Isaiah 56 & 57 | The Wolfe Notes

Welcome, Family! We're spending 2024 with the prophet Isaiah. While we claim no expertise, we're excited to sit with you as we both learn at the feet of Jesus. Each month, we offer a calendar that outlines daily exercises (adapted from Jenn Wilkin's Women of the Word Bible study process) to progress through Isaiah. Download November's calendar to begin with us and witness what we uncovered in our weekly "Wolfe Notes" postings.

Contents:

1. Different Versions Noting and clarifying differences between KJV & NCV.
2. Annotation My thoughts, connections, clarifications, and questions.
3. Research On the importance of Sabbath.
4. Summary An approximately twenty-word overview of the chapter.
5. Memorize Why I chose to memorize Isaiah 57:15.
6. Cross References Of Isaiah 57:15.
7. Respond to God's caring nature.

Different Versions

I read Chapter 56 & 57 in the King James Version (KJV) and the New Century Version (NCV). The KJV is a word-for-word translation while the NCV is a thought-for-thought.

Major differences I noticed (*My thoughts alone are in italics and designated with an asterisk.):

Isaiah 57:4

• Comparisons:
• KJV: Against whom de ye sport yourselves? against whom make ye a wide mouth, and draw out the tongue? are ye not (1) children of transgression, (2) a seed of falsehood.
• NCV: Of whom are you making fun? Whom are you insulting? At whom do you stick out your tongue? (1) You turn against God, and (2) you are liars.
• Discrepancies: 
1. "Children of transgression" (KJV) calls to mind, "Ye are of your father the devil...he is a liar, and the father of it" (John 8:44 KJV). "You turn against God" (NCV) doesn't feel as permanent, and brings to mind a repentance scenario: "Tearing your clothes is not enough to show you are sad; let your heart be broken. Come back to the Lord your God, because he is kind and shows mercy. He doesn't become angry quickly, and he has great love. He can change his mind about doing harm (Joel 2:13 NCV).
2. "A seed of falsehood" (KJV) reminds me of, "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed;..." (Genesis 3:15 KJV), which also fits with the father of lies idea from John 8:44 (see above). "You are liars" (NCV) feels less serious, as lying is something many of us do occasionally. However, myriad verses on lying show that lying is something to take seriously. For example, "A witness who lies will not go free; liars will never escape." (Proverbs 19:5 NCV).
• Thoughts: The KJV takes a more serious tone while the NCV comes across more casual until a deeper investigation is conducted.

Isaiah 57:14

• Comparisons:
• KJV: And shall say, (1) Cast ye up, cast ye up, prepare the way, take up (2) the stumblingblock out of the way of my people.
• NCV: Someone will say, (1) "Build a road! Build a road! Prepare the way! Make the way (2) clear for my people."
• Discrepancies: 
1. Are "Cast ye up" (KJV) and "Build a road!" (NCV) saying the same thing? Are they just basically encouraging people to get active and "Arise!"?
2. "The stumblingblock" KJV immediately hearkens Paul's warning, "Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way." (Romans 14:13 KJV). "Clear" (NCV) the way is akin to the highway to Heaven: "A road will be there; this highway will be called "The Road to Being Holy." Evil people will not be allowed to walk on that road; only good people will walk on it. No fools will go on it." (Isaiah 35:8 NCV) Which then the KJV gives more actionable advice and the NCV delivers hope.

Annotation

Notes on my process. *Denotes my thoughts alone. ! Denotes a connection. Researched quick answers are in italics. *R Indicates a topic with more extensive notes under the research heading.

An Open Invitation (Isaiah 56:1-8)

1. Be a light: Judge honestly and act justly. When I come to save you, all will know my righteousness, and then they will all know that you shined for me.
1. ! Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16 KJV
2. ! My soul wants to be with you at night, and my spirit wants to be with you at the dawn of every day. When your way of justice comes to the land, people of the world will learn the right way of living. Isaiah 26:9 NCV (See cross references.)
2. Blessings will follow anyone who keeps the Sabbath (*finds rest in Jesus) and does only good.
1. ! Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work...For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Exodus 20:8-11 KJV
2. ! Then Jesus said to the Pharisees, "The Sabbath day was made to help people; they were not made to be ruled by the Sabbath day. So then, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath day." Mark 2:27-28 NCV
3. ! Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Isaiah 1:16-17 KJV (See reflection.)
4. ! In the past you were full of darkness, but now you are full of light in the Lord. So live like children who belong to the light. Ephesians 5:8 NCV
5. ! She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. Proverbs 31:12 KJV (See our notes.)
3. To the outcasts and childless, do not think God won't accept you. If you keep My rest, walk in My ways, and uphold My covenant then your home is with me.
1. ? Why is the law about the Sabbath so important? Is it because Jesus is my rest and by not honoring the Sabbath is not honoring Jesus?
2. ? Isn't service a form of worship?
4. The childless will receive a name that outlives every son or daughter.
1. ! He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name  written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. Revelation 2:17 KJV
2. ! Jerusalem, the nations will see your goodness, and all kings will see your glory. Then you will have a new name, which the LORD himself will give you. Isaiah 62:2 NCV
3. ! And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name: Isaiah 65:15 KJV
4. ! I will make those who win the victory pillars in the temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, that comes down out of heaven from my God. I will also write on them my new name. Revelation 3:12 NCV
5. ? Why are names so significant? A fresh start? 
5. The outsiders will be brought to God's holy home where their sacrifices and offerings will be well received.
1. ! And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it. Isaiah 2:2 KJV
2. ! Let my prayer be like incense placed before you, and my praise like the evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:2  NCV
3. ! I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1 KJV
6. God gathers everyone.

Follow with Caution (Isaiah 56:9-12)

1. Come, prey on these people.
1. ? Whose dogs? Satan's?
2. They follow leaders who are ignorant, lazy, greedy, selfish, and drunk.
1. ! We all have wandered away like sheep; each of us has gone his own way. But the Lord has put on him the punishment for all the evil we have done. Isaiah 53:6 NCV

Hope for the Righteous (Isaiah 57:1-2)

1. But the righteous die so they can be saved from the evil that is coming.
2. Then they will know peace and rest because they walked uprightly.
1. And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. Isaiah 32:17 KJV

The Reality of the Unfaithful (Isaiah 57:3-10)

1. But you who plant evil, know your opponent is God. You live a lie.
2. Consider all the evil things you do: use sex as a form of worship, sacrifice children, give offerings to smooth stones (*meaningless objects).
1. ? What is the significance of smooth stones?
3. Yet still, you expect My mercy?
4. You worship your own gods, hide your unfaithfulness, reject My grace, and bind yourself with sin.
1. ! God's clothing represents being covered in His righteousness. Removing it shows we're rejecting it. (Research on coverings and clothing.)
5. You seek to please other gods and commune with places far removed from Me, even lowering yourself to hell.
1. * They don't just reside on God's holy mountain, they try to make every place they are holy.
2. ! And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brethren without. And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness. Genesis 9:22-23 KJV (Uncovering nakedness equates to sexual sin. - Got Questions)
3. ? Who is Molech (NCV)?
6. You don't want to, but you can't stop. 
1. * This is the snare of sinfulness, it keeps enticing.
2. ! I do not understand the things I do. I do not do what I want to do, and I do the things I hate. Romans 7:15 NCV

God's Response to the Unfaithful (Isaiah 57:11-13)

1. Who do you fear that you lie to me? Did you forget Me completely? Do you ever even think about Me? I've been waiting so long for you. But still, you don't fear Me.
1. ! For so the LORD said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest. Isaiah 18:4 KJV
2. *This feels like a perfect description of a broken relationship.
2. Even if I listed all the good things about you, it would not be enough.
1. ! I mean that you have been saved by grace through believing. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. It was not the result of your own efforts, so you cannot brag about it. Ephesians 2:8-9 NCV
3. Though you seek help from the ones you trust in, they won't save you. They are driven by their own desires. 
1. ! And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy one of Israel, in truth. Isaiah 10:20 KJV (See cross references.)
2. ! You are tired of the advice you have received. So let those who study the sky - those who tell the future by looking at the stars and the new moons - let them save you from what is about to happen to you. But they are like straw; fire will quickly burn them up. They cannot save themselves from the power of the fire. They are not like coals that give warmth nor like a fire that you may sit beside. You have worked with these people, and they have been with you since you were young, but they will not be able to help you. Everyone will go his own way, and there will be no one left to save you. Isaiah 47:13-15 NCV
4. But everyone who trusts in Me has a secure future and will be joint heirs in my holy mountain.
1. ! So no weapon that is used against you will defeat you. You will show that those who speak against you are wrong. These are the good things my servants receive. Their victory comes from me," says the Lord. Isaiah 54:17 NCV

Awaken the Faithful (Isaiah 57:14-21)

1. Clear the way! Tell everyone how to get to Jesus.
1. ! The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: and the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it. Isaiah 40:3-5 KJV
2. Admit your need for Him, then God, who lives forever, is holy, and supreme will restore you.
3. His will is for your good, so His anger will only last for a moment.
1. *Our soul and spirit cannot withstand God's wrath. He wants to be with us, so being angry at us would negate His purpose for us. 
4. God's anger flares when we pursue our own desires.
5. But He still heals and leads us while He comforts us.
1. And the LORD shall smite Egypt: he shall smite and heal it: and they shall return even to the LORD, and he shall be intreated of them, and shall heal them. Isaiah 19:22 KJV (See cross references.)
6. He knows just the right thing to say or do to bring each of us peace - both for those who are near and those who are far from Him.
1. * There is power in what we say. What comes from our mouth is a promise. Isaiah 57:19 KJV: 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. 
2. ! If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and if you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 NCV
7. But evil people will never find peace.

Research

*Thoughts that are mine alone are marked with an asterisk and italicized.

Why is the law about the Sabbath so important?

Public Display

• Willingness to remain faithful to traditions that most people abandoned. Circumcision and sabbath observance became the two external badges of fidelity.
• Sets practitioners apart from the rest of humanity, publicly announcing that you worship Yahweh.
• Shows you're not ashamed. All those who stand before others and say they believe in me, I will say before my Father in heaven that they belong to me .Matthew 10:32 NCV.
• Acceptable worship even into the New Testament whereas incense and sacrifice, that are not mentioned in Isaiah 56:2, are no longer obligatory. 

Private Interpretation

• A standing memorial between God and the Jews. Exodus 31:13-17 (excerpts from KJV):
• That ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you.
• In six days the LORD made the heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
• Fulfills requirements of the first tablet: Worship God. The second directive mentioned in Isaiah 56:2 is to live a godly life, which fulfills the second tablet of commandments.

Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath

• Rules and regulations over Sabbath governance are His authority. (Matthew 12:8; Mark 2:28; Luke 6:5) 
• The Pharisees imposed strict ordinances on Sabbath observance with 39 categories of forbidden activities. They made themselves "Lords of the Sabbath".
• But Christ created Sabbath and could overrule these manmade laws.
• All things were made by him, and nothing was made without him. John 1:3 NCV
• And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands. Hebrews 1:10 KJV
• He is the law. 
• "Don't think that I have come to destroy the law of Moses or the teaching of the prophets. I have not come to destroy them but to bring about what they said. Matthew 5:17 NCV
• For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. Romans 10:4 KJV
• Jesus answered, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me. John 14:6 NCV
• He is our Sabbath rest.
• Then Jesus said to the Pharisees, "The Sabbath day was made to help people; they were not made to be ruled by the Sabbath day. Mark 2:27 NCV
• Come to me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 KJV
• I mean that you have been saved by grace through believing. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. It was not the result of your own efforts, so you cannot brag about it. Ephesians 2:8-9 NCV

What's Required

• Do and say what pleases God. (See Isaiah 58:13)
• Rest from your labor. (See Exodus 31:14-15)
• Choose when to observe in your own mind. (See Romans 14:5-6)

*Honoring the Sabbath is public acknowledgement that Jesus is your rest. It honors the first part of the law. The second part is fulfilled through your Christian walk. Sabbath observance is about relationship and mindset, not rules and regulations. 

Sources: 

1. Bible Hub commentaries,  especially Barnes.
2. Got Questions: "What does it mean that Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath?"

Summary

Declare God's mercy, walk uprightly, be welcomed home, and know peace. But there is no rest for the wicked.

Memorize

I chose to memorize Isaiah 57:15 KJV

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. 

*This verse reminds me of who God is and what He does when I admit my need for Him.

Cross References

*Thoughts that are mine alone are marked with an asterisk and italicized.

Of  Isaiah 57:15.

For thus saith the high and lofty one...

• Isaiah 6:1 KJV: In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
• Psalm 83:18 NCV: Then they will know that you are the Lord, that only you are God Most High over all the earth.
• Psalm 97:9 KJV: For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.

...that inhabiteth eternity...

• Exodus 15:18 NCV: The LORD will be king forever!
• Isaiah 40:28 KJV: Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.
• Genesis 21:33 NCV: Abraham planted a tamarisk tree at Beersheba and prayed to the Lord, the God who lives forever.
• Micah 5:2 KJV: But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

...whose name is Holy...

• Isaiah 6:3 NCV: Each creature was calling to the others: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD All-Powerful. His glory fills the whole earth."
• Exodus 15:11 KJV: Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
• I Samuel 2:2 NCV: There is no one holy like the LORD. There is no God but you; there is no Rock like our God.
• Revelation 3:7 KJV: And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that oepneth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 
• Revelation 15:4 NCV: Everyone will respect you, Lord, and will honor you. Only you are holy. All the nations will come and worship you, because the right things you have done are now made known.

...I dwell in the high and holy place...

• Isaiah 18:4 KJV: For so the LORD said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest.
• I Kings 8:27 NCV: "But, God, can you really live here on earth? The sky and the highest place in heaven cannot contain you. Surely this house which I have built cannot contain you.
• Isaiah 66:1 KJV: Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

...with him also that is of a contrite...

• Deuteronomy 33:27 NCV: The everlasting God is your place of safety, and his arms will hold you up forever. He will force your enemy out ahead of you, saying, "Destroy the enemy!"
• Psalm 34:18 KJV: The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 
• Psalm 51:17 NCV: The sacrifice God wants is a broken spirit. God, you will not reject a heart that is broken and sorry for sin.

...and humble spirit...

• Psalm 113:5-6 KJV: Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth! 
• II Chronicles 33:12-13 NCV: As Manasseh suffered, he begged the LORD his God for help and humbled himself before the God of his ancestors. When Manasseh prayed, the LORD heard him and had pity on him. So the LORD let him return to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD is the true God.
• Isaiah 66:2 KJV: For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

...to revive the spirit of the humble...

• Psalm 138:6 NCV: Though the LORD is supreme, he takes care of those who are humble, but he stays away from the proud.
• II Chronicles 34:27 KJV: Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD.
• Matthew 5:3 NCV: They are blessed who realize their spiritual poverty, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

...and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. 

• Psalm 138:7 KJV: Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
• Matthew 5:4 NCV: They are blessed who grieve, for God will comfort them.
• II Corinthians 1:4 NCV: He comforts us every time we have trouble, so when others have trouble, we can comfort them with the same comfort God gives us.
• Isaiah 61:1-3 KJV: The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of JOY for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

*Conclusion: He, the Holy One, the Almighty God of the Universe who reigns forever and dwells above and among us, cares deeply about you. Let's rest in that. There is nothing more that we need to do but to admit our need for Him, let Him care for us, and lead others to His caring.

Respond

God cares. He welcomes anyone who rests in Him and walks in His ways. He knows how to restore each one of us: He provides an eternal home for the stranger and an everlasting name for the barren. He cares that His people are being misguided by leaders who act on selfish agendas. He cares that we know our end is peace. He cares for the many who get lost and welcome in idols, promising to heal them. He cares that justice prevails, that those who choose evil will never know peace.

I often worry about myself and my own interests, leaving the caring to others. Perhaps the area I fail most at this is in guiding people along ways of righteousness. I don't want to ruffle feathers, so I convince myself I can leave the caring about their righteousness to God.

I can learn to care like God. I can welcome everyone as I keep honoring God and following in His righteousness. If people pull me away, I step away because I know that my relationship, both in service and worship, to God is more important. I can consider in what way a person is broken, what separates them from God, and think about what will restore their spirit, or help them to see God's goodness. Always praying, but also thinking of ways to apply the fruits of the Spirit. I can seek justice for God's people (Isaiah 1:16-17). I can judge the Fatherless by teaching those who do not yet know Jesus about His ways. I can plead for the widow: the abandoned, lonely, underrepresented, and unnoticed - to see their value by ministering grace. I can relieve the oppressed by letting them know of the freedom found in Jesus, that everything else is bondage to sin. I can encourage others (Isaiah 35:3-4) by reminding them to "Be strong and fear not!" for God is coming back with vengeance and recompence. He is coming back to save us! I can accept that not everyone wants God's goodness and that no amount of caring on my behalf will fix that.

In Closing

Father God, what a perplexing vineyard we must be to tend! We either push others down to get to the sunlight, or hide in the thistles of sin. Thank You for showing us how to thrive: by always honoring You in what we say and do. Remind us of our purpose when we wander. Return us to Your high and lofty mountain where we are safe and loved. Train us to always seek Your rest instead of striving for what we think is best.

Learning with You,

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*Image Credit: Misty Mountains by javiercalvoparapar at Pixabay