ISAIAH 48:22

 Q: This verse says, “There is no peace for the wicked.” What does that mean? It doesn't seem to fit the context indicated by the title “Redemption for the Righteous” given in The Daily Bible. Also, is it related to the common saying “There is no rest for the weary”?

At first glance, this verse seems to be repeating the common Old Testament belief that the wicked will be punished by God for their behavior while they are still on earth. This idea appears often in the Book of Proverbs in sayings such as “The wicked flee when no one pursues.” (28:1); “One who is hard-hearted will fall into calamity (28:14); “Whoever digs a pit will fall into it.” (26:27), etc. These proverbs may express a general truth that often happens, but Job, for example, denies that such automatic retribution occurs by asking in Job 21:7, “Why do the wicked live on, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?”

The quandary that Job expressed is, of course, explained by the concept of eternal judgment, which is common in the New Testament but is rarely seen in Old Testament writings. This passage in Isaiah is probably one of those rare cases. Many scholars divide the book into what are called First Isaiah and Second Isaiah on the basis of different emphases and styles of writing. (This does not necessarily mean that different authors were responsible for the two parts.) Second Isaiah consists of chapters 40-66, and is itself composed of three sections (40-48, 49-57, and 58-66). Each of these three concludes in a similar refrain:

    “There is no peace, says the LORD, for the wicked.” (48:22)

    “There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.” (57:21)

    “They shall go out and look at the dead bodies of the people who have rebelled against me; for their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.” (66:24)

The parallelism of these three statements makes it clear that Isaiah is referring in 48:22 to eternal punishment of the wicked since Isaiah 66:24 is alluded to in the New Testament as a description of eternal damnation. The fact that 48:22 does not seem to fit its context is understood by the fact that its proper function is to close out the whole of chapters 40-48, not just its immediately preceding verses.

The phrase “no rest for the weary” is often taken to be a direct quote from the Bible but actually only appeared in print about the year 1900. According to Internet sources, today in Great Britain the more accurate quotation is used ) while we in the U.S. prefer “There is no rest for the weary.” I guess we like to complain (or brag) about our hard work more than they do and not worry as much as the Brits as to how wicked we are.