1 The righteousa disappear,and no man gives it a thought;the godly are gathered out,but no one perceives that from impending calamitythe righteous are withdrawn.
2 They who walk uprightly shall attain peace,and rest in their beds.
3 As for you, come here, you children of the sorceress,offspring of adulterer and harlot!
4 At whose expense do you amuse yourselves?At whom do you open wide the mouthand stick out the tongue?Surely you are born of sin, a spurious brood,
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
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A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
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5 who burn with lust among the oaks,under every burgeoning tree,slayers of children in the gulliesunder the crags of rocks.
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
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A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
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6 Among the slippery stones of the ravinesshall be your fate; they indeed are your lot.To them you pour out libations and make offerings.How shall I be appeased of such things?
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
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A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
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7 On a lofty mountainyou have made prominent your bed,and there you ascend to offer sacrifices.
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
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A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
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8 Behind doors and facadesyou have put up your emblems,and have exposed yourself to others than I:mounting your bed, you have laid it wide open.And you bargain with those with whom you love to lie,your hand on their nakedness.b
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
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A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
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9 You bathec with oils for the kingand increase your perfumes;you send your solicitors far abroadand debase yourself to the depths.d
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
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A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
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10 Though wearied by your excessive ways,you have not admitted despair;you have found livelihood,and therefore have not slackened.
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
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A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
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11 Yet on whose account are you uneasy and apprehensive,that you pretend and do not mention me,nor even give me a thought?Is it because I have so long kept silentthat you no longer fear me?
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
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A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
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12 But I will expose your fornicationand the wantonness of your exploits.
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
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A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
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13 When you cry out in distress,let those who flock to you save you!A wind shall carry all of them off;a vapor shall take them away.But they who seek refuge in me shall possess the earthand receive an inheritance in my holy mountain.
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
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A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates the miscreants of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
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A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning vapor that vaporizes the miscreants of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
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14 It will be said: Excavate, pave a road!Prepare the way;remove the obstacles from the path of my people!
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
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A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates the miscreants of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
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A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning vapor that vaporizes the miscreants of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
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15 Thus says he who is highly exalted,who abides forever, whose name is sacred:I dwell on high in the holy place,and with him who is humble and lowly in spirit—refreshing the spirits of the lowly,reviving the hearts of the humble.
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
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A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates the miscreants of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
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A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning vapor that vaporizes the miscreants of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
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16 I will not contend forever, nor always be angry;the spirits and souls I have made would faint before me.
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
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A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates the miscreants of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning vapor that vaporizes the miscreants of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
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17 By his sin of covetousness I was provoked;I struck him and hid my face in angerwhen he strayed by following the ways of his heart.
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
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A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates the miscreants of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning vapor that vaporizes the miscreants of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
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18 Yet I have seen his conduct and I will heal him;I will guide him and amply console himand those who mourn for him,
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
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A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates the miscreants of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning vapor that vaporizes the miscreants of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
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19 who partakee of the fruit of the lips:Peace, wellbeing, to those far offand to those who are near,says Jehovah who heals him.
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
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A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates the miscreants of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning vapor that vaporizes the miscreants of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
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A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who instructs Jehovah's elect in the law of Jehovah's covenant at a time many people apostatize, adulterate his word, and turn into Jehovah's enemies.
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20 But the wicked are like the raging Sea,unable to rest,whose waters heave up mire and mud:
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates the miscreants of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning vapor that vaporizes the miscreants of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who instructs Jehovah's elect in the law of Jehovah's covenant at a time many people apostatize, adulterate his word, and turn into Jehovah's enemies.
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A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of the apostates of Jehovah's people and the nations, who rage like the Sea against Jehovah's elect and spread chaos and confusion.
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21 there is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
red
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of apostates, fornicators, and cultists who mouth off against Jehovah and his elect and falsely accuse them.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning wind that obliterates the miscreants of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A chaos motif and pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, who personifies the burning vapor that vaporizes the miscreants of Jehovah's people and the nations in Jehovah's Day of Judgment.
red
A pseudonym of Jehovah's end-time servant, who instructs Jehovah's elect in the law of Jehovah's covenant at a time many people apostatize, adulterate his word, and turn into Jehovah's enemies.
blue
A pseudonym of the end-time king of Assyria/Babylon, the exemplar of the apostates of Jehovah's people and the nations, who rage like the Sea against Jehovah's elect and spread chaos and confusion.
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Apocalyptic Commentary
Isaiah 57
The term “righteous” or “righteous one” (saddiq) connotes individuals rather than a majority of Jehovah’s people (Isaiah 50:10; 56:3), in particular those who emulate his servant who exemplifies righteousness (Isaiah 41:2; 51:1, 7). The “godly” (’anse-hesed) defines those who have charity, who are true at all times toward others as the Hebrew term hesed implies. In the same way that angels delivered Lot from Sodom before its destruction (Genesis 19:15-17), so the kings and queens of the Gentiles—Jehovah’s seraphs/saviors—gather his elect out of destruction (Isaiah 49:22-23; cf. Matthew 24:31).
While the righteous of Jehovah’s people and the nations inherit peace and serenity (v 19; Isaiah 26:3, 12; 32:17-20; 33:20-24; 54:13-14; 55:12; 66:12), the unrighteous find no peace (v 21; Isaiah 47:11; 48:18-19, 22; 59:8). After the righteous are gathered out from destruction, those who remain suffer calamity as Jehovah’s Day of Judgment overtakes them: “I have charged my holy ones, called out my valiant ones: my anger is not upon those who take pride in me” (Isaiah 13:3). Instead of resting in their beds, the unrighteous find no rest (v 20; Isaiah 23:12; 50:11; 54:15; 59:9-10; 65:14-15).
As Jehovah’s Day of Judgment approaches, the wickedness of the wicked and the righteousness of the righteous increase exponentially, ultimately dividing not only Jehovah’s people but the entire world. The anonymous “you” refers to those who have become so alienated from Jehovah as to no longer qualify being identified as his people (v 11; Isaiah 63:16, 19). The term “sorceress” attest to the activities of a satanic cult within Jehovah’s people that is characterized by its devotees’ spiritual and physical adultery as their apostasy and perversity reach their zenith (Isaiah 1:29; 65:2-7; 66:17).
As evil speaking and persecution characterize the wicked not the righteous, so the wicked compulsively oppress the righteous. Using them as scapegoats (Isaiah 61:7; 66:5; cf. Matthew 5:10-12; 23:33-34; John 15:20-21; Revelation 12:13), they even justify themselves that by tyrannizing them they do God a service (John 15:18-21; 16:2). In all respects, the wicked emulate their exemplar—the king of Assyria/Babylon—the mouth that mouths off against Jehovah and his people and the tongue that accuses them (Isaiah 3:8-9; 37:23-24, 28-29; 54:16-17; cf. Daniel 7:8, 11, 20-26; Revelation 13:3-8).
Although different manifestations of apostasy characterize Jehovah’s alienated people, satanic rituals and their desecration of things sacred are most abominable before God. In the same way that these existed in ancient times and led to God’s intervening to destroy the wicked from the earth (Genesis 6:5-7; 18:20; 19:24-25), so they lead to his end-time destruction of the wicked (Isaiah 10:23; 13:4-19; 21:2, 9; 28:22; 54:9-10). Because what goes around comes around, when Jehovah reverses his people’s circumstances “they with their practices and ideas shall be made an end of” (Isaiah 66:17).
Whether implicating Jehovah’s alienated people as a whole or individuals among them, their fornications, literal and figurative, identify them with those who have turned into the Harlot whom Jehovah divorces (Isaiah 1:21; 50:1). She is supplanted by the Daughter of Zion, the loyal wife whom he marries by an everlasting covenant (Isaiah 37:22; 54:5-10). Today’s pornographic imagery, lewd movies, and revealing posters easily qualify as the Harlot’s “emblems” of fornication. The “lofty mountain” alludes to the elite nation of Jehovah’s people from whence she sells her sex and porn to the world.
To whichever paradigm of life Jehovah’s people subscribe—the King of Zion’s or the king of Babylon’s—that paradigm, not their religious affiliation, determines whom they worship. The woman’s consorting with a king other than the King of Zion implies that she has transferred her loyalty to the archtyrant. While her oils and perfumes betray her covenantal allegiance, the woman’s sending her solicitors far abroad denotes her actively marketing her depravity. By so doing, the unfaithful wife—Jehovah’s apostate people—aligns herself, and thus identifies with, the Harlot Babylon (Isaiah 47:15).
Even though the promotion of licentiousness has provided an ample living for her and her ilk, their conscience troubles them. Pretending Jehovah doesn’t exist has until now been a convenient ploy, but it hasn’t succeeded in making him go away—he still seeks after them. Their taking advantage of his longsuffering toward them doesn’t mean he has given up on them: “I held out my hands all the day to a defiant people, who walk in ways that are not good, following their own imagination” (Isaiah 65:2); “They did what was evil in my eyes; they chose to do what was not my will” (Isaiah 66:4).
Parallels between the Harlot who typifies Jehovah’s alienated people and the Harlot Babylon include their debauched lifestyles and the fate that befalls them (vv 9, 12-13; Isaiah 47:3, 15). While Jehovah protects and provides for his loyal wife and children (Isaiah 54:13-17), the king of Assyria/Babylon—the chaotic wind and vapor—resembles an arch-abuser who slays his own (Isaiah 10:7; 14:20-23; 47:9-11). Isaiah’s Seven-Part Structure, moreover, develops the idea that in the end, when all middle ground vanishes, all who don’t affiliate with the Woman Zion become a part of the Harlot Babylon.
Contrasting those who perish with the wicked are persons “who seek refuge in me,” who inherit the earth: “You were a refuge for the poor, a shelter for the needy in distress” (Isaiah 25:4; cf. 27:5-6); “Your entire people shall be righteous; they shall inherit the earth forever” (Isaiah 60:21; cf. 33:20). The “road,” “way,” or “path” to Jehovah’s holy mountain takes the form of a new exodus of his righteous people to Zion (Isaiah 27:12-13; 30:29; 35:8-10; 43:19-21; 49:11-12; 66:20). Jehovah’s servant—his voice and mouth—announces that the time has arrived to “prepare the way” for Jehovah’s coming:
“A voice calls out, ‘In the desert prepare the way for Jehovah; in the wilderness pave a straight highway for our God: every ravine must be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground must become level and rough terrain a plain. For the glory of Jehovah shall be revealed and all flesh see it at once.’ By his mouth Jehovah has spoken it” (Isaiah 40:3-5). Certain “obstacles” or “stumbling-blocks (miksol) of a spiritual nature, however—including common “stones” or unrepentant sinners—still prevent Jehovah from coming. They now receive the chance to repent or be removed:
“Pass on, go through gates; prepare the way for the people! Excavate, pave a highway cleared of stones; raise the ensign to the nations! Jehovah has made proclamation to the end of the earth: Tell the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your Salvation comes, his reward with him, his work preceding him’” (Isaiah 62:10-11). The servant’s preparing the way before Jehovah’s coming leads to the formation of a holy people called Zion who take refuge in a place called Zion: “He will come as Redeemer to Zion, to those of Jacob who repent of transgression” (Isaiah 59:20; cf. 4:2-6; 12:6; 14:32; 24:23; 46:11-13).
As his people’s exemplar, Jehovah typifies all that his people may become. Having undergone a descent phase below all others (Isaiah 53:2-10), Jehovah merits an ascent phase above all others. Nevertheless, those who emulate him and grow in holiness may acquire his divine attributes. As Jehovah is “highly exalted” (ram wenissa’), for example (cf. Isaiah 6:1), so his servant becomes “highly exalted” (yarum wenissa’) (Isaiah 52:13; cf. 55:5). As Jehovah’s name is “sacred” or “holy,” so he endows his holy ones “with an everlasting name that shall not be cut off” (Isaiah 56:5; cf. 4:3; 62:12; 66:22).
As Jehovah “abides forever,” so his righteous people “inherit the earth forever” (Isaiah 60:21). As he “dwells on high in the holy place,” so those whom Jehovah exalts dwell on high (Isaiah 40:26) and live in the holy city (Isaiah 33:20; 52:1-2; 62:12). Because Jehovah’s dwelling with the “humble and lowly in spirit” is no less literal than his dwelling on high (cf. Isaiah 66:1), his regenerating them empowers them to ultimately “ascend as on eagles’ wings” (Isaiah 40:31) to live in his presence forever (Isaiah 23:18; 24:23; 40:26, 29; 60:14) and to view the earth from above (Isaiah 33:17; cf. 58:14).
Although Jehovah does contend and get angry with his people when they transgress, he doesn’t do so “forever” or “always” as all are not on the same spiritual level (Isaiah 12:1; 10:25; 60:10; 64:9). Because he deals with people according to what they are empowered to endure, he expects more from those in higher categories than from those lower. And yet, when people’s wickedness reaches a surfeit, as it did before the Flood, his spirit ceases to strive with man and his judgments follow (Genesis 6:1-13; cf. Isaiah 54:9; 63:1-6). Jehovah suspends his mercy until his justice achieves the desired effect.
Because Jehovah’s servant, like Moses (Numbers 20:7-12), too, transgresses, Jehovah is initially displeased with him. Still, the servant’s role as a proxy savior of Jehovah’s people under the terms of the Davidic Covenant requires that he answers for their disloyalties, not just his own. Jehovah’s “striking” his servant—which forms a part of his descent phase before Jehovah empowers him—takes the form of the servant’s being “marred beyond human likeness” by his enemies (Isaiah 52:14). But Jehovah “heals him” when the price of his own and his people’s deliverance from destruction is paid.
Isaiah’s paralleling the servant’s “covetousness” with the phrase “when he strayed by following the ways of his heart” identifies one as synonymous with the other. God’s prohibition of covetousness is one of the Ten Commandments: “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house or your neighbor’s wife, his manservant or maidservant, neither his ox nor ass or anything of your neighbor” (Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21). Because covetousness is a form of idolatry (Colossians 3:5)—of wanting something that is contrary to God’s will—it is shortsighted, distrusting of God, and self-destructive.
A reversal of circumstances for Jehovah’s servant and his disciples occurs when the servant repents and fulfills his savior role (Isaiah 49:5-9; 55:3-5; 61:1-3). Those at home and those abroad who “partake of the fruit of the lips”—who receive Jehovah’s word as his servant reveals it (Isaiah 41:27; 48:16; 50:4, 10; 52:15; 55:4)—inherit “peace,” while the wicked, who reject Jehovah’s word (Isaiah 28:14, 22; 30:12; 42:18-24; 65:12; 66:4), inherit “no peace.” Emulating the archtyrant—the chaotic Sea that is stirred up against Jehovah’s people (Isaiah 5:30; 17:12; 37:23, 28)—they find no rest.