By Eugene Garner

ISAIAH - CHAPTER 65

DIVINE RESPONSE TO ISRAEL'S SUPPLICATION

   I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day. Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom, Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.

    1. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul has applied verse 1 TO GENTILES who were willing to yield themselves, in faith, to the lordship of Jesus Christ, (Rom. 9:30; 10:19-20; Eph. 2:12; comp. Deut. 32:21).
      a. Isaiah has already shown God's willingness to save "unto the ends of the earth" - not Jews only, but Gentiles also, (45:22).
      b. The Lord offers a ready welcome to all who are willing to walk in faith-obedience before Him - even though they have not, henceforth, been called by His name, (Hos. 1:10; comp. Jn. 12:20-25).
      c. The grafting of Gentile saints into the stock of Israel adequately solves the enigma, arising so often in the Scriptures, of Israel's simultaneous loss and gain.
    2. By way of contrast, with the faith-obedience manifested by the Gentiles, Isaiah depicts the obstinate unfaithfulness of the elect nation; throughout the age-long day, God has spread out His beckoning hands to a stubborn and rebellious people who insisted on walking in their own way, (vs. 2-5a; Rom. 10:21; Isa. 1:2-4; 30:1, 9; 59:7; Psa. 81:11-16).
      a. Their national life was characterized by gross idolatry through which they constantly provoked the Lord to His face, (vs. 3-4; 3:8; comp. 1:29; 66:3, 17).
      b. Yet, in their bigoted blindness, they adjudged themselves more holy than others - refusing to associate with them, (vs. 5a; comp. Matt. 9:10-13; Luke 7:39-47; 18:9-14).
    3. The ultimate rejection of Israel was not brought about by the sins of a single generation; it was accumulative, (vs. 5b-7); from ancient times they had burned incense (to false gods) upon the mountains and defied the Lord upon the hills - a fact which demonstrates the justice of His judgment, (Prov. 16:5; Isa. 42:14; Psa. 50:3, 21; Jer. 16:18; Isa. 22:14; 30:12-14; 57:7; Ezek. 20:27-28; Jer. 5:29; 13:24-27).

   Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all. And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.
   But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number. Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.

    1. Within the nation that has forfeited its right to covenant-fellowship with God, there is still a holy remnant through whom the promises of God will be faithfully fulfilled, (vs. 8-10).
      a. God will not destroy the nation because of the holy remnant, (vs. 8; 1:9; 10:21-22; 48:9; Amos 9:8-9).
      b. From Jacob, through the tribe of Judah, God will bring forth a true offspring, an "Inheritor" of His mountains - the Christ (vs. 9a; Ex. 15:17; Psa. 2:8; Heb. 1:2; Dan. 7:13-14; Rev. 11:15-18; Isa. 65:9; 63:17; Zech. 2:12; Luke 1:32-33); since election is FOR SERVICE, His true servants (elect through identification with Christ - Eph. 1:4; II Thess. 2:13) will share the blessedness and greatness of His kingdom, (vs. 9b; Matt. 25:31-40).
      c. The blessings awaiting those who truly seek the Lord are illustrated by the rich fertility of Sharon, and the valley of Achor which Hosea declares that God will give as a "door of hope", (vs. 10; Hos. 2:15).
        1) At Achor the people of Israel humbled themselves to repudiate the sin of Achan and execute judgment as God required, (Josh. 7).
        2) And there is hope for all who will humble themselves in the sight of God and reverently walk in the way of truth, (Psa. 33:18; 39:7).
    2. Yet, those who have forsaken the Lord will bear the burden of their sins, (vs. 11-12; 1:4, 18; Jer. 2:12-13; Deut. 29:24-25).
      a. Not only have they failed to "Seek first" the kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33), they have utterly IGNORED IT (comp. 2:2-3) - spreading a table for one idol, and providing an abundance of mixed wine for another, (vs. 11).
      b. The rebellious and negligent are, thus, destined for sword and slaughter, (vs. 12a; 66:16).
      c. They refused to answer God's call, or to obey His commandment, (vs. 12b; 50:2; 66:4; II Chron. 36:15-16; comp. Prov. 1:24-33).
      d. By deliberate choice they aroused God's displeasure - doing that which was evil in His eyes, (vs. 12c).

   Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit. And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name: That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.

    1. The Lord's true servants will be adequately supplied with food and drink (1:19; Psa. 34:10; Isa. 41:17-18; 49:10; comp. Jn. 6:32-35; 7:37-39), while the wicked and rebellious will hunger and thirst, (comp. 8:21; 5:13).
    2. While the faithful sing for joy of heart (61:7; 66:14; 51:11; Psa. 66:1-4), the rebellious idolaters will be reduced to shame (42:17; 44:9, 11; 66:5) - crying for sorrow of heart, and wailing for vexation of spirit, (Matt. 8:12).
    3. Since Israel has acted as an adulteress, her name will become a curse - referring to the oath with which the priest had to administer the water of jealousy (Num. 5:21-24; comp. Jer. 24:9; 25:15-18; Zech. 8:13).
    4. Henceforth, the Lord will call His servants by another name (62:2; I Pet. 2:9-10), so that whoever blesses himself, or takes an oath, will do so by "the God of Amen" - the God who is faithful to His word, and who always fulfills His covenant.
    5. The former troubles will then be forgotten - being hidden, forever, from the Lord's eyes, (22:5; 26:16; Jer. 31:12; Zeph. 3:14-20).

    For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

    1. Linked with the restoration of the Davidic Kingdom (under Messiah, the King) are some astounding events, leading to such blessedness and glory as are unequalled in the history of the world - resurrection (Dan. 12:2; Isa. 25:8), and a new creation (65:17; 66:22).
    2. Again, it should be understood that "the heavens" and "the earth" are often used symbolically in the prophetic word.
      a. "Heaven" is sometimes used figuratively of "honor, station, authority, majesty, power and political or civil supremacy", (see (Isa. 13:10-13; Jer. 4:23-25; Ezek. 32:7; Isa. 34:4-5; Joel 2:10; Isa. 14:12-15).
      b. "Earth", when used figuratively, denotes the masses by which the political authorities are upheld, (Rev. 12:16; Gen. 6:11; etc.).
      c. The "newness" involved is NOT that of something ENTIRELY DIFFERENT, but involves a "renewing or restoring", (comp. I Sam. 11:14; Isa. 61:4; Psa. 103:5; II Chron. 15:8; 24:4).
      d. So remarkably delightful and satisfying will be the "new order" that remembrance of former troubles will completely fade from the minds of God's elect, (43:18-19; Jer. 3:16-18).
    3. Joy and gladness will characterize the City of God - where He dwells in the midst of His people (vs. 18; 12:1-2; 51:3, 11; 61:10); the voice of weeping will never again be heard therein, (vs. 19b; 25:8-9; 30:19; 36:10; comp. Rev. 7:17; 21:4).
    4. The Lord Himself is pictured as being satisfied with, and rejoicing in, His people, (vs. 19a; 62:4-5; Jer. 32:41; comp. Deut. 30:9-10).
    5. Though sin and death are not yet fully abolished, they are seen (during the millennial era) as being under divine restraint - Satan being bound, and the life-span of man greatly increased, (vs. 20).
      a. There will be no more dying in infancy.
      b. Only because he rejects the provision made for his cleansing, will the sinner be cut off (accursed) at the end of 100 years.
    6. Their fields no longer plundered by the enemy, God's elect people will long enjoy the fruit of their labors, and will wear out the work of their hands, (vs. 21-23).
      a. They are the "seed of the blessed of Jehovah", (61:9; Jer. 32:38-39; Acts 2:39).
      b. Their offspring will be with them - to share the riches of His grace.
      c. Their longevity will be "as the days of a tree", (vs. 22c; Psalm 92:12-14).
    7. Every desire of God's people will be anticipated and supplied - without their having to ask (vs. 24); their hearts will be in perfect harmony with God's will.
    8. So marvellous will be the renewal, and the restoration of divine order, that all animosities will cease; every harmful influence will be banished, (vs. 25; comp. 11:6-9).