In Isaiah 64, we saw the prayer of Israel that knew the strong hand of God’s judgement upon them. They know what it means to have been in sin and see brokenness all around. In some measure, they also know what it feels like when God seems silent. How do you think God will respond to a prayer like this? How do you think God will respond to your prayer today? God has a word for us today!
(A) Rebellion Repaid (Isa 65:1-7)
In Isaiah 65:1-2, we see God’s response to His people’s earlier plea. Is this how you expect God to respond to the prayer in Isaiah 64? This is a God with emotions and desires. We see this in the phrases “I was ready to be sought/found” and “Here am I, here am I”. God was not passive and ignorant. He has been ready all this time.
Who is being spoken of here in Isaiah 65:1? Israel?
Non-Jews/Gentiles? In this case, we see God’s great forbearance. If He was ready to receive even helpless sinners outside of Israel, what more the nation of Israel. In. Romans 10:20-21, Paul speaks of “these people” in Isaiah 65:1 as the non-Jews and in Isaiah 65:2 to refer to the Jews.
But to both Jews and Gentiles, God has been ready to receive the rebellious people.
How did the rebellious people act in contrast to God? Isaiah 65:2-7 shows us both God’s actions as well a the rebellious people’s actions.
Firstly, we see that God spread out His hands all the day to a rebellious people (Isa 65:2a).
God has proclaimed how He is to be worshipped yet the people blatantly disobeyed and disregarded it (Isa 65:3b). They were “sacrificing in gardens”. God had showed how and when they are to sacrifice. They are not to do it haphazardly or wherever they wished (c.f. Isa 1:29, 57:5, Ex 20:25). We may think that the stipulation in Exodus 20:25 is obsolete and can easily gloss over it. And, God also has a whole book — Leviticus — dedicated to rules about worship. But so what? See that God had gone to painstaking details to allow sinful rebels to worship Him. This should be precious in our sight! God has an opinion about how we worship, receive the words over the pulpit, gather, sing, live our lives daily. And the best part? He has revealed it to us so the we can obey and live.
The list goes on in Isaiah 65:4. It refers to a practice of enquiring of the dead, a practice prohibited (c.f. Is 8:19-20, Lev 11:7-8). They sought direction and insight apart from God. They also indulged themselves in unholiness. What started as neglecting the worship stipulations quickly descends into other practices.
A proud heart rejects God’s presence and even prohibits from coming near (Isa 65:5a). This is something that is so common in our age. We may be told by the world that no one can say with certainty what righteousness is. In The worst of their rebellion came in exalting themselves above God.
Consider — how does someone go about committing adultery? It almost always begins with a small compromise that grows bigger and then a devaluing of the covenant relationship. How then, do people begin to fall into spiritual adultery? It is not different. It begins with a small compromise here, a diminishing of who God is there, and a gradual love for the world instead of God, a love the grows and grows.
God is not passively indifferent but was intentionally restraining Himself (Isa 65:5b-7). Their rebellion will be repaid. This may not be the thought that we want to start the year with, but it is a sober-mindedness that we need. He sees and cares and will call all things into account. Consider reading the book of Habakkuk. The prophet sees all the problems around and asks God for an answer. God answers and shows His holiness. The prophet ends by praying that in God’s wrath, He will also remember mercy.
This is a God who spreads out His hands for this rebellious people.
(B) Destiny Determined (isa 65:8-16)
Amidst the promise of rebellion repaid, God also promises grace and mercy (Isa 65:8). There is mercy to be found. God will bring forth offspring and His chosen shall possess the mountain. There are location-specific signs. The first, Sharon, was mentioned in Isaiah 33:9 where we read of desolation. Here in Isaiah 65, it will be restored, and becomes a pasture for flocks.
The Valley of Achor was mentioned in Joshua 7:24-26. It was a place of national shame due to the sin of Achan. But this place of shame is now a place of blessing in Isaiah 65.
Isaiah wanted the people to see that God’s mercy is not a halfway mercy. It is sure, full and complete. Destruction turns into provision. A place of shame is now a place of blessing. Such is God’s promise for those who have sought the Lord.
Isaiah also speaks about those who forsake the LORD. Those who follow false gods find themselves destined for the sword because God’s graciousness has been spurned (Isa 65:11-12).
The verses also show 5 contrasting outcomes that help us to understand God’s judgement and blessing. In terms of outward provision, God’s servants will eat and drink (Isa 65:13). The rebellious will be hungry and thirsty (Isa 65:13).
There is also a difference in the inward attitude. God’s servants rejoice (Isa 65:13c) and sing for gladness (Isa 65:14a). The rebellious will however be in shame (Isa 65:13c) and cry out for pain of heart and wail for breaking of spirit (Isa 65:14b).
Finally there’s a difference in identity. God’s servant are given a new name (Isa 65:15b) but the rebellious will have their name accursed and put to death (Isa 65:15a).
In Isaiah 65:16, we also read a wonderful promise for God’s servants. God will transform and change them. What changes is how they see God, think of God, learn to rely on God rightly. Friends, resolve to know God in such a way. See that God changes hearts all the way and satisfies every longing, as He has promised
(C) Blessing Beheld (Isa 65:17-25)
God’s listeners are called to behold two actions in Isaiah 65:17-18. There is a grand remaking of all things with both a personal and emotive call.
See how determined God is to get His delight. The focal point of His delight here is that His people are who He made them to be in full measure (Isa 65:18). This should fill our hearts with assurance! God will get His delight — which is us! As great as His frustration and judgement is, do not fail to see how great God’s joy is!
Isaiah 65:19-25 describes for us life in the New Heavens and New Earth. There, joy is forever. Death will be no more. What Isaiah 65:20 means is that man will live as he was intended to be. And even if a sinner enters, God will find him out and give him his rightful judgement.
In that place, there will be no wasted potential. There will no longer be painful work, no work that just bears thorns and thistles. There will be no prematurely taken life.
Isaiah 65:24-25 speaks of peace and sin being under proper judgement. There is a deep sense of oneness and God’s people’s hearts are so given unto Him. He is near before they call and knows what they will say. The greatest treasure is not that we will see God and be with God, but we will be like God. Our fight with sin will end and holiness will reign and flourish.
This is not just a hope for the future. It also changes how we live today. The Christian does not shrink away from death. Philip Melanchthon a German Lutheran reformer and a contemporary of Martin Luther, made a list of reasons to not fear death before he died. On the left, he wrote things that he would be freed from:
You will come into the light.
You will be freed from tribulations, and from the mad rage of the theologians.
And on the right, he listed things that he would gain in death:
You will see God.
You will behold the Son of God.
You will learn the wondrous secrets that you could not understand in this life: Why we were created as we were, what the union of the two natures in Christ is.
Friends, the hope in Isaiah 65 also means that we can face life and death today. We can live life today despite the world being as it is because of the above! All who know God hope in the fact that we will one day see Him face to face.
As we begin a new year, let us resolve to meditate and think about it this year, and grow in knowledge of God and the hope He provides.