Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents

65:1-12 The eagerness of God is snubbed by Jews, welcomed by Gentiles.

65:1-2 These verses anticipate the drama of the book of Acts and the spread of the gospel to the Gentiles, as seen especially in Acts 28:17-28 (cf. Rom. 10:20-21). Here am I. God takes the initiative to reveal himself to the nations through the gospel (cf. Isa. 11:10; 56:3-8). I spread out my hands all the day. God patiently pleads with obstinate Israel (cf. John 1:11). following their own devices (or thoughts). See Isa. 55:8-9.

65:3-4 who sit in tombs (v. 4). God laments over religious practices that offend him; apparently they mix Canaanite elements into Israelite religious life (cf. 1:29; 8:19; 66:17).

65:5 I am too holy for you. What they are claiming is actually false, a self-defined, unclean "holiness" that distorts true worship and improperly elevates some people over others (cf. Luke 18:9-14).

65:6-7 I will not keep silent answers the question of 64:12. I will repay. God vows a reckoning with Israel for their historic accumulation of sins (cf. 6:9-13; 10:22-23).

65:8-10 Though his judgments will destroy, God will also bless his old covenant people by preserving a remnant (cf. 1:9; 10:20-23; Matt. 13:24-30; Rom. 9:27-29; 11:1-5). the cluster. See Isa. 5:1-7. Sharon shall become a pasture (cf. 33:9). Sharon is the plain of rich pastureland beginning about 32 miles (51 km) northwest of Jerusalem and stretching along the Mediterranean coast from Joppa to Carmel. The Valley of Achor (see Josh. 7:22-26; Hos. 2:15) is a range of hills running through the plain of Jericho about 16 miles (26 km) northeast of Jerusalem. Their respective locations on the western and eastern borders of Israel signify God's restorative blessing covering the whole of the land.

65:11-12 Those Israelites who forsake their God for false gods will perish (cf. 57:3-13). set a table for Fortune and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny. These are pagan rituals invoking good luck.

65:13-25 The Lord describes the joys of his true people in their eternal home.

65:13 my servants. Both Jews and Gentiles. God excluded disloyal Jews and included responsive Gentiles (cf. Matt. 3:7-10; 8:10-13).

65:15 You shall leave your name to my chosen for a curse. They will be remembered as objects of judgment. See Jer. 29:22-23. his servants he will call by another name. That is, a name of blessing. See Gen. 17:5; 32:28; Isa. 62:2, 4, 12.

65:16 the God of truth. He will keep his every promise, as his servants invoke his blessings.

65:17-25 Isaiah uses images from his age to paint a magnificent poetic picture to describe the joys of the world to come. Christians differ over whether to read this as (1) an idealized description of restored Jerusalem (leading into eternal joys), (2) an intermediate "millennial" state, or (3) the eternal state itself. Certainly the expression new heavens and a new earth would seem to suggest the eternal state (because of Rev. 21:1). On the other hand, the mention of people dying, even at an advanced age, as well as the presence of the sinner (Isa. 65:20), seem to suggest this is not the eternal state. To argue for a millennial state (which is not explicit here), one would have to understand the millennial state to include both death and unbelief among unbelievers during the millennial period. However, the mention of the animals (v. 25) evokes 11:6-9, which is part of an oracle describing the messianic era (see note on 11:10). Hence (and in view of the larger context of chs. 40-66) some interpreters read these verses as describing an idealized future for Jerusalem--not simply as a restored city but as the center of the world, in which all manner of people know and delight in God and live at peace with each other (as 2:2-4; 9:6-7; 11:1-10). Under such circumstances, human community and piety flourish. At the same time, the description goes far beyond anything that the world has ever seen, inviting the believing reader to yearn for more and to play his or her role as the story unfolds to its glorious end (cf. 2:5).

65:22 like the days of a tree. A picture of longevity and durability (some trees live 2,000 years), as compared (in 40:7-8) to grass, which withers and fades. The picture also recalls the example of the righteous person who is "like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit" (Ps. 1:3).

65:25 dust shall be the serpent's food. An allusion to Gen. 3:14; God's redemptive purpose (Gen. 3:15) has succeeded, and he has subdued the serpent in judgment as he promised.