Isaiah 57:15 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

For thus saith the high and lofty One— This exquisite sentence is not difficult to be understood, though it is not easy to comprehend its whole force and energy. It may be connected either with what precedes, or with what follows after. If with the former, a reason is given why God brought in a reformation after so long a delay; namely, that he might not seem wholly to have neglected the pious, and such as sincerely lamented the offences and evils of their times; when, on the contrary, he held them most dear, and was willing to comfort them, as being those alone whom he would truly inhabit and acknowledge for his people. If it be connected with the latter, it teaches that God, in his severity, might justly punish the corrupted church for the abuse of his word and grace; and destroy it by his judgments, as adulterous, and having broken his covenant. But as abounding in grace and mercy, and knowing that many remained in it who were drawn imprudently into error, and who, being admonished of their error, would by the grace of his spirit return to him in true repentance and godly sorrow, he had determined to have regard to these, as it is peculiar to his nature to shew mercy and favour, and to revive these humble and contrite ones, by his comforts, and the hope of grace. The latter seems the preferable interpretation.