Isaiah 57:2

"The righteous perish, and no one lays it to heart. Merciful men are taken away, and no one considers that the righteous is taken away from the evil."

Key Reflection

The righteous perish in Isaiah 57:2, a statement that would have shocked the ancient Israelites due to their belief in God's justice and protection of the virtuous. For them, such an event seemed incongruous, as the righteous were expected to be preserved. The verse highlights how even the merciful are taken away suddenly, challenging the audience's understanding of divine providence and warning that no one fully grasps the reasons behind these tragedies, whether it is because of the wickedness of others or the mysterious ways of God. This conveys a profound sense of uncertainty and the unpredictability of fate in the face of moral and ethical confusion.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

He shall enter into peace -Lowth, ‘He shall go in peace.’ So the margin. Vulgate, ‘Peace shall come.’ Septuagint, ‘His sepulture (ἡ ταφὴ αὐτοῦhētaphēautou) shall be in peace.’ The idea is, that by his death the righteous man shall enter into rest. He shall get away from conflict, strife, agitation, and distress. This may either refer to the peaceful rest of the grave, or to that which awaits the just in a better world. The direct meaning here intended is probably the former, since the grave is often spoken of as a place of rest. Thus JobJob 3:17, speaking of the grave, says: There the wicked cease from troubling; And there the weary be at rest.

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