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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 57:17-21

The body of the people of Israel, in this account of God's dealings with them, is spoken of as a particular person (Isa. 57:17, 18), but divided into two sorts, differently dealt with?some who were sons of peace, to whom peace is spoken (Isa. 57:19), and others who were not, who have nothing to do with peace, Isa. 57:20, 21. Observe here, I. The just rebukes which that people were brought under for their sin: For the iniquity of his covetousness I was wroth, and smote him. Covetousness was a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 57:18

I have seen his ways, and will heal him ,.... Either the ways of such who trust in the Lord, the ways of the humble and contrite, who are brought by repentance and reformation, by the dealings of God with them; these he sees, knows, and approves of, and heals their former backslidings; for though not all, yet some may be reformed hereby; or rather the ways of the froward, their evil ways, which are their own ways in opposition to God's ways, peculiar to themselves, of their own devising and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 57:19

I create the fruit of the lips ,.... Which is praise and thanksgiving, Hebrews 13:16 that is, give occasion of it, afford matter for it, by restoring comforts to the church and its mourners, as in the preceding verse; and by giving peace, as in all the following words. The Targum renders it, "the speech of the lips in the mouth of all men;' as if it respected that blessing of nature, speech, common to all mankind: whereas this is a blessing of grace, peculiar to some that share in the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 57:18

I have seen his ways - Probably these verses refer to the restoration of the Jews from captivity. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 57:19

I create the fruit of the lips - "The sacrifice of praise," saith St. Paul, Hebrews 13:15 , "is the fruit of the lips." God creates this fruit of the lips, by giving new subject and cause of thanksgiving by his mercies conferred on those among his people, who acknowledge and bewail their transgressions, and return to him. The great subject of thanksgiving is peace, reconciliation and pardon, offered to them that are nigh, and to them that are afar off, not only to the Jew, but also to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 57:15-21

A PROMISE OF SALVATION TO THE HUMBLE AND PENITENT , WITH A FURTHER THREAT AGAINST THE WICKED . The prophet, in this portion of his discourse, whereof "comfort" is the key-note ( Isaiah 40:1 ), can never continue threatening long without relapsing into a tone of tenderness and pity. He now sets against his long denunciation (in Isaiah 57:3-12 ) an ample promise ( Isaiah 57:15-19 ), and against his brief encouragement (in Isaiah 57:13 , Isaiah 57:14 ) a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 57:15-21

The character of Jehovah I. HIS EXALTATION . "High and holy:" high because holy, exalted far above the meanness of human thoughts and the impurity of human ways. Far above creatures of all species and all ranks, it is needless further to designate him. He is the Incomparable One. He dwells in eternity (cf. Isaiah 9:6 ). His Name is "the Holy One" ( Isaiah 1:4 ; Isaiah 30:11 ; Isaiah 40:25 ; Isaiah 41:14 ; Isaiah 43:3 , Isaiah 43:8 ; Isaiah 47:4 ); his place the high and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 57:17-21

The course of the soul. These words of Isaiah indicate the course which the human spirit often takes in its downward and upward path. We have— I. THE ESSENCE OF INIQUITY — THIS IS SELFISHNESS . "The iniquity of his selfishness," as it may be rendered. Whether it takes the specific form of rapacity, of unholy ambition, of self-indulgence or of any other special sin, you may trace iniquity home to the evil spirit of selfishness—the withholding from God, for self, of that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 57:18

I have seen his ways, and will heal him. God had seen the wanderings of his people in perverse ways, and his heart had been touched with pity thereat. The good Shepherd follows and recalls the wanderers of the flock. When they have suffered hurt he "heals" them. He is willing to "lead" them also—to go before them, and show them the way that they should walk in ( Isaiah 49:10 ; Ezekiel 34:11-16 ), and "restore comforts" to them, especially to such of them as have begun to "mourn" over... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 57:19

I create the fruit of the lips ; literally, creating the fruit of the lips. The clause is best attached to the preceding verse. By his tender treatment of the wanderers, God brings forth fruit from their lips in the shape of praise and thanksgiving. Peace, peace; or, perfect peace , as in Isaiah 26:3 . Judah's prophets were apt to say to her, " Peace, peace ," when there was no peace ( Jeremiah 6:14 ; Jeremiah 8:11 ; Ezekiel 13:10 ). Isaiah is now commissioned to give the... read more

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