Isaiah 65 - Two Categories of People

This is a relatively long chapter, with much of it describing the differences between the wicked and the godly. One main point the first part brings to us is that God has wrath for the wicked which cannot be escaped; many who are wicked are, as then, people who claim to be His people. Let those who have ears, hear what the Spirit says.

 

Isaiah 65:1-4 (HCSB) “I was sought by those who did not ask; I was found by those who did not seek Me. I said: Here I am, here I am, to a nation that was not called by My name. I spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people who walk in the wrong path, following their own thoughts. These people continually provoke Me to My face, sacrificing in gardens, burning incense on bricks, sitting among the graves, spending nights in secret places, eating the meat of pigs, and putting polluted broth in their bowls."

 

This chapter opens up with YHWH declaring that someone other than His covenant people had been called to Himself and found Him - though they were not looking for Him, did not ask for Him. In contrast, His covenant people, to whom He was known, rebel and follow the wrong path, their own wisdom. This provokes the Lord, as does their pagan religious practice. Their law said don't speak with the dead, don't eat pork - and they did these things and much more. Law against sin provokes sin. This is why those who say the Decalogue is the rule for the saints or for society miss the mark. Laws against things give the state the authority to punish evil doers, but they do not give the members of society the ability to obey them. These laws can only provoke sin - which is what Paul wrote in Romans 5:20, the law came in to INCREASE the transgressions! This to refute the Jews who had grown to believe they could obey the law and merit God's favor.

 

Isaiah 65:5-7 (HCSB) "They say, ‘Keep to yourself, don’t come near me, for I am too holy for you!’ These practices are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all day long. It is written before Me: I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will repay them fully ⌊for⌋ your iniquities and the iniquities of your fathers together,” says the LORD. “Because they burned incense on the mountains and reproached Me on the hills, I will reward them fully for their former deeds.”

 

Self-righteous people of all stripes believe they are good and do not want anyone to confront them. This is a stench in the nose of the One Who created them and gives them breath. These people think that because judgment is delayed that either God is asleep or that they have escaped His notice or that He doesn't judge anyone. But there is coming a day - Isaiah has revealed this time and time again in this gospel vision. On that day, all who are not in Christ will suffer His wrath - each will be rewarded FULLY for their sinful deeds.

 

Isaiah 65:8-12 (HCSB) The LORD says this: As the new wine is found in a bunch of grapes, and one says, ‘Don’t destroy it, for there’s some good in it,’ so I will act because of My servants and not destroy them all. I will produce descendants from Jacob, and heirs to My mountains from Judah; My chosen ones will possess it, and My servants will dwell there. Sharon will be a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a place for cattle to lie down, for My people who have sought Me. But you who abandon the LORD, who forget My holy mountain, who prepare a table for Fortune and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny, I will destine you for the sword, and all of you will kneel down to be slaughtered, because I called and you did not answer, I spoke and you did not hear; you did what was evil in My sight and chose what I did not delight in.

 

Using something familiar to the agrarian community, YHWH tells them that there are a few of His people in that community, servants of His - such as Isaiah. Perhaps Peter was thinking of this when he said, "The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). In both places, the elect are the object of His mercy - God does not wait for those how hate Him to change their minds and come to Him. It's abundantly clear throughout the Scriptures what Jesus said "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent me draws him."  From Jacob - called Israel - God will deliver children that are His; and it's these chosen ones who will dwell with Him in places Isaiah describes in terms that would delight those who made their living off the land but have deeper meaning for those who know Him spiritually.

Those who abandon YHWH and live for their best life now are heaping up wrath for the day of judgment, destined for the sword because they did not have ears to hear. They are evil in His sight - the only visage that matters - and they will be slaughtered eternally.

Isaiah 65:13-16 (HCSB) Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says: My servants will eat, but you will be hungry; My servants will drink, but you will be thirsty; My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame. My servants will shout for joy from a glad heart, but you will cry out from an anguished heart, and you will lament out of a broken spirit. You will leave your name behind as a curse for My chosen ones, and the Lord GOD will kill you; but He will give His servants another name. Whoever is blessed in the land will be blessed by the God of truth, and whoever swears in the land will swear by the God of truth. For the former troubles will be forgotten and hidden from My sight.

The Word of God is that His people will be well cared for but the wicked will be ever hungry and ever thirsty. These terms brought up memories in their ranks of the promised land - the land of milk and honey God promised His people; they thought that was the end-game; but this description means something heavenly to those with eyes to see it.

 

Note this back and forth contrast between those who are called His people and those who are not His people. It carries through the Scriptures and Isaiah's gospel. The wrath poured out on the wicked is dire - they will cry out from a broken spirit and be put to death by God for their concern is for self. Let those who think God is nothing BUT love read that passage over again, slowly. God loves His people, His spiritual people; He has NO LOVE for those not in Christ. Yet for all who trust in Jesus, believe on Him and His finished work - God will put their deeds out of His sight and mind. This is blessedness by the God of truth! Every other message is from the god of lies.

 

The final section in this chapter is rightly titled in HCSB as A New Creation! Smart theologians say chapters 65and 66 form a chiasm, with verse 65:20 in the middle - helpful for proper understanding of the message. Look up chiasm if you are not familiar with the term. Knowing this is not critical but is helpful. I frankly don't see a chiasm as large as two chapters. I can see another literary feature we see in this next section, however: the basic building block of Hebrew poetry - the couplet.

 

Isaiah 65:17-20 (HCSB) “For I will create a new heaven and a new earth; the past events will not be remembered or come to mind. Then be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating; for I will create Jerusalem to be a joy and its people to be a delight. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in My people. The sound of weeping and crying will no longer be heard in her. In her, a nursing infant will no longer live only a few days, or an old man not live out his days. Indeed, the youth will die at a hundred years, and the one who misses a hundred years will be cursed."

These four verses are said to be two poems, with the first part being YHWH describing and rejoicing over His new creation and the second part Him describing what life thereon will be like for those who are His people. When we consider what the rest of relevant Scripture says about the New Jerusalem, streets of clear gold, pearls as big as large door, walls 200 feet think and 1,400 miles long! This is John's description from Rev 21, alluding to Ezekiel's vision of this city in Ezek 40-41. It is beyond description in human language. The life in that city as described by John is pure bliss - no more sorrow, sin, pain, or death! Isaiah described this in words he and his kinsmen could comprehend. The present cursed age is full of sorrow, sin, pain, and death. Isaiah said life in the New Jerusalem would be empty of weeping and full of long life. The one who dies young is cursed - yet this is life in the New Jerusalem and death is not known, so no one CAN BE cursed. This colorful, poetic language is not meant to taken literally; but are meant to paint a picture of what God has in store for His people.

 

Another thing to think on: In verse 17 God declares He will create a new heaven and new earth and a new Jerusalem. When He redeems His people He gives them a new name (Rev 2:17) as He makes ALL THINGS NEW! (Rev 21:5)

 

Isaiah 65:21-22 (HCSB) People will build houses and live ⌊in them⌋; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They will not build and others live ⌊in them⌋; they will not plant and others eat. For My people’s lives will be like the lifetime of a tree. My chosen ones will fully enjoy the work of their hands.

Note the first two sentences above - a couplet that repeats the idea that their work will be rewarded and not taken from them. People will build houses and live in them; they will not build and have others live in them. They will plant and eat; they will not plant for other to eat. And the reason for this goodness is that they are God's people and He insures their needs are taken care and their good works are rewarded. Another reference to long life (the man in Psalm 1 - like a tree planted next to a river) and enjoyment in the work YHWH provides. Work now isn't always enjoyable, even though every honest job is a gift from God. In the age to come, all work will be honorable and enjoyable.

 

Isaiah 65:23-25 (HCSB) "They will not labor without success or bear children ⌊destined⌋ for disaster, for they will be a people blessed by the LORD along with their descendants. Even before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but the serpent’s food will be dust! They will not do what is evil or destroy on My entire holy mountain,” says the LORD.

 

Another aspect of life in New Jerusalem - all labor will be successful. Though we have no giving in marriage and, therefore, no child-bearing there, this is simply another metaphor for life without the sorrow and pain of this life. This will be on account of YHWH blessing all His people and being attentive to them - before we call, He hears. Unlike in this age, wherein it took 21 days for Michael to get back to Daniel. The wild animals will be at peace as well - but no rest or peace for the serpent! Nothing and no one that does evil with be allowed on the holy mountain of God, where His New Jerusalem resides.

 

Saints - here this: We have peace with God through faith in Christ Jesus. No other way. His way, His name, His grace - is the only way. This is the gospel and it's all we have for those who are perishing. Be faithful with His gospel and trust Him to redeem every lost sheep.