Isaiah 65 Commentary
Chapter 65 is the Creator God’s answer to Isaiah’s prayer in Chapter 64.
Isaiah had pleaded, “We all are Your people. Do not be furious…”
And the Creator God responded: “I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, according to their own thoughts.”
“A people who provoke Me to anger continually to My face.”
Then the LORD appears to discount wholesale righteousness for the nation. Consequently, indiscriminate forgiveness and salvation are not possible.
However, the LORD appears to have picked and reserved the remnant from the rotting nation. They are “My servants”. Verse 8.
The opening verse describes God’s wide net for His servants. They are drawn from “everywhere else”.
We can check the text again. God’s mercy has been the only constant parameter in the argument. God’s hand of compassion is stretched out all day long.
This thought discounts the feeling that God’s mercy is sometimes absent. It’s always a 24/7 situation. At least it was for Israel!
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis Chapter 1 verse 1.
See, the LORD is going to lay waste the earth and devastate it. Isaiah Chapter 24 verse 1.
See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. Verse 17a.
Then follows the restoration of the history-long blessing: Increase in number, become fruitful, and have dominion.
The LORD will have restored life exactly as it was in the Garden of peace and tranquility. The Prince of Peace will be in charge. The government will be on His shoulders. The Servant will have cleansed the willing. The upright will have settled in the newly created Jerusalem!
“Dust will be the serpent’s food.” It is a direct reference to the Servant’s victory over satan – trampling him under the Lamb’s feet. Victory for the remnant!
The fact that the Book of Revelation closes with the same announcement means the LORD is yet to create the new heavens and a new earth.
It was a project for Isaiah’s future. It was a project for the Revelator’s future. It is a project for the reader’s future. The LORD will one day make all things beautiful in His own time.
The second section of Chapter 65 is beautifully repeated in the closing chapters of the Bible.
Global salvation isn’t preached. Equally, global destruction isn’t preached. There is a door open for God’s grace for the “elect”. Those who say yes when the LORD calls!
Ponder the LORD’s message and know the importance of our times. The LORD has reached out to us, to them, and to everyone. We cannot save ourselves!
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