INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 57
This chapter contains complaints of the stupidity and idolatry of the people, described in the latter part of the preceding chapter; and some promises of grace to the people of God. The stupidity of the former is observed, Isaiah 57:1 they not taking notice of the death of good men, nor of impending calamities they were taken from, whose happiness is described, Isaiah 57:2, then these idolatrous people are summoned before the Lord, Isaiah 57:3 and are charged with deriding the saints with idolatry and murder, Isaiah 57:4 and their idolatry is represented under the notion of adultery, attended with very aggravating circumstances,
Isaiah 57:7 and yet these people still entertained presumptuous hopes of happiness, and boasted of, and trusted in, their righteousness and good works, which would be exposed, and be of no advantage to them,
Isaiah 57:10, next follow promises of grace to the saints, that such that trusted in Christ should inherit the holy mountain, Isaiah 57:13 that the stumblingblock of his people should be removed, Isaiah 57:14, that he should dwell with the humble and contrite, Isaiah 57:15, and not be always wroth and contend with them, for a reason given, Isaiah 57:16 and that though he had smote them, and hid his face from them because of their sins, yet would heal them, lead them, and comfort them, and speak peace unto them, Isaiah 57:17 and the chapter is concluded with the character of the wicked, and an assurance that there is no peace for them,