Isaiah 57:11

11 Who was it you dreaded and feared, so that you lied and didn't remember Me or take it to heart? Have I not kept silent for such a long time^[a] and you do not fear Me?

Isaiah 57:11 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 57:11

And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast
lied
By assuming the name of Christian, when it did not belong to her; as it does not to the church of Rome which is antichristian: this lie is told, not out of any fear of God, or reverence of Christ; for she has no fear or reverence of either; but to serve a purpose, to blind the eyes of men under the Christian name, and, with a pretence to serve the cause of Christianity, to get all Christendom under her power: and hast not remembered me;
or, "for thou hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart?" or, "put me upon thy heart" ^F24; had no regard to Christ, nor had true faith in him, nor love to him; but all the reverse; degraded him in his offices, corrupted his doctrines, ordinances, and worship. The Targum is,

``and hast not remembered my worship, nor put my fear upon thy heart:''

and have not held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not
or, "therefore thou fearest me not" ^F25; because as yet the vials of God's wrath are not poured out, or his judgment inflicted on antichrist; but, ever since he began to reign, he has enjoyed great prosperity; therefore he fears not God, nor regards man; but says, "I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow", ( Revelation 18:7 ) .

---

FOOTNOTES:

F24 (Kbl le tmv al trkz al) "nam mei non es recordata, neque posuisti me super cor tuum", Grotius.
F25 (waryt al ytwaw) "idcirco me non times", Calvin, Piscator, Gataker.

Isaiah 57:11 In-Context

9 You went to the king with oil and multiplied your perfumes; you sent your envoys far away and sent [them] down even to Sheol.

10 You became weary on your many journeys, [but] you did not say, "I give up!" You found a renewal of your strength; therefore you did not grow weak.

11 Who was it you dreaded and feared, so that you lied and didn't remember Me or take it to heart? Have I not kept silent for such a long time and you do not fear Me?

12 I will expose your righteousness, and your works-they will not profit you.

13 When you cry out, let your collection [of idols] deliver you! The wind will carry all of them off, a breath will take them away. But whoever takes refuge in Me will inherit the land and possess My holy mountain.

Footnotes

• [a]. MT, DSS; LXX reads And I, when I see you, I pass by