What does Isaiah 57:20 reveal about the nature of the wicked? Canonical Text and Immediate Context Isaiah 57:20: “But the wicked are like the tossing sea, for it cannot be still, and its waters churn up mire and muck.” Isaiah is confronting a Judah steeped in idolatry (vv. 3-13) and contrasting two groups: the contrite who receive “peace, peace” (vv. 15-19) and the wicked who experience the opposite (vv. 20-21). Verse 20 is therefore a diagnostic snapshot of the wicked heart in stark antithesis to covenant faithfulness. Metaphor of the Sea in Ancient Near Eastern Thought In Hebrew cosmology the sea (yam) symbolizes primordial chaos (Genesis 1:2), hostile powers (Psalm 89:9-10), and unrestrained evil (Job 26:12). Ugaritic epics likewise personify the sea as an adversary of order (KTU 1.2 IV 1-10). Isaiah taps that cultural background: the wicked embody chaos itself. Perpetual Restlessness The verb form suggests ceaseless motion. Scripture frequently links wickedness with unrest: “There is no peace for the wicked” (Isaiah 48:22; 57:21). Jesus echoes this in the parable of the unclean spirit seeking “rest” but finding none (Matthew 12:43). Restlessness is therefore symptomatic of alienation from God’s shalom. Psychological and Behavioral Corroboration Long-term studies of antisocial behavior (e.g., Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study) show elevated anxiety, impulsivity, and lack of life satisfaction among persistently antisocial individuals. Empirical data thus mirror the biblical portrait: the wicked “cannot be still.” Ethical Instability and Moral Volatility Just as tides shift unpredictably, the wicked oscillate between impulses. Proverbs 4:16-17 describes them as sleepless until they “make someone stumble,” underscoring active turbulence, not passive disquiet. Pollution and Contagion: ‘Mire and Muck’ The sea’s churn drags hidden filth to the surface; likewise wicked actions externalize internal corruption (Mark 7:21-23). Socially, their conduct contaminates communities (1 Corinthians 15:33). Covenantal law treated moral defilement as a spreading impurity (Numbers 19:13). Absence of Self-Purification Unlike sediment that settles in calm water, the wicked lack the repose necessary for clarification. Without repentance, their condition is self-perpetuating (Jeremiah 13:23). Contrast with the Righteous Isaiah 26:3 promises perfect peace to the mind “stayed” on God. Jesus intensifies the contrast: “Peace I leave with you” (John 14:27). The righteous resemble a “tree planted by streams of water” (Psalm 1:3), steady and fruitful, the antithesis of the pounding surf. New Testament Echoes Jude 13: “wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame.” Revelation 21:1 symbolically removes “the sea,” proclaiming the eschatological end of moral chaos. Practical Application Believers confronting societal wickedness must expect turbulence yet avoid contamination (James 1:27). The church offers a harbor of calm, proclaiming the gospel that transforms “children of wrath” into peacemakers (Ephesians 2:3-17). Summary Isaiah 57:20 portrays the wicked as inherently, incessantly restless, morally contaminating, and constitutionally incapable of self-generated peace. The imagery of the churning sea encapsulates psychological turmoil, ethical instability, and spiritual alienation. Only the redemptive work of Christ can calm this storm. |
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