Isaiah 65

Isaiah 65:1-7

I am now manifested to, enjoyed and worshipped by, the Gentiles, who for many ages have continued ignorant of and careless about me, and stood in no saving relation to me. But since, notwithstanding my long-continued offers of grace, vouchsafement of oracles and ordinances, and the strivings of my Spirit and providence, the Jews continue in their obstinate rejection and blasphemous contempt of me, since they still approve the sins of their fathers, or do what is equally horrid, and yet boast, to my high provocation, of themselves, as if they were the only holy people on earth; I will now, in the most tremendous and lasting manner, punish on them their own and their fathers’ iniquities

Isaiah 65:8-10

Nevertheless I will not utterly destroy the nation, as there is among them, and in their loins a number of elect persons, who, in the apostolic and millennial periods, shall be converted to Christ and his church, and become very useful to others

Isaiah 65:11-16

But, as for the body of that nation, since they have apostatized from my truths and service, and have, at least, in approbation of their fathers’ conduct, offered sacrifices to multitudes of idols, and have obstinately rejected the Messiah, I will most terribly destroy them by the Romans and others, and by famine, while the Christians shall be protected and nourished. They shall be miserable, detested, and infamous, while the Christians shall be joyful, respected, and happy, in the worship of their Redeemer; and idolatry, carnal ceremonies, and vexing miseries, shall be abolished

Isaiah 65:17-25

For, to the inexpressible comfort of my people, whether Jews or Gentiles, I will, in the apostolic, and especially in the millennial, period, and still more gloriously in the heavenly state, establish my church in a new form; in which spiritual joys, noted advances in holiness, happy continuance in life, sanctified enjoyment of the blessings of providence, remarkable blessings from God, and delightful fellowship with him, remarkable change of men’s dispositions and tempers, happy peacefulness, mutual affection, and freedom from persecution, shall amazingly abound. ~~~~

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. LXV.—Sovereign is JEHOVAH in the disposal of his favours; and graciously he prevents sinful men by the offers and communications of his saving graces and comforts. But rebellious dissemblers with God, and rejectors of his Son, provoke him to give them up at last to the most terrible rejection and ruin. Though he bear long, he will not bear always; and nothing is more odious in his sight than a sinner vaunting of his holiness, and looking down with contempt on others. Yet how loth is he utterly to abandon a people who have been once devoted to his honour! And how liberally sinners expend their substance to gratify their lusts! Awful and lasting are the proofs we have of Jesus’ Messiahship, and of the truth of the Christian religion, in the tremendous miseries, and still continued dispersion and disgrace, of his Jewish rejectors. But O what unspeakable blessings, for Jews and Gentiles, are still wrapt up in God’s promises! If I must die without seeing their fulfilment, let me live and die in the firm faith of it. If I am dispirited by the remarkable dishonours of God and ruin of souls which now prevail, let me hope for that happy period, in which the kingdoms of this world, Jews and Gentiles, shall become the kingdoms of my Lord and of his Christ