Isaiah 57:12 says, I will declare thy righteousness, and thy works; for they shall not profit thee. God was basically saying that the righteousness and works of people would be of no profit to them since they had not been done in accordance with God’s command. We cannot be righteous by our own works, but we can only be made righteous by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Until we accept His sacrifice for our sins, we will never be a part of the kingdom of God. We can proclaim ourselves to be very righteous and may even do works that would indicate we are, but unless we are born again by putting our faith in Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, it will all be for nothing.
Verse thirteen adds, When thou criest, let thy companies deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away; vanity shall take them: but he that putteth his trust in me shall possess the land, and shall inherit my holy mountain; God said that anything they put their faith in to deliver them in times of trouble other than Him would be blown away by the wind. It would all be vanity, or nothing, no matter how powerful they might think the idols or rulers they called on were. Then, God said that those who put their trust in Him would possess the land and inherit His holy mountain. He didn’t say they would earn it, but that their faith in Him would give it to them as a free gift. We have two choices. We can look to the things of the world for help, or we can put our faith in God. As Christians, we should never look to the powers of the world for help but should always put our faith in God.
Verse fourteen continues, And shall say, Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of my people. Isaiah said the people should call on God to remove the stumbling block from their path. They had been captive, and they were asking God to deliver them. We are captives of sin and death until we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord. Unfortunately, for too many people He is a stumbling block instead of being the One Who removes it.
Verse fifteen states, For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. God said He was the Holy One Who lives in the high place and that those who were of a contrite heart and a humble spirit could live there with Him. I believe this means that those who have confessed their own unworthiness and have come to God in humble obedience by putting their faith in Jesus Christ, the only way to salvation and to living in Heaven with God.
Verse sixteen adds, For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made. God said He would not contend with people forever. He also said He would not always be wroth, or angry at the actions of the people He created. If God remained angry at the people because of their actions, His spirit would fail Him. We are saved by putting our faith in Jesus Christ, and once we do so, we are sealed by the Holy Spirit. If we then sin once again, God may be angry about our actions, but He will not allow this to separate us from Him, because if He did, the Holy Spirit would have failed. This is my understanding of this verse.
Verse seventeen adds, For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him: I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart. God said it was because of the iniquities of people that he was wroth or angry with them. He still loved His people, but He hated their actions, so He removed His protective hand from them. People were following their own heart, or desire, instead of following God, and He left them to survive by their own power as He withdrew, or hid, from them. Just because we call ourselves Christians doesn’t mean that God is going to endorse everything we do. If we fail to follow God’s commandments and direction for our life, He may allow us to suffer defeat in the world, but if we have truly accepted Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, we are forever saved and sealed to God by the Holy Spirit,
Verse eighteen continues, I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners. God said that even though He had seen the ways of people that lead them away from Him, that He would restore them. I believe this means He would make a way for them to be restored and not that He would just automatically restore everyone to a right relationship with Him. If God had not provided a way for us to be restored to Him spiritually even as He saw our sinful ways, we would be without hope.
Verse nineteen states, I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the Lord; and I will heal him. God said that He would bring peace to those who were far off as well as to those who were near since He would provide a way for them to be healed. I believe this refers to the Jews and the Gentiles being offered a way to be healed by putting their faith in Jesus Christ. God offers a way to be a peace with Him to all who will accept it.
Verse twenty adds, But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. God then said that the wicked, those who would not acknowledge Him and His gift of salvation would never find peace. They would be tossed to and for in the mud and mire of life.
Verse twenty-one concludes, There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. No matter how successful a person who does not believe in God and put their faith in His salvation plan may think they are in the world, there will never be any lasting peace in their life. Spiritually, they will always be separated from God, and though this refers to those who refuse to accept Jesus Christ, I believe it also refers to anyone who is failing to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit, who even though they are saved, will never find spiritual peace either.
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