Isaiah 65

1. I am sought. Rather, “I am inquired of,” i.e., successfully: see R.V. “Sought,” in the second part of the verse, is a different word. That the “nation” here means the Gentile world, in opposition to the Hebrews, who were called by God’s name, appears from Rom. x. 20.

2 a rebellious people. To the people of Israel: see Rom. x. 21.

3 that sacrificeth in gardens. Or, “groves”: see i. 29. Not in places set apart for worship, but in scenes of sensuous gratification.

4 which remain (“sit,” R.V.) among the graves. Probably for the purposes of necromancy; seeking to obtain a knowledge of future events from the spirits of the dead, which they imagined to hover about their tombs. The “monuments” are the “secret places” (R.V.), vaults, or crypts in which they hoped that supernatural visions would come to them.

which eat swine’s flesh. The eating of swine’s flesh was expressly prohibited by the law.

5. Stand by thyself. In our Lord’s time, the Pharisees and their disciples, who formed a large part of the nation, displayed much of this self-righteous pride.

These are a smoke in My nose. As offensive as smoke is to the nostrils. Or perhaps the meaning is, “They are fuel for the wrath of God, which manifests itself, as it were, in smoking breath”: comp. Deut. xxxii. 22.

8. As the new wine is found in the cluster. While the corrupt mass is destroyed, whatever is good shall be carefully preserved as the seed (9) of a future nation.

Destroy it not. Perhaps a quotation from a vintage-song, “Al-taschith” (Psa. lvii., lviii., lix., titles).

10 the valley of Achor. This was a valley near Jericho, where Achan was put to death: see Josh. vii. 24. Sharon lying on the west, and Achor on the east of the kingdom of Judah, the blessing shall cover the whole land. Respecting “Sharon,” see note on xxxiii. 9.

11. But ye [are] they that, etc. Rather, “And as for you who forsake the Eternal, who forget My holy mountain, who prepare for God a table.

12 will I number you. There is here an allusion to the name of the idol “Meni,” just mentioned; as if God said, “You worship Destiny, and I have destined you to the sword.”

14. But ye shall cry for sorrow of heart. These verses forcibly display the difference which God will make “between the righteous and the wicked”: comp. Mal. iii. 17-iv. 3.

15 ye shall leave your name for a curse. That is, their punishment would be so awful and irremediable, that it would become a formula of curse for those who wished to utter the most terrible imprecations.

16 in the God of truth. That is, the God of faithfulness; so called here because He had fulfilled His threatenings and promises. The very Hebrew word here used (Amen) is applied to Christ, with this explanation of it, in Rev. iii. 14.

17. I create new heavens and a new earth. This new creation signifies a great moral and spiritual revolution, which shall bring to an end the former confusions, iniquities, and miseries of the human race, and shall fill the Church with perpetual joy; comp. vers. 17-19 with Rev. xxi. 1-5.

22 as the days of a tree. This refers to the great age which certain trees attain. The olive, the oak, the cedar, and the terebinth, among the trees of Palestine, are said to live for centuries.

23 for trouble. Heb., “for the terror”; perhaps meaning, “for sudden death”: see Lev. xxvi. 16.

24 before they call, I will answer. With these encouraging assurances of God’s readiness to hear and answer His people’s prayers, comp. Dan. ix. 20, 21; Matt. vi. 8; Acts ii. 1, 2, etc.

25. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together. We have here an almost verbal repetition of the beautiful picture of universal harmony in xi. 6-9. Under the reign of the Messiah, the evil passions and propensities of men, and all other hurtful influences, will be subdued, and peace and concord shall universally prevail.

And dust shall be the serpent’s meat (food). (Gen. iii. 14; Rom. xvi. 20.) “The serpent will then no longer lie in wait for man’s life. It will still creep in the dust, but without injuring man” (Delitzsch).