Can God’s Mercy Reach Me? – Isaiah 57:3-21
57 (3) But you, come here—you sons of a sorceress, you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes! (4) Whom are you mocking? At whom do you sneer and stick out your tongue? Are you not the children who are the fruit of transgression, the offspring of deceit—(5) you who burn with lust among the oaks and under every green tree, you who sacrifice your children in the ravines and under the overhanging crags? (6) The idols among the smooth stones of the ravines are your portion; they are your lot. Yes, to them you have poured out drink offerings, to them you have presented grain offerings. Should I accept these things? (7) You have made your bed atop a high and lofty hill; and there you went up to offer your sacrifices. (8) And you have hung my memorial plaques behind the doors and the doorposts; for you have uncovered yourself to lovers other than me. You have climbed into your bed and made it available; you have made a covenant with them, you have loved their bed, you have looked at their nakedness. (9) You went to the king of Assyria, bearing gifts of olive oil and an abundance of spices. You sent your ambassadors to a distant land, and you abased yourself, bowing down as far as Sheol. (10) You were tired out by the distance of your journey, yet you did not say, It is hopeless. You found renewed strength; therefore you did not faint. (11)Whom have you so dreaded and feared that you have been false to me, that you have not remembered me nor even given me a thought? Have I not been silent for a long time, so therefore you do not fear me? (12) I will expose your “righteousness;” and your deeds shall be of no benefit to you.
(13) When you cry for help, let your collection of idols save you! But the wind will sweep them away; a mere breath will blow them away. But the man who takes refuge in me shall possess the land and inherit my holy mountain. (14) It will be said, Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people! (15) This is what the high and lofty One—who inhabits eternity, whose name is holy—says, I dwell in the high and holy place, I also dwell with the man who has a contrite and humble spirit, in order to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite. (16) I will not contend against you forever, neither will I continue to be angry, otherwise your spirit would faint before me—the very souls whom I have made.
(17) Because of his sinful greed, I was angry and I struck him; I hid my face and was angry. Then he returned with all his heart. (18) I have seen his ways, and I will heal him. I will guide him and restore comfort to him, (19) creating praise for the lips of those who mourned. Peace, peace to those who are near and to those who are far, proclaims Jehovah. I will heal them. (20) But the wicked are like the tossing sea; it cannot rest, and its waters churn up mire and mud. (21) There is no peace, declares my God, for the wicked.
Now proceed to the next section of this study, entitled, Exploring the Passage.
