Isaiah 65

Isa 65:1 - "I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name." He leaves us with out doubt to who he is speaking of here. Paul quotes this and Du 32:19-21 in Rm 10:19-21, speaking of the Gentiles.

Vs 2 "I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; a people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; 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." Yes his own (Jh 1:10) to whom he came had provoked him to anger as recorded here in verse three. In Romans 9:22, we find that with these people he had spread out his hand all day long, now to make known his sovereign power, ‘endured with much long suffering (these) vessels of wrath fitted to destruction.’ Having established his sovereignty and the depravity of man, he them turns to the Gentiles ‘to make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory (Rm 9:23).’ God had purposed before the foundation of the world to establish his truth, here in time with [numphe] his son’s wife/bride (Ep 1:4) in Christ. What is it to be in Christ? (Gal 3:29) ‘If you be in Christ then are ye Abraham’s seed (which is Christ and his seed Rm 4:16, 9:8 Ga 3:19), and heirs according to the promise.’ This is the promise he made with Abraham (Ga 3:17), not the old land of Canaan, but the New Canaan, the Church of the living God.

Vs 6 "Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom, your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom." What is meant by: ‘it is written before me?’ I ask, does this not involve the purpose in the council halls, by the Thrice Holy God before Genesis one? According to Romans 9:17 he raised up Pharaoh for the purpose of showing his sovereignty, by saying ‘who art thou that repliest against God’. Apparently he also raised up natural Israel for this same purpose according to verses 21-22. He had endured with much long suffering with the vessels (his own Jh 1:11) fitted to destruction, having appointed them unto disobedience (1 Pt 2:8). We need to be careful less we go to far and make God the author of sin. God only needs to let man take his own depraved natural course. He tells us why in verse 23, that he may make known the riches of his glory on the vessels (Gentiles) of mercy, which he had afore (before Ge 1:1) prepared unto glory. This glory is that, which we have with our blessed Husband in the upper room (Mt 19:28, 25:31, Jh 17:22, Rm 2:7,10, 1 Co 2:7, 1 Th 2:12). I also read in Rm 8:16 the mind of Christ (2 Cor 2:16 - new covenant) bears witness with our spirit (mind) that we are the children of God. Having the mind of Christ in us, we then are declared to be heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ. Having been positioned thus, if we suffer with him we may be glorified with him in the upper room. Notice it doe not say we will, but we may if we do as little Esther 14:14, 5:2. Isaiah, having laid the foundation, then he tells us in the next verse:

Vs 8 "Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all. 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. Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me." The servants are the same as the fathers sakes in Rm 11:28. Why, because (vs 29) the gifts and calling are without repentance. Here we see the seed is both out of Jacob (Israel) and Judah (Jesus). What is the cluster and the new wine found in Jacob (Israel) and Judah (Jesus)? Once the new wine (gospel church) is removed from the cluster (Israel), the remains of the cluster (Jews) is destroyed (70AD). Sharon is the little flock of Lk 12:32 which is in the valley of trouble, a place for his chosen (Mt 20:16, 22:14) disciples to assembly.

Vs 11 "But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number. Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not." When he called they did not answer (Jh 1:11). Under the old law, which was after the flesh (Ga 4:23), they were led not by faith, but by the sign and wonders (Nu 14:22) given by God through the Holy Prophets. The Lord had not sent them a Prophet unto them in over four hundred hears, therefore, having no signs, they had forsaken the Lord and his holy mountain, and corrupted the laws of God. This was in the mind and purpose of God, to show the depravity of man. When their depravity had filled up their iniquity, he sent his Son to cut off their iniquity (Ga 4:4) as he had the Amorites (Ge 15:16).

Vs 13 "Therefore thus saith 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: behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit." The servants are those who by the grace of God (1 Cor 15:10): are given the robe of righteousness (Mt 22:14), whereby they hunger and thirst after his righteousness (Mt 5:6). Those that have not the wedding garment on will be cast into outer darkness (Mt 22:13), having stumbled at the word, being disobedient, where unto they were appointed (1 Pt 1:9). Again I repeat, we need to be careful lest we make God the author of their disobedience. They failed because of the weakness of the law (Hb 7:18) which was after the flesh (Ga 4:24), as it was designed to show the inability (Hb 10:3) of depraved man to keep. All that God needs to do in order to show the depravity of man is to remove his divine protective power (Nu 14:18). Outward sign and wonders were the only motivation for those under the old law (Mt 8:12). They lived by sight, not faith, for they sought it not by faith, but by the works of the law (Rm 9:32, Ga 3:10).

Vs 15 "And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name: that he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless 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." These two verses are defining the changing from the law to grace. Under the old they were known as Israelites, now spiritual Israel is know as ‘The Baptist’ (Lk 1:13, 7:28) who came in the way of (truth), righteousness (Mt 21:32). The Jews (work systems), since the fall of Jerusalem, has been as a curse unto the chosen, while those blessed to be in ‘The Baptist’ Church are blessed with the truth. Yes, God turned from the Jewish law worshippers as it were to hide his eyes from them in all their troubles. These troubles are hid from God’s eye, not the saints, as some would tell us.

Vs 17 "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." While ignoring the previous verses, which to me speak of the changing of the guard of truth, some will contend that this is talking about eternal heaven, saying the saints would be devoid of painful memories. The statement, ‘the former shall not be remembered, not come into (God’s) mind’, is talking about the old heaven and earth, not being void of painful memories for the child of God. Natural Israel, [old heaven - H of H, and old earth - outer court] held the responsibilities of maintaining the truth under the old covenant (Is 43:10). The new heaven is the bride’s chamber, upper room, and new earth is the assembly of the saints (Hb 12:23) is now the guard of truth. Some would say that Hebrews here is talking of eternal glory, yet verse 25 would negate the thought, lest we find works involved in our eternal deliverance.

Vs 18 "But be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 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." If one desires to know where this joy is to be found just read the letter to the Philippians, for it speaks of this joy and rejoicing among the saints within the church. The true disciple should not sorrow as others for they have the assurance of our salvation (1 Th 4:16). When we are permitted to enter into the bride’s chamber there to rejoice with our blessed Husband, all worldly cares are forgotten. Those yet in bondage to the works systems of the world stand in fear of the second death (Hb 2:15) and are weeping, having not entered into the blessed assurance as those who understand the truth.

Vs 20 "There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child (of God) shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed." Today we see those in the church who are a hundred years old rejoicing in these blessed truths, while those who have turned from it, will die in their sins of unbelief (Jh 8:24) at an old age, in bondage and accursed. If this is eternal glory then what is meant by shall die? These old men (child of God) have filled ther days in the blessed kingdom of his Lord.

Vs 21 "And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. 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." We find in Daniel 2:44 that God has set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and the kingdom will not be left to other people, but as it travels west to the new Canaan, heaven and earth hell shall not prevail, prevent its progress (Mt 16:18). It shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and shall stand forever. If this in eternal heaven, then we must conclude there is work to be done with their hands; while this is true here in this time world, as the disciple of Jesus Christ.

Vs 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." The seed (Ps 22:30) is that of Jesus, typed in faithful Abraham (Ga 3:29). We see men as H. I. Bass, who labour not in vain, having brought up his family in the grand old church, and now over a hundred of his offspring are holding faithful to the truth.

Vs 24 "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." If this is not speaking of the bringing in of the Gentile church, then I am afraid that I have no ability to understand the word of God.

Vs 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." The wolf is found in Isa 11:6 and again in Mt 7:15 in the negitive, but this a positive thought showing they cannot enter the bride’s chamber (Isa 33:21). The fox, lion, and serpent can get into the assembly only to deceive and divide. Isaiah continues in the next chapter to rebuke his own nation of Judah for their presumptuous sins, saying (4) ‘I will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them, because when called, none did answer…and chose that which I delight not.'

66:7 "Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child." It is my understanding that this is Judah, which brought forth Jesus.

Vs 8 "Who hath heard such a thing? …Shall the (old) earth be made to bring forth in one day, or shall a nation (spiritual Israel –Acts 2:47) be born at once? In my opinion this would be the day of Pentecost when the Lord added 3,000 unto the church. Vs 13 ‘so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in (new) Jerusalem.’ …(19) ‘and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles…(21)..I will take of them priests (1 Pt 2:9) for Levites.' In Malachi 2:5,6,7,15 he speaks of the hath purified the sons of Levi, and set them in new Jerusalem.

Allen Cook 12/19/09