Isaiah 57:11
A focused desk for reading, commentary, cross-references, original language notes, and your own observations.
Isaiah 57:11
11 And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?
Chapter Context
Isaiah 57 is a prophetic oracle chapter in the Old Testament that explores themes of worship, love, holiness. Written during the Assyrian and pre-exilic periods (c. 740-680 BCE), this chapter should be understood within its historical context: Addressed Judah during Assyria's rise, Babylon's threat, and anticipated restoration.
The chapter can be divided into several sections:
- Verses 1-5: Introduction and setting the context
- Verses 6-12: Development of key themes
- Verses 13-20: Central message and teachings
- Verses 21-21: Conclusion and application
This chapter is significant because it demonstrates God's faithfulness despite human unfaithfulness. When studying this passage, it's important to consider both its immediate context within Isaiah and its broader place in the scriptural canon.
Verse Study
Isaiah 57:11
11 And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?
Analysis
God's rhetorical questions probe the psychology behind idolatry: "Of whom hast thou been afraid or feared?" The Hebrew daga (feared/anxious) suggests anxiety-driven decisions. Their lies and faithlessness stem from misplaced fear—fearing human powers more than God. "That thou hast lied and hast not remembered me" connects idolatry with both active deception (lying) and passive forgetfulness (not remembering God). "Nor laid it to thy heart" uses the Hebrew idiom for serious consideration—they never seriously reflected on their covenant obligations. God then asks, "Have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?" The long-suffering patience of God, rather than producing gratitude and repentance, emboldened them in sin. This illustrates the Reformed doctrine that God's common grace and patience, while intended to lead to repentance (Romans 2:4), can harden those who abuse it. Divine forbearance is misinterpreted as divine indifference or impotence.
Historical Context
Throughout Israel's history, God's patience was extraordinary. Despite repeated covenant violations from the exodus onwards, He delayed judgment for centuries, sending prophets to call for repentance (2 Kings 17:13, 2 Chronicles 36:15-16). This patience was particularly evident during the divided monarchy, when God preserved Judah despite their sins for the sake of His covenant with David (2 Kings 8:19). Rather than recognizing this forbearance as divine grace, the people presumed upon it, assuming judgment would never come (Jeremiah 7:4, Zephaniah 1:12).
Reflection
- How does the fear of man prove to be a snare in our spiritual lives (Proverbs 29:25)?
- In what ways might we mistake God's patience for approval of our sins?
- How should God's forbearance lead us to repentance rather than presumption?
Cross-References
- Parallel theme: Psalms 50:21, Proverbs 29:25, Jeremiah 2:32, 3:21