July 2, 2026, Isaiah 57:1-13

July 2, 2026, Isaiah 57:1-13

57 The righteous man perishes,
    and no one lays it to heart;
devout men are taken away,
    while no one understands.
For the righteous man is taken away from calamity;
²     he enters into peace;
they rest in their beds
    who walk in their uprightness.
³ But you, draw near,
    sons of the sorceress,
    offspring of the adulterer and the loose woman.
⁴ Whom are you mocking?
    Against whom do you open your mouth wide
    and stick out your tongue?
Are you not children of transgression,
    the offspring of deceit,
⁵ you who burn with lust among the oaks,^[a]
    under every green tree,
who slaughter your children in the valleys,
    under the clefts of the rocks?
⁶ Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion;
    they, they, are your lot;
to them you have poured out a drink offering,
    you have brought a grain offering.
    Shall I relent for these things?
⁷ On a high and lofty mountain
    you have set your bed,
    and there you went up to offer sacrifice.
⁸ Behind the door and the doorpost
    you have set up your memorial;
for, deserting me, you have uncovered your bed,
    you have gone up to it,
    you have made it wide;
and you have made a covenant for yourself with them,
    you have loved their bed,
    you have looked on nakedness.^[b]
9 You journeyed to the king with oil
    and multiplied your perfumes;
you sent your envoys far off,
    and sent down even to Sheol.
¹⁰ You were wearied with the length of your way,
    but you did not say, “It is hopeless”;
you found new life for your strength,
    and so you were not faint.^[c]

¹¹ Whom did you dread and fear,
    so that you lied,
and did not remember me,
    did not lay it to heart?
Have I not held my peace, even for a long time,
    and you do not fear me?
¹² I will declare your righteousness and your deeds,
    but they will not profit you.
¹³ When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you!
    The wind will carry them all off,
    a breath will take them away.
But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land and shall inherit my holy mountain.

 

Isaiah 57:1-13 contrasts the tragedy of a spiritually blind society with the quiet peace of the righteous. It condemns Israel’s idolatry, spiritual adultery, and pursuit of false gods through dark and shameful practices, ultimately warning that these false idols will utterly fail to save them in the end.

 

What is the "good thing" (a career goal, a relationship, financial security, or public approval) that you are frantically chasing to give you peace, but is actually leaving you spiritually exhausted?

 

What would it look like for you to stop running this week, admit it isn't working, and truly take refuge in God instead?

 

Robin Adams