPERFECT, BDB 893, KB 1124, cf. Psa 79:5; Psa 85:5; Psa 103:9; Mic 7:18-19
This should not be interpreted as a period of time set by God after which His grace ceases, but the reality that when humans ignore and violate His word and will, there is a terrible consequence of hardening. The human heart becomes unable to hear and respond!
It is interesting that the OT contrasts the human emotions of love and anger when describing God.
1. love is long lasting and sure – Deu 5:10; Deu 7:9; Psa 30:5; Isa 54:7-8; Jer 31:3
2. anger is short lived – Deu 5:9; Psa 30:5; Isa 26:20; Isa 54:7-8; Isa 57:16-19
Isa 57:16 -d YHWH reveals the reasons why He does not remain angry (see Special Topic: GOD DESCRIBED AS HUMAN [ANTHROPOMORPHISM] ). This is very similar to Psa 103:8-14.
1. for the spirit (see Special Topic: Spirit in the Bible ) would grow faint before Me
2. the breath would grow faint
Notice the parallelism of spirit (BDB 924) and breath (BDB 675) as in Isa 42:5. The frail physical and now psychological condition of fallen mankind cannot endure the silence (Isa 57:11; Isa 57:17) and anger (Isa 57:16-17) of their Creator and Redeemer!
Isa 57:17 YHWH’s judgment is analogous to a parent’s punishment (cf. Hosea 11). He does it so His children will learn and turn from it, but sadly some will not, cannot (Isa 57:17 c; Isa 1:3-4).
Isa 57:18-21 There is an obvious contrast between the way YHWH will treat the contrite and the rebellious.
1. contrite – Isa 57:15-16; Isa 57:18-19
2. rebellious – Isa 57:17; Isa 57:20-21
Isa 57:18-19 Notice what YHWH will do for the contrite and lowly of spirit (Isa 57:15), those both near and far (Isa 57:19).
1. revive, Isa 57:15 – Hiphil INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT (BDB 310, KB 309)
2. I will not contend, Isa 57:16 – Qal IMPERFECT (BDB 936, KB 1224)
3. I will not always be angry, Isa 57:16 – Qal IMPERFECT (BDB 893, KB 1124)
4. I will heal, Isa 57:18 – Qal IMPERFECT (BDB 950, KB 1272)
5. I will lead, Isa 57:18 – Hiphil IMPERFECT (BDB 634, KB 685)
6. I will restore comfort, Isa 57:18 – Piel IMPERFECT (BDB 1022, KB 1532)
7. I will create their praise of peace, Isa 57:19 Qal PARTICIPLE (BDB 135, KB 153)
8. I will heal them, Isa 57:19 Qal PERFECT (BDB 950, KB 1272)
Isa 57:20-21 The rebellious, faithless covenant people are described as
1. the tossing sea
2. sea that cannot be quiet
3. sea that tosses up refuse
4. sea that tosses up mud
5. no peace
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Isa 57:11-13
Isa 57:11-13
“And of whom hast thou been afraid and in fear, that thou liest, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to heart? have not I held my peace even of long time, and thou fearest not. I will declare thy righteousness; and as for thy works, they shall not profit thee. When thou criest, let them that thou hast gathered deliver thee; but the wind shall take them, a breath shall carry them all away: but he that taketh refuge in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain.”
“Israel’s original possession of the land was unconditional. It was given to them in fulfillment of the promise to Abraham (Gen 12:7); and it was intended to be theirs permanently, `forever’ (Exo 32:13); but the retaining of the land was conditional (Lev 26:14-15).” It would appear, then, that at the time God gave these prophecies through Isaiah, there was, even that late, a possibility that Israel might repent, turn away from idols, and return to the true worship of God. Their failure to do so resulted in the captivity. These verses are an exhortation to Israel to repent, coupled with the warning that the false gods in which they trust will be utterly helpless to aid them.
Isa 57:11 ENTRENCHED: The Hebrew word daagethe is translated afraid but more properly means anxious or preoccupied. The word thyireyi is from the root yera and is translated fear; it is the most generic word for fear in Hebrew and generally means reverential fear. These people were not trembling with a paralyzing terror; they were just totally preoccupied with worshipping their idols and all the false living that went with it. They were living a lie and had totally committed themselves to it. This was a result of their breaking covenant with Jehovah. It was stupidity. And Jehovah was about to expose that stupidity. They were so thoroughly engrossed in their plunge into self-indulgence they did not remember Jehovah. How quickly men forget!
The goodness of God in holding His peace and withholding His judgments did not cause them to remember Him in thankfulness. They were not moved by His grace to repent. Their selfish, twisted minds rationalized that they were getting away with their wickedness. Israel had wanted to be like the nations for a long time (cf. 1Sa 8:4 ff). For centuries she had preoccupied herself with the approval of men. When that consumes a nation or a man, Jehovah is forgotten. You cannot be a friend of the world and a friend of God (Jas 4:4).
Isa 57:12-13 EXPOSED: All the time the Hebrews were engaging in idolatry they were also maintaining a facade of righteousness by offering sacrifices in the temple and by observing certain Sabbath regulations (cf. Amo 8:4-6; Isa 1:10-15, etc.). But Jehovah will not hold His peace forever. He will soon come forth in judgment upon this people and then their sham righteousness will be exposed. The world will see then just where Israel has put its trust. Jehovah will demonstrate that all their pretended righteousness was unacceptable to Him. Not only that, He will expose once and for all the impotency of the idols they worshipped. Their enemies (Assyria and Babylon) will come in succession and attack them, destroy their cities and carry them away into exile. Their enemies will also carry their idol-gods away on horseback, Their idol-gods will not deliver them from their enemies. Their enemies will mock their idols, their temple, their worship and even Jehovah, Of course, Jehovah will not be mocked. He will eventually destroy their enemies also, When the Hebrews cry out for deliverance, they will see clearly that idols are not gods. What misery and wretchedness is in store for the one who has been so thoroughly preoccupied and possessed by idol-mania. Despair, frustration, shame and guilt will be his end.
To the contrary, the one who has listened to the prophets of God and trusted Jehovahs word will find blessedness. The Hebrew word khoseh, translated refuge, means confidence, trust, or flee to for safety. The man whose preoccupation is to seek the approval of the Lord will find fulfillment, satisfaction and hope in the ultimate blessings of God. This is the man who keeps covenant with Jehovah.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
of whom: Isa 51:12, Isa 51:13, Pro 29:25, Mat 26:69-75, Gal 2:12, Gal 2:13
that thou: Isa 30:9, Isa 59:3, Isa 59:4, Jer 9:3-5, Jer 42:20, Eze 13:22, Hos 11:12, Act 5:3, 2Th 2:9, 1Ti 4:2, Rev 21:8, Rev 22:15
and hast: Jer 2:32, Jer 3:21
nor: Isa 57:1
have not: Isa 26:10, Psa 50:21, Ecc 8:11
Reciprocal: Gen 3:10 – and I was Gen 12:13 – thou 1Sa 17:11 – dismayed Neh 6:13 – that I should Isa 42:25 – yet he laid Isa 59:13 – lying Isa 63:8 – children Jer 38:19 – I Jer 41:18 – for they Mal 2:2 – if ye will not lay Mat 21:26 – we fear Mat 25:25 – General Mat 26:70 – General Joh 9:22 – because Joh 12:42 – lest Joh 19:13 – heard 1Pe 3:6 – and
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Isa 57:11-14. Of whom hast thou been afraid, &c. And what, or who are they, the fear of whom drives thee to these wicked and desperate practices? Are they not weak and mortal creatures, such as wholly depend upon me, and can do nothing without me? The fear of my displeasure ought, in all reason, to outweigh all thy other fears and apprehensions, and deter thee from breaking that covenant whereby thou art engaged to me. That thou hast lied That thou hast dealt thus perfidiously with me, and sought for such foreign assistances contrary to my command. And hast not remembered me Hast forgotten all those great things which I have done for thee, and all those promises which I have made to thee. Nor laid it to thy heart Or, nor set me upon thy heart: hast not seriously and affectionately considered what I am, how all-sufficient, faithful, and gracious: for then thou wouldest not have distrusted or disobeyed me. Have I not held my peace, &c. The Bishops Bible, published under Queen Elizabeth, translates the clause thus: Is it not because I held my peace, and that of a long time, therefore thou fearest me not? Sinners take encouragement to continue in sin, from Gods patience and long-suffering. I will declare thy righteousness I will no longer be silent, but will show thee thy deserts, and give thee a view of thy deeds, which then will appear quite of another sort than what thy own self-conceit makes thee believe them to be. For they shall not profit thee These actions shall be of no real advantage, but quite the contrary. When those criest Namely, 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 which thou hast sought and trusted for succour. But the wind shall carry them all away They shall be so far from saving thee, that they shall not be able to deliver themselves; but shall be carried away suddenly and violently by the blast of mine anger. Vanity shall take them Their endeavours to help thee shall be vain and fruitless. But he that putteth his trust in me Those that still depend upon me, and make use of none of those indirect means to preserve themselves; shall possess the land
Shall be preserved in, or restored to, their own land, or shall have temporal blessings as far as will be good for them; and shall inherit my holy mountain Shall enjoy my favour and presence in my temple: shall be blessed with the privileges of the church on earth, and brought at length to the joys of heaven. And shall say Hebrew, and he shall say: or, and one shall say: God shall raise up one who shall say, with authority and efficacy, Cast ye up, &c. Make causeways, where it is needful, for the safe and easy passage of my people, and remove all things which may hinder them in their return.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
57:11 And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast {n} lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid [it] to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of {o} old, and thou fearest me not?
(n) Broken promises with me.
(o) Meaning, that the wicked abuse God’s leniency, and grow to further wickedness.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
Yahweh asked the Israelites a question. Who had terrified them that they betrayed the truth (cf. Pro 30:6), their covenant partner, and their concern for Him (cf. Isa 57:1)? Obviously it was not a great threat that had made them unfaithful, but neglect of Him. Perhaps if He had been more active in judging their sins they would have remembered Him. But, graciously, He had been silent about their sins, and so they had not paid attention to Him.
"Possibly we have here an example of Isaiah’s preaching during the long dark days of Manasseh." [Note: Motyer, p. 474.]