Isaiah 57 · Grade 5

No Peace for the Wicked

Name Date

Read and Think

Isaiah 57 continues the warning against Israel's leaders from chapter 56. The death of the righteous goes unnoticed, though God sees it as rescue: they are "taken away from the evil" and "He enters into peace." Verses 3-13 condemn idolatrous worship with harsh images. Its gods are useless: "When you cry, let those whom you have gathered deliver you." The contrast is refuge: "he who takes refuge in me will possess the land."

Verse 14 echoes 40:3: "Build up, build up, prepare the way!" Verse 15 is one of the Bible's great statements about God. He is transcendent, "the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity," yet immanent, dwelling "with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit." In the New Testament, Jesus taught that the poor in spirit are blessed (Matthew 5:3), and James 4:6 says God gives grace to the humble.

God limits his anger, "For I will not contend forever," because the human spirit would faint. He heals the very people whose ways he has seen. He creates "the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is near." In the New Testament, Paul applies this to Jews and Gentiles made one through Christ (Ephesians 2:13-17). The section closes with the refrain from 48:22, now from "my God": no peace "for the wicked."

Show What You Know

How does God see the death of the righteous?
What two truths about God does verse 15 hold together?
Which New Testament passage applies verse 19 to Jews and Gentiles?
Where else does the no peace refrain appear?

Crossword

Across

Haven’t I held my ____ for a long time.
To revive the spirit of the ____.
I dwell in the high and ____ place.

Down

But he who takes ____ in me will possess the land.
For the high and ____ One who inhabits eternity.

Think About It

God is both high and near the humble. How does holding both truths help us worship and pray?
God heals people whose ways He has seen. How does that show grace?

Memory Verse

I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is near,” says Yahweh; “and I will heal them.”

Isaiah 57:19 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for living with the humble. Help me . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

God said He would not be angry forever, because the human spirit would grow faint. How does God's restraint shape how you respond to others' failures?
How has God healed you after you turned back to Him?
What is one way you could live out this chapter this week?