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Isaiah

CHAPTER 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.

Here, Isaiah is referring to those who have died after having given diligent service to the Lord. But when they died, no one cared. In fact some leaders, and even purported religious folk would have said, "Good riddance!"

When political leaders refuse to heed moral advice, they will suffer in the "evil to come." But death actually delivers the righteous from that "evil to come."

2 He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.

The "righteous" enter into PEACE when they die. They shall no longer suffer the injustices of the immoral.

Actually, the moral believers were being persecuted by immoral leaders at that time. During Manasseh's reign for instance, the people were led to mock and ridicule true believers while flaunting immoral lives.

Our USA is much in the same position today! Many of the political leaders of our country have seen fit to promote gambling, legalize abortion and ridicule statements of Christian-based faith publicly.

Even today, "The righteous perish," and no one cares. But the "evil to come" is consuming the country already. And people will suffer because of the promotion of immorality and the ridicule of morality.

3 But draw near hither, ye sons of the sorceress, the seed of the adulterer and the whore. 4 Against whom do ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not children of transgression, a seed of falsehood, 5 Enflaming yourselves with idols under every green tree, slaying the children in the valleys under the clifts of the rocks? 6 Among the smooth stones of the stream is thy portion; they, they are thy lot: even to them hast thou poured a drink offering, thou hast offered a meat offering. Should I receive comfort in these? 7 Upon a lofty and high mountain hast thou set thy bed: even thither wentest thou up to offer sacrifice. 8 Behind the doors also and the posts hast thou set up thy remembrance: for thou hast discovered thyself to another than me, and art gone up; thou hast enlarged thy bed, and made thee a covenant with them; thou lovedst their bed where thou sawest it. 9 And thou wentest to the king with ointment, and didst increase thy perfumes, and didst send thy messengers far off, and didst debase thyself even unto hell.

The people of Judah had become deeply involved in idol worship. Virtually every "thing" had been made into an idol by some superstitious belief. To God, the people had become "sons of the sorceress," and had adulterated the true worship of God.

The people had become involved in so many false religions, they mocked and made faces at the believers who trusted God only.

The idol worshippers indulged themselves in fleshly lusts, hiring prostitutes to occupy the temples of their false gods. They even had places in the groves of trees where they conducted orgies, calling that worship!

Temples of selfish desires are becoming very popular in the USA today. There are temples to worship LUCK. There are temples to worship immoral sexual behavior (houses of prostitution, and abortion clinics).

But people will poke fun at someone wanting to place the ten commandments in school, or a courthouse, or even a courthouse square. One justice of a renowned court even went so far as to say that the ten commandments shouldn't be placed in school because some child might read them and try to obey them. D'OH!!!
Yes. America is deeply involved in idol worship today! And the chief idol of the country is SELF!

God says that type of action debases and results in the judgment of hell. (verse 9)

10 Thou art wearied in the greatness of thy way; yet saidst thou not, There is no hope: thou hast found the life of thine hand; therefore thou wast not grieved. 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? 12 I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee. 13 When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain; 14 And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people. 15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. 16 For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made. 17 For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart. 18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners. 19 I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him.

To be "wearied in the greatness of thy way," means to be very busy doing many things. The people were so busy doing so much, they had no time for listening to truth!

Some people think they have found a good life because they are constantly on the go. They equate "busyness" with happiness, but inside they are "wearied!"

God says that when He looks at their "righteousness," all their "busyness" will "profit nothing!"

The false idol of "luck" cannot provide genuine happiness because it is so fickle and insecure. The false idol of sex cannot provide stability in the spirit, and will usually hasten death. Idols are HELPLESS when it comes to helping one find happiness, or delivering a person from DEATH and final judgment.

There IS only ONE true GOD!

And though God lives in perfect holiness (verse 15), He also has compassion upon those who realize they are sinners and call upon Him for salvation and daily help.

God WILL take up residence in the hearts of those who have "contrite" and "humble" spirits!

To be in a place and to take up residence in a place are not the same things. For instance, I have been in many cities and countries, and I have even done work and ministry in several of those places. But my RESIDENCE is in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana. It is where my most active and deliberate work is concentrated.

God resides in the perfection of heaven, and His active and deliberate work is to KEEP heaven perfect! God is also "omnipresent" and sees and knows all that happens in all of creation.

But when God takes up residence in a person's heart, He begins to work actively and deliberately to KEEP them in His righteousness. If/when they sin, God will REPROVE and take steps to CORRECT the person.

In verse 14, the term "Cast ye up" refers to building a road, or highway. The only way to build a highway to God's eternal dwelling of peace is to have a repentant heart and call upon Him for help.

God has already built the "road" or "highway" to His eternal dwelling place. It is built upon the CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST. That cross symbolizes SURRENDER to God and determining to live for His glory. When regenerated, saved people sin, God puts them BACK on the HIGHWAY!

And, by the way, there is NO OTHER "road!"

God will not "contend" (debate, wrestle or reprove) with mankind forever. He WILL call an END to the shenanigans of man one day!

When Israel as a nation sinned through idolatry and selfishness, God "smote" them (verse 17). God disciplined them often, however they STILL "went on frowardly" after their own desires (verse 17).

But God will HEAL (verse 18) that nation. Be sure to know that God has MORE worldly use in store for Israel in the future!

But let's apply this to a Christian today. When the born-again, regenerated Christian says "no" to God in his "spirit," and sins -- God will REPROVE and even DISCIPLINE.

"If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons." (Hebrews 12:7-8)