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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
56:9-57:13 The False People of God Exposed. Selfishly complacent leaders, morally lax people, and idol-worshiping hypocrites have no place in God's kingdom.
56:9-12 In contrast with "the outcasts of Israel" (v. 8) who possess an endless hope, the self-serving leaders of ancient Israel are warned of coming judgment.
56:9 The beasts are enemy nations (cf. Jer. 12:7-9).
56:10 Watchmen are prophets (cf. Ezek. 3:17; 33:1-9; Hab. 2:1), but they are asleep on their job. Silent watchdogs are useless.
56:11 Shepherds are rulers (see Jer. 25:34-35; Ezek. 34:1-10; cf. Isa. 40:10-11).
57:1-13 Isaiah confronts apostasy, which he sees increasing among God's people.
57:1-2 The righteous man perishes. Isaiah sees a trend toward fewer righteous people, yet no one lays it to heart, i.e., the masses of people generally do not understand that this indicates a withdrawal of God's blessing. In such a troubled time, for the righteous, death is a mercy, for he enters into peace (cf. 2 Kings 22:20; Rev. 14:13).
57:3-10 Paganism has come in among God's unthinking people.
57:3 The Jewish people's physical descent from Abraham is meaningless, for the people's pagan morals reveal their true spiritual identity.
57:4-5 Contempt for God and for the righteous is linked with idol worship and human cruelty (cf. Jer. 2:20; 32:35).
57:6 The smooth stones are objects of pagan worship. Shall I relent for these things? This rhetorical question argues for the reasonableness of God's all-out opposition to idolatry (cf. 42:8).
57:7 you have set your bed. Idol worship is spiritual whoredom.
57:8 uncovered your bed. Private sins reveal that the people are deserting the Lord and actively giving themselves to idolatry.
57:9-10 Idolatry also involved futile political alliances with foreign powers (cf. 30:1-17; 31:1-9). even to Sheol. The search for human alliances knew no bounds. Indeed, the people found it energizing.
57:11-13 The people do not fear God. They fear human threats and cling to false assurances (cf. Luke 12:4-5). I will declare your righteousness. See Isa. 58:1-5 and 64:6.
