Isaiah 57:16

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Isaiah 57:13-16

Here, I. God shows how insufficient idols and creatures were to relieve and succour those that worshipped them and confided in them (Isa. 57:13): ?When thou criest in thy distress and anguish, lamentest thy misery and callest for help, let thy companies deliver thee, thy idol-gods which thou hast heaped to thyself companies of, the troops of the confederate forces which thou hast relied so much upon, let them deliver thee if they can; expect no other relief than what they can give.? Thus God... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Isaiah 57:16

For I will not contend for ever ,.... By afflictive providences; with the humble and contrite, the end being in a great measure answered by their humiliation and contrition; when God afflicts his people, it shows that he has a controversy with them, for their good, and his own glory; and when these ends are obtained, he will carry it on no longer: neither will I be always wroth ; as he seems to be in the apprehensions of his people, when he either hides his face from them, or chastises... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Isaiah 57:16

For I will not contend for ever - The learned have taken a great deal of pains to little purpose on the latter part of this verses which they suppose to be very obscure. After all their labors upon it, I think the best and easiest explication of it is given in the two following elegant passages of the Psalms, which I presume are exactly parallel to it, and very clearly express the same sentiment. "But he in his tender mercy will forgive their sin And will not destroy them; Yea,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 57:15-16

The greatness of God and the hope of the humble. The prophet presents us with a most noble contrast as he draws for us the surpassing greatness of the infinite God, and then pictures him to us as resident in a humble human soul— I. THE EXCEEDING GREATNESS OF GOD . And this whether we have regard to II. THE HOPE OF THE HUMBLE IN REGARD TO HIM . We naturally ask—What hope is there that finite and guilty men can ever be brought into a close relationship with... 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 57:16

I will not contend for ever. God "will not always chide, neither will he keep his anger for ever" ( Psalms 103:9 ). If he were "extreme to mark what is done amiss," none could abide it ( Psalms 130:3 ). He remits somewhat, therefore, from the claims of strict justice, and is content to take lower ground. Were it otherwise, man's spirit should fail before him. Man, i.e; would be utterly unable to justify himself, and would faint and fade away before the Divine fury. The souls which... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Isaiah 57:16

For I will not contend for ever - I will not be angry with my people forever, nor always refuse to pardon and comfort them (see Psalms 103:9). This is to be regarded as having been primarily addressed to the Jews in their long and painful exile in Babylon. It is, however, couched in general language; and the idea is, that although God would punish his people for their sins, yet his wrath would not be perpetual. If they were his children, he would visit them again in mercy, and would restore to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Isaiah 57:15-16

Isaiah 57:15-16. For thus saith the high and lofty One The omnipotent and supreme Ruler of the universe; that inhabiteth eternity Who is from everlasting to everlasting, without beginning of days, or end of life, or change of time; who only hath immortality, hath it of himself, and that constantly; who inhabits it, and cannot be dispossessed of it; whose name is Holy Who is perfectly and essentially holy in his nature, his works, his words, and his ways; and therefore both can and... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Isaiah 57:1-21

Corruption and idolatry (56:9-57:21)The Assyrian captivity of the northerners and the Babylonian captivity of the southerners did not include the whole populations. Those who were of no use to the conquerors were left behind, along with scattered country people who escaped the enemy. These and their descendants soon followed the old religious practices of the Canaanite people. They worshipped idols, offered human sacrifices to the god Molech, and practised fertility rites with religious... read more

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