What does this line from Isaiah mean, “…and no man layeth it to heart.”
The verse you are referring to is Isaiah 57:1, “The righteous perisheth, and NO MAN LAYETH IT TO HEART: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.”
In that day, the Hebrews expected a righteous man to live a long life. We have the promise of a long life in Exodus 20:12, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.” We read also in Proverbs 3:1-2, “My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.” Logically speaking, then, one who kept the Lord’s commandments and lived according to the Law, could expect to live a long life.
Yet, in Isaiah 57:1, it tells us that righteous sometimes perish early and “NO MAN TAKETH IT TO HEART.” This means that even though this seems contrary to God’s promise, when righteous men died, no one gave it a thought. No one pondered this event and wondered why this early death would happen to a righteous man. This verse in the CJB (Complete Jewish Bible) reads, “The righteous person perishes, and NOBODY GIVES IT A THOUGHT. Godly men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous person is taken away from the evil yet to come.”
The Lord goes on to explain that “the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.” There may be instances where the Lord intervenes to prevent some great evil or calamity that is about to come upon a righteous person. He may choose to take this person home to Glory rather than allow him to suffer some great evil in his path.
As believers on the Lord Jesus Christ, we should all be students of God’s Word. We should be aware of God’s teachings, His principles, and His manifold blessings for obedience. The Word of God should answer our questions…not cause confusion. 1 Corinthians 14:33 tells us, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” When events happen that seem to be contrary to the teachings of the Bible, we need to search the scriptures carefully and allow the Lord to give us understanding. To not “give it a thought” when events seem to be contrary reveals an uncaring and unconcerned attitude towards God’s Word. May we be faithful to “search the scriptures daily” to find the understanding we need to continue in the truth of the Bible. (CC) (645.6)