‏ Isaiah 65

* The calling of the Gentiles, and the rejection of the Jews.

(1-7) The Lord would preserve a remnant. (8-10) Judgments upon

the wicked. (11-16) The future happy and flourishing state of

the church. (17-25)

1-7 The Gentiles came to seek God, and find him, because they

were first sought and found of him. Often he meets some

thoughtless trifler or profligate opposer, and says to him,

Behold me; and a speedy change takes place. All the gospel day,

Christ waited to be gracious. The Jews were bidden, but would

not come. It is not without cause they are rejected of God. They

would do what most pleased them. They grieved, they vexed the

Holy Spirit. They forsook God's temple, and sacrificed in

groves. They cared not for the distinction between clean and

unclean meats, before it was taken away by the gospel. Perhaps

this is put for all forbidden pleasures, and all that is thought

to be gotten by sin, that abominable thing which the Lord hates.

Christ denounced many woes against the pride and hypocrisy of

the Jews. The proof against them is plain. And let us watch

against pride and self-preference, remembering that every sin,

and the most secret thoughts of man's heart, are known and will

be judged by God. 8-10 In the bunch of unripe grapes, at present of no value, the

new wine is contained. The Jews have been kept a distinct

people, that all may witness the fulfilment of ancient

prophecies and promises. God's chosen, the spiritual seed of

praying Jacob, shall inherit his mountains of bliss and joy, and

be carried safe to them through the vale of tears. All things

are for the display of God's glory in the redemption of sinners. 11-16 Here the different states of the godly and wicked, of the

Jews who believed, and of those who persisted in unbelief, are

set against one another. They prepared a table for that troop of

deities which the heathen worship, and poured out

drink-offerings to that countless number. Their worshippers

spared no cost to honour them, which should shame the

worshippers of the true God. See the malignity of sin; it is

doing by choice what we know will displease God. In every age

and nation, the Lord leaves those who persist in doing evil, and

despise the call of the gospel. God's servants shall have the

bread of life, and shall want nothing good for them. But those

who forsake the Lord, shall be ashamed of vain confidence in

their own righteousness, and the hopes they built thereon.

Wordly people bless themselves in the abundance of this world's

goods; but God's servants bless themselves in him. He is their

strength and portion. They shall honour him as the God of truth.

And it was promised that in him should all the families of the

earth be blessed. They shall think themselves happy in having

him for their God, who made them forget their troubles. 17-25 In the grace and comfort believers have in and from

Christ, we are to look for this new heaven and new earth. The

former confusions, sins and miseries of the human race, shall be

no more remembered or renewed. The approaching happy state of

the church is described under a variety of images. He shall be

thought to die in his youth, and for his sins, who only lives to

the age of a hundred years. The event alone can determine what

is meant; but it is plain that Christianity, if universal, would

so do away violence and evil, as greatly to lengthen life. In

those happy days, all God's people shall enjoy the fruit of

their labours. Nor will children then be the trouble of their

parents, or suffer trouble themselves. The evil dispositions of

sinners shall be completely moritified; all shall live in

harmony. Thus the church on earth shall be full of happiness,

like heaven. This prophecy assures the servants of Christ, that

the time approaches, wherein they shall be blessed with the

undisturbed enjoyment of all that is needful for their

happiness. As workers together with God, let us attend his

ordinances, and obey his commands.