Year 6, Day 41: Isaiah 57

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Discipleship Focus: Forgiveness

• Forgiveness: Forgiveness is when our sins are absolved by God.  We do not deserve this forgiveness, but God grants it to us anyway.  We cannot earn forgiveness, but God gives it to us anyway.  As we are forgiven by God, He also asks us to forgive others.  In fact, Jesus Himself teaches us to pray for our forgiveness in the Lord’s Prayer when He says, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Isaiah 57 is a sad chapter in the midst of a book that ends in a largely happy tone.  The first two-thirds of the chapter talk about judgment and wrath.  God reminds the people how they have chased after other gods.  He reminds them that they have sought their own desires.  He reminds them that they have leaned upon their own strength and the strength of humanity.  The opening verses of this chapter speak of wrath and judgment.

However, that is not the end of the story.  In Isaiah 57:14 we get a change of tone.  We hear God remind the people that a time will come when the people will cry out to rebuild.  God reminds the people that He will not remember His wrath forever.  There will come a time when God revives the spirit of the people.  There will come a time when God will heal the broken.  This is largely a chapter that begins in wrath but ends in forgiveness.

Yet, the chapter doesn’t exactly end in a very pristine manner.  In spite of God’s forgiveness, not all will turn to Him.  There will be people who scorn God’s forgiveness.  In the end, God promises peace to those who will receive.  But for the wicked, there will be no peace.

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