Why is peace absent for the wicked, according to Isaiah 57:21? “‘There is no peace,’ says my God, ‘for the wicked.’” Setting the Scene • Verses 20–21 picture the wicked as a restless sea, churning up “mire and mud.” • Peace (Hebrew shalom) means wholeness, well-being, harmony with God and others (cf. Numbers 6:24-26). • God Himself declares the verdict; this is not opinion but divine assessment. Why Peace Is Absent • Broken fellowship with God – Sin creates separation: “Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God” (Isaiah 59:2). – Until sin is removed, shalom cannot flow. • Unrepentant hearts – The chapter rebukes idolatry and stubbornness (Isaiah 57:3-13). – Peace is promised only to those who “take refuge in Me” (v. 13). • Turmoil of an accusing conscience – “The wicked flee when no one pursues” (Proverbs 28:1). – Internal guilt robs rest, producing constant agitation. • Divine judgment already at work – “There will be wrath and distress for every human being who does evil” (Romans 2:8-9). – Absence of peace is both a present consequence and a foretaste of final judgment. • Bondage to sinful desires – “They cannot rest” (Isaiah 57:20); cravings drive them like ceaseless waves. – Lust, greed, and pride promise satisfaction but deliver emptiness (Ephesians 4:17-19). The Contrast: Peace for the Righteous • “You will keep in perfect peace the mind that is steadfast, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3). • Jesus offers His own peace: “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you” (John 14:27). • Justification by faith brings “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1). Key Takeaways • Peace is inseparable from a right relationship with God. • Wickedness—unrepented sin—creates inner and outer turmoil. • God lovingly warns so that the wicked might turn and receive His peace (Isaiah 57:15). • Lasting shalom is found only in repentance and faith in Christ, who reconciles us to God (Colossians 1:19-20). |
    |