Isaiah 65

Isaiah 65:1-7

This prophecy looks forward to gospel times, and, as some think, is the latter days of it, when Jesus, as used as Gentiles, should come in, and the new barren and earth appear, wherever ye therefore should dwell. We have, 1. The prevausing of the Gentiles with the gospel call, ver. 1. 2. The rejection of the Jesus for their infirmity and unbelief, ver. 2—7. 3. The saving of a remnant of them, ver. 8—10. 4. The judgments of God that should perish the rejected Jesus, ver. 11—16. 5. The blessings referred for the Christian church, which should be its joy and glory, ver. 17—25.

1. I AM sought of them that afked not for me: I am found of them that sought me not: 1. God, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. 2. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which wished to a very that war not good, after their own thoughts: 3. A people that provoked me to anger continually to my face, that is, concern in gardens, and burneth incense upon them of brick: 4. Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat (wines, diets, and) broch of abominable things is in their vessels: 5. 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. 6. Behold, ‘it is written before me, I will not keep silence, but I will recompense, even recompense into their bosom. 7. Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together (faith the LORD) which have burnt incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.

The application of these words to the constitution of the Gentiles, and the rejection of the Jews, is fixed by an infallible expositor, Rom. x. 20, 21.

1. The Gentiles, by divine grace and mercy, are brought into the church; and this not only when they had no defect, but no desire after God. He fought them first, sailing to them to behold him, his Son, his gospel, when they had no thoughts about his salvation, nor blood, as the Jews, in any near relation to him as a people; but they seem not disobedient to this heavenly vision: when he called, they answered; when he done them, they fought him early, ADS xiii. 4—48. Note, (1.) If God did not first look us, we should never have had him after him. (2.) When he is graciously manifesting the sinful misery

under Chaff. mercy to us, it becomes us to seek him earnestly in all his appointed ways.

2. The Jews for their impenitence and rebellion are rejected by him. With long patience God bore with them; by a variety of means and methods he had fought to reclaim them; after sending all his prophets, he left of all sent his Son; yet vain was every attempt of Christ and his apostles, inviting them by every endearing plea to turn from the evil of their ways; they obstinately perished in their own inventions, seeking to establish a legal righteousness, and riveted in their pride and prejudices to the ceremonial institutions, rejected the counsel of God against themselves, v. 2. Their fathers sin had been grish and impious idolatry, forsaking God for stocks and stones, and leaving his temple and altar for groves and altars of their own readings, where they burnt insects, and offered farmless to their idols; and this openly without a blush, as if wilfully designing to provoke God to his feet, by their daring impiety, and contempt of his service, v. 3. Addicted to necromancy, and among the graves and monuments constituting the dead, or the evil spirits that were supposed to haunt those melancholy abodes; paying no regard to the distinctions of clean and unclean ordained by the law, but eating swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things, v. 4. Now these iniquities of their fathers, which measure they filled up, God would visit upon them; for though the Jews of our Saviour’s day were cured of their idolaters, yet their pride and hypocrisy were yet more destabilize; which say, Stand by thyself, none not near to me, for I am better than thou; so high in their own conceits, and so holy, that they looked down with contempt on others, and thought deftment was contracted even by their touch. These are a fumb in my nose, offensive and loathsome; a fire that burneth all the day; a continual provocation, against which his indignation and wrath burned like fire. For these abominations God will plead with them, and with just judgment reconcepted them for their iniquities; and all the former sins should come into the dreadful account, and be required of the men of that generations, Luke ii. 51. Note, (1.) Sooner or later God will visit for sin, and woe to the soul on whom the vengeance due to it shall be laid! (2.) Nothing is in God’s fight more odious, than a sinner wanting his own holiness, and proudly looking down with contempt on others. (3.) Though vengeance may be long delayed, it will surely come at last, when the measure of the sinner’s iniquity is full.

3. ¶ Thus faith the LORD, “As the new wine is found in the clutter, and one faith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants sakes, that I may not destroy them all. 9. 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. 10. And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achur a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have fought me.

Isaiah 65:8-10

Though the generality of the Jewish people were rejected for their unbelief and rebellion, there was yet a remnant saved, according to the election of grace.

1. This is represented by a clutter of grapes, hanging on a blighted vine, which the drafter of the vineyard, seeing it in general withered, is ready to cut down; but the master sakes his hand for the sake of that one clutter, and because it shows also there is still life, and the tree may again revive. Defting it not, for a blessing is in it. Note, (1.) The faithful are few, as one clutter of grapes upon a vine; yet for their sakes God spares the land. (2.) Wherever the truth of grace is found, though but in the weakest measure, the shall shall not perish.

2. God promises, not only for his servants sakes, not to destroy them all, but to bring a god out of Jacob and Judah, to inherit his holy mountain, the church, and his elect servants shall dwell there, viz. 9. enjoying all the ordinances, and enriched with all spiritual gifts and graces, as the flocks and herds that fed in the green pastures of Sharon and Achur; which was fulfilled in the multitude of those Jewish converts called by the preaching of the apostles, who were also themselves all of the flock of Judah, and by whose labours the spiritual seed of Jacob throughout the world was so exceedingly increased. Note, (1.) The elect of God are known by their encroftheid in seeking God, and their fidelity in serving him. (2.) None ever fought God in truth, but found him their exceeding great reward.

Or God. Or Man. § Prov. i. 14. Re. 6. Jer. vii. 15.

11. ¶ But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that group, and that furnish the drink-offering unto that number. 12. Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall bow down to the slaughter: ‘become when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, Vol. II.

ye did not hear, but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not. 13. Therefore thus faith 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! 14. Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for a vexation of spirit. 15. And ye shall leave your name for a curle unto my choft: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name: 16. That he who bleffeth himself in the earth, shall birth 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.

Before Chaff. 16. Pl. xxxi. 19. 10. Prov. xiiiv. § Or heath- 16. 6. John ii. 14. or Acts ii. 47. Pl. lxxii. 17. Jer. ix. Overt. vi. 15. Pl. lxxii. 17. Chasper. 15. &c. 17. 1. Chap. ii. 5. Heb. Acts. Rev. 18. 14.

Isaiah 65:11-16

The body of the Jewish people perished in their impiety and infidelity: to them these words are addressed.

1. They are upbraided with their sins.

[1.] Apostles from God and his service. Ye are they that forsake the Lord, that forget my holy mountain; they rejected his government, and neglected his worship. Note, They who forsake the Lord, forsake their own mercies.

[2.] Idolatry. That prepare a table for that group, and that furnish the drink-offering unto that number; these idols do multiplied, and yet do liberally supplied with offerings, which God’s altar was utterly neglected. Some suppose the words God and Most, rendered by troop and number, to be the names of their idols, and to signify the sun and moon. Note, Men to gratify their lusts grudge no expence, and shall we then be neggards in the service of the Lord!

[3.] Obstinate impenitence. The former more properly were their fathers sins, though to be visited upon them; this the especial guilt of the Jews in our Saviour’s day. When I called, ye did not answer; when I spoke, ye did not hear: nay, though he became incarnate in his own glorious person, to preach and teach the way of life, they rejected his words and warnings, contradicting and blaspheming; but did evil before mine eyes, following determinedly the imaginations of their own evil hearts, and adding to all the rest that daring consummation of their evil, the crucifying the Lord of life and glory; and also those that wherein I delighted not, the traditions of the elders, and those false gladness which destroyed the spirit of God’s word; and shewed that pride, hypocrisy, and enmity against the gospel, which were so peculiarly provoking to him.

2. Their punishment is denounced. I will number you to the sword, and ye shall bow down to the slaughter; and dreadful was the massacre which the Roman soldiers made of them. Note, (1.) When the sword devours, the number is fixed for the slaughter, and every bullet has its billet. (2.) When God fights against the sinner, resistance is vain, for he will overcome.

3. The blessedness of God’s people, as contrasted with their misery, will aggravate their doom. Note, It will be an additional torment to the miseries of the damned, to see the righteous in the kingdom of God, and themselves call out. This is inshaped in three particulars.

[1.] The one shall be consumed with famine and want, the other enjoy plenty and affluence, v. 15, which was literally the case, when the Christians, before the siege of Jerusalem, removed to Palis; whilst the Jews, who were besieged, sterily perished by famine. And also spiritually, those who reject Christ and his gospel, and seek to kill themselves with the comforts of earth, will ever be unfaithful here, and in hell want a drop of water to assuage their raging thirst; whilst his people, who feed upon him in his premises, feed the hidden means, sweet and nourishing to their soul, and drink of those consolations which are better than wine; and these but foretakes of the provision God hath made for them in the eternal world, where they shall hunger no more, nor thirst any more, the most boundless desires of their souls being satisfied in the fruition of God.

[2.] God’s servants shall rejoice and sing, when his enemies are ashamed, and with anguish cry out in their pangs. The paths of heavenly wisdom are full of present peace and joy; the paths of sin all lead to shame and misery. And how much greater still will the difference appear, when these shall be rejoicing in glory, and joining the songs of angels, whilst the sinner is covered with overlasting confusion, and gnawing his tongue for pain, in those eternal moments, where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

[3.] The one shall be detested and infamous, the other honourable and distinguished, v. 15. Hence the very name of Jesus is become execrable; they are stigmatized for knavery and contempted; but God’s people have a new and honourable name, Christian, or Zephaniah and Hamish, unknowing the Lord’s love and delight in them. That he who bleffeth himself in the earth, who looks for God’s blessing, or thankfully acknowledges the mer-

B b 98. Before Christ and

cites removed from him, shall bless himself in the God of truth, as the faithful servants of God ever do, esteeming God as their great-punition, and expecting from him all their mercies: or, shall bless themselves in God, Amen; in Jesus Christ, who is the Amen, the faithful and true witness, Rev. iii. 14. And he also forwards in the earth, which is an act of religious worship, shall forever by the God of truth; to whom alone the Saviour appeal ought to be made; because the former troubles are forgotten; they are bad from my eyes; either the idolatry and superstition of the Gentile world, which were a grief to God’s people, but now are destroyed; or the carnal ordinances, which were a heavy poke, and were by Christ’s sacrifice abolished; and this sense seems best to suit the following words.

17. ¶ For behold, I create ’ new heavens, and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18. But be you glad and rejoice for ever as that which I create: for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy, 19. 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. 20. There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man ’ that hath not killed his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old, but ’ the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. 21. And ’ they shall build houses and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. 22. 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. 23. 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. 24. And it shall come to pass, that ’ before they call, I will answer, and whiles they are yet speaking, I will hear. 25. ’ 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.

Isaiah 65:17-25

We see here,

1. A new creation rise at God’s command, new heavens expanded, a new earth framed, and these so glorious, that they obliterate the remembrance of the former; which some refer to the gospel day, when such a wondrous change should be wrought in the hearts of men, that it should be said, Old things are past away; behold, all things are known now, 2 Cor. v. 17. Others suppose this will be literally fulfilled after the defecation of all things, and that Christ will come and reign with his saints upon earth a thousand years; and in this they conceive the apostles to refer, Rev. xiv. 1—5. 2 Pet. iii. 13. which others look farther, and interpret this of the state and blessedness of the Saints of God in glory everlasting.

2. This will give occasion to God’s saints of everlasting joy: But he you glad and rejoice for ever in that which I mean, as partakers of the blessed change, the gospel works, and inheritors of the eternal glory God bestows. For behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy; with such confidation shall the church and every member of it be killed, and all her friends rejoice with and ever her, because of her prosperity. The most of weeping shall no more be heard in her; there shall be no allay or interruption of her joys, but they shall be endless as the sinner from whence they flow.

3. God himself will rejoice in his own work. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people, whom, through the righteousness of Jesus, and the effectual work of the Divine Spirit, they shall be wholly renewed in body, soul, and spirit, and become the object of God’s eternal complacence.

4. In this blessed state there shall be no untimely deaths, as now, when we see the infant carried almost from the wound to the grave; and few, even of those who are aged, reach the full limits appointed to the life of man: the contrary to which some supposes will literally be the case in the latter day, when, among other instances of temporal blessings, long life shall be enjoyed. I rather incline to interpret this spiritually, as intimating that the youngest convert who departs, shall be raised in the salands of the mansion of the Nature of Christ, as if he had lived an hundred years; and those whose lives have been longer spent in Christ’s service, shall have their full reward in glory; whilst the sinner, to whatever extent God longshares not his days, will be accursed at the last. (1) We need not prove for truly contents that God may be dead; they are happily entered into their rest, and the space taken from the labours of time, shall be added to the rewards of security. (2) An aged saint is a reasonable object, an aged sinner the most pinnable and deplorable. (3) However long God’s religious bears with the sinner, his curle will overtake him at last.

5. Their possessions shall not be precarious, nor their enjoyments interrupted. The houses they build, the vineyards they plant, no enemy shall possess, nor spoiler destroy; but the elect of God shall long peaceably and comfortably enjoy the blessings he bestows upon them: for as the days of a tree, are the days of my people; as the days of an oak, which lives for ages, or the tree of life in the paradish of God, to which there seems to be an allusion: and this will be eminently true, when the redeemed enter their mansions in glory, and drink the new wine in the kingdom of God.

6. Their children after them shall inherit their blessings. They shall not labour in vain, but see the blessing of God upon all the work of their hands: nor bring forth trouble; their children shall be their comfort, not their sorrow: for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them: their mercies descend to their pusterity, together intertwined in a covenant of grace, and prevented and followed with the blessings of divine goodness.

7. A wondrous change shall pass upon the tempers of men. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together; Gentiles and Jews shall now become one fold, and men of the most savage dispositions be brought to the mechanics of the lamb: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; ravening persecutors not only brought to be men of peace, but laborious ministers, as in the case of Paul and others: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat; the sentence pronounced on the devil, Gen. iii. 14. and, in him, on all the enemies of God’s church and people, shall be fulfilled; they shall be trodden under the feet of God’s victorious saints. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, but their power be utterly broken, and themselves ruined, saith the Lord, whose word is faithful, and the accomplishment of it sure.