No Peace for the Wicked – Isaiah 48:22

Isaiah 48:22 (NIV)

“There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”

Isaiah 48:22 (MSG)

“There is no peace,” says God, “for the wicked.”

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“There is no peace for the wicked,” says the Lord.” -AMPLIFIED

“Before returning to their homeland, the people are reminded of the sins that led the nation into captivity. They must not repeat former errors. The people’s chief failing was that they honored God with their words but not with their conduct.” ~Donald Flemming

Yahweh has been speaking to Israel, reminding them that He has taken care of them in the past, and He will continue to do so in the future. In yesterday’s text we found God reminding Israel of how He provided water for them in the desert lands:

“The people weren’t thirsty when he led them through barren, desolate deserts,
    for he broke open the rock for water to flow for them. The rock was split open, and rivers gushed out!” -Isaiah 48:21 (The Passion Translation)

Today’s text is the last verse of chapter 48. It is a short verse, but it is another reminder to Israel, that is full of truth. This is the point that God is trying to drive home in the hearts of the people of Israel.

“These words relate to those Jews who, being obstinately devoted to idolatry, and having settled down in Babylon, chose to remain there rather than to return to their native country and the religious worship of Jehovah. He declares, therefore, that such persons shall not have the happiness that is promised to those who shall return to their native habitations.” ~Rosenmuller

“Eternal One: Ah, but the malicious and wicked will never be at peace.” -(VOICE)

Once again, we need to understand that God is speaking these words. It is clearly identified as a Message from Him in every translation. And so, we must accept this passage as accurate and truth.

By putting this verse in context, with the verses that surround it, we glean that God is warning Israel once again. If they refused to listen and obey, they will find no peace, or worse, no salvation. By obeying, they will experience His divine blessing.

In the New Testament, we find James summing this idea up for those in the church. He said:

“So if you know the right way to live and ignore it, it is sin—plain and simple.” -James 4:17 (VOICE)

“But there is no peace, says the Lord, for the wicked.” -(TLB)

“The wonderful promise just summarized was no guarantee that Israel would enjoy God’s richest blessing if she continued to practice wickedness. The wicked Babylonians would not enjoy His shalom, and neither would they.” ~Thomas Constable

We all have choices, every day. Choices that involve doing things God’s way, or insisting on doing things our own way. When making these choices we need to remember something that Jesus told His followers:

“Every servant who knows what pleases his master yet does not make himself ready and refuses to put his master’s will to action will receive many punishing blows. Every servant who does not know his master’s will and unwittingly does what is wrong will receive a less severe punishment. For those who have received a greater revelation from their master are required a greater obedience. And those who have been entrusted with great responsibility will be held more responsible to their master.” -Luke 12:47-48 (The Passion Translation)

Let us heed this warning that Peter wrote in his second epistle:

“And when a person has escaped from the wicked ways of the world by learning about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and then gets tangled up with sin and becomes its slave again, he is worse off than he was before. It would be better if he had never known about Christ at all than to learn of him and then afterwards turn his back on the holy commandments that were given to him. There is an old saying that “A dog comes back to what he has vomited, and a pig is washed only to come back and wallow in the mud again.” That is the way it is with those who turn again to their sin.” -2 Peter 2:20-22 (TLB)

We would be wise to pay heed a warning that Isaiah has already addressed earlier in the book, in chapter 5. There we find him warning Israel about their failure to do the right things, even though they knew what God’s expectations were. Isaiah writes:

“O how terrible for those who drag their guilt around, worthlessness and wrongdoing in tow—
They sneer, “Well, where is He? Let Him be quick about it! Let’s see this business of the Holy One of Israel;
Let’s see what He has in store so we can know what it is.” O how terrible for those who confuse good with evil, right with wrong, light with dark, sweet with bitter.
O how terrible for those who think they’re so wise, who consider themselves so clever.
O how terrible for those heroes who can outdrink anyone, those champions who take pride in mixing drinks, Those judges who set the guilty free in exchange for “a little something,”
    all the while denying the innocent what they deserve!
Therefore, as fire eats up the stubble and dry grass is engulfed by flames,
    so it will be for everything they count on for the future—
Their roots will rot, their flowers will wither and fly away like dust,
    for they refused to accept the law of the Eternal, the Commander of heavenly armies;
They derided and disparaged the word of the Holy One of Israel.” -Isaiah 5:18-24 (VOICE)

Let us remember this passage from Hebrews and the Message and warning it contains:

“For if we go on willfully and deliberately sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice [to atone] for our sins [that is, no further offering to anticipate], but a kind of awful and terrifying expectation of [divine] judgment and the fury of a fire and burning wrath which will consume the adversaries [those who put themselves in opposition to God]. Anyone who has ignored and set aside the Law of Moses is put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much greater punishment do you think he will deserve who has rejected and trampled under foot the Son of God, and has considered unclean and common the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and has insulted the Spirit of grace [who imparts the unmerited favor and blessing of God]?  For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine [retribution and the deliverance of justice rest with Me], I will repay [the wrongdoer].” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a fearful and terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God [incurring His judgment and wrath].” -Hebrews 10:26-31 (AMP)

“There is no peace,” says the LORD, “for the wicked”: Hand in hand with praise for the greatness of the LORD is a contrast – the destined misery for the wicked.” ~David Guzik

My friend, for the one who knows what is right, and refuses to do it, there will be no peace. Let us repent of and put away all sin. We have been called to be holy, just as our Lord is holy. Every choice you make, consider it carefully. Do what is right and bring glory to God.

“You do not really care for God’s mercy or His comfort either, so long as you live in any sin. And it is well that you do not; for you can have neither. Your peace will be like a river, when you put away your sin; but not one word of true peace, not one drop of true comfort, can you have till then. ~ Alexander Whyte

My Prayer:

Adonai–Tzva’ot, God Almighty, I ask that you lead me in your pathways of righteousness. When I am faced with temptation, give me the fortitude to yell a loud “no”, and to turn away from sin. I am not willing to forfeit your peace and my eternal hope for temporary pleasure. Help me to remember, Lord, that this life is just a vapor in the wind, compared to an eternity with you. Help me to keep my priorities in the proper order. Thank you, Lord.