Chapter 57

Verse 1a -  ¶ The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: 

Who are the righteous - those who are identified with the LORD - Those who believe - Those who believe and it is accounted to him for righteousness (Galatians 3:6; Romans 4:21-22)

Does the world care when a a righteousness person dies?

Verse 1b& 2 - merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness. See Note #1

Luke 16:19-31 - These verses contrast the fate of the righteous and unrighteous. Lazarus was one who righteousness was accounted to. He was a peace in Abraham's bosom, free from the influence of any evil that was in the world. Job seemed to know this long before Isaiah pens this book. Job 3:11-19 - Job longed for death to relieve his suffering - The teaching of peaceful life after death for those declared righteous is as old as the oldest book of the Bible (Job).

The evil - to come

The 70 years of captivity at the hands of Babylon.- Other Kingdom (Rome) - The 7 year Tribulation

Revelation 20:15

While the world does not morn the death of the righteous, the world does not realizes death only saves them from any future evil this world may contain.

Ps 32:7 ¶ Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.

Ps 89:48 What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.

John 17:15 - Jesus knew the evil was there ready to devour His Apostles.

Jeremiah 1:14-16

Jeremiah 19:15 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon this city and upon all her towns all the evil that I have pronounced against it, because they have hardened their necks, that they might not hear my words.

Jeremiah 18:8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

These verses tell of the evil those who died in The LORD's righteousness before Babylon destroyed Jerusalem were saved from and the peace they enjoyed for eternity.

We know this applies to the Jews who accept Christ today who die before the tribulation promised to His people because of the nation's unbelief. .

Verses 3-12 The LORD defines the way of the wicked - Depending upon the evil of this world instead of remembering the LORD,  Summed up as those who feared Him not. Isaiah 30:1 - refuses the offer of the covering of His spirit choosing sin upon sin.

Verses 13a - To the wicked - when you cry, cry unto that who you trust in, it will be in vain, they will be taken way and your vanity will overcome them. you should be thinking of Egypt (30:2) and the beasts of

Isaiah 56: 9-12.

Verses13b-19 - We see the LORD's heart for his people and His promise to those who believe. : The high and lofty One, called Holy wants to remove the stumblingblock, He dose not wants the contention to end, and to give them the land He promised and place them upon His Holy mountain and the mountain the wicked placed them selves upon in verse 7. (There is a big difference between man's mountain and His holy mountain). Verse 13b contains the standard of The LORD's forgiveness and restoration -  trusting in The LORD God of Israel, a contrite and humble heart. These are the righteous who have peace in daeth.

Verses 20-21 - The LORD's promise to the wicked. No peace when alive or in death. The wicked seen in verses 3-12 and the beast in 56:9-12.  There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked. See 48:22.

Remember the rich man in torments.

Note #1 - uprightness is seen in 18 verses all in the old testament. Isaiah 57:2 is the last. In 5 of the first 6 verses uprightness is tied to the heart.

De 9:5 Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
1Ki 3:6 And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. {mercy: or, bounty}
1Ki 9:4 And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:
1Ch 29:17 I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee. {present: Heb. found}
Job 33:3 My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.
Ps 119:7 ¶ I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgment

Could uprightness be the condition of the heart of those who have His rightness accounted unto them through belief?