Context No. 3805 of 4322 · Isaiah

Isaiah 57:17-21: in context

17I was angry because of the iniquity of his covetousness and struck him. I hid myself and was angry; and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart. 18I have seen his ways, and will heal him. I will lead him also, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners. 19I create the fruit of the lips: Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is near,” says the LORD; “and I will heal them.” 20But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it can’t rest and its waters cast up mire and mud. 21“There is no peace”, says my God, “for the wicked.”

God speaks of a people he had to discipline, striking them for their greed and hiding his face while they kept turning away. We might expect the next word to be more judgment. Instead comes astonishing grace: I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him.

God looks on the very waywardness that grieved him, and his response is to heal, not to destroy. He creates the fruit of praising lips, declaring peace, peace, to the far and the near. The reach of this grace is striking: peace offered to those far off as well as those near, to the estranged as well as the faithful. And yet the passage ends with a sober counterpoint: there is no peace for the wicked, who are like a tossing sea that cannot rest. Peace is God's gift to those who will receive his healing, but it cannot be found by those who persist in turning from him. The wayward one whom God heals finds rest; the one who will not turn stays restless as the sea.

Will I receive the healing and peace God offers even to the wayward, rather than staying restless like the troubled sea in my turning from him?

Sources

Isaiah 57:18: "I have seen his ways, and will heal him. I will lead him also, and restore comforts to him and to his mourners."
Isaiah 57:19: "Peace, peace, to him who is far off and to him who is near, says the LORD; and I will heal them."
Isaiah 57:21: "There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked."