Vv 1,2: Cit Rom 10:20,21 -- both Gentiles and Jews turning to
seek the LORD.
THOSE WHO DID NOT ASK FOR ME... DID NOT SEEK ME: "The
people of the Northern Kingdom had in effect become Gentiles by their centuries
of disloyalty to the God of Israel. But now many of them, although only a
remnant of the mass of the nation, responded to Hezekiah's appeal to join in
Passover observance at Jerusalem" (WIsa 539,540).
Isa 65:3
CONTINUALLY: The word commonly used of the continual
burnt offering.
OFFERING SACRIFICES...: Following the example of the
evil Ahaz (cp 2Ki 23:12).
ALTARS OF BRICK: In ct the unhewn stone of Exo 20:25;
Deu 27:5.
Isa 65:4
Vv 4,5: All these details are echoed in the healing of Legion
(Mar 5:2-16).
WHO SIT AMONG THE GRAVES: Seances in cemeteries and
sepulchres (cp Isa 8:19,20).
Isa 65:5
KEEP AWAY; DON'T COME NEAR ME: "The Pharisee stood up
and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men --
robbers, evildoers, adulterers -- or even like this tax collector...' But the
tax collector stood at a distance" (Luk 18:11,13).
Isa 65:7
INTO THEIR LAPS: // Luk 6:38.
Isa 65:8
DON'T DESTROY IT, THERE IS YET SOME GOOD IN IT: A
faithful remnant who clung to the hope of the God of Israel and abhorred the
abominations around them. Isaiah's refs to the faithful remnant: Isa 1:9,10,28;
4:3; 6:11-13; 13:12; 17:4-6; 24:13-16; 33:15-17; 51:1-3; 57:13; 66:5,10-14. Cp
also Amo 5:13-15; 8:1; 9:8,9; Jer 24; Psa 74.
Isa 65:10
Even the prospective invasion routes would be safe for flocks.
SHARON: A plain located to the west, along the
Mediterranean coast north of Joppa and south of Carmel.
Isa 65:11
TABLE FOR FORTUNE... WINE FOR DESTINY: Alluded to in
1Co 10:21: "You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you
cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons."
FORTUNE: Heb "Gad". A Syrian deity of good
fortune.
DESTINY: Heb "Meniy" -- a deity of Canaan (BSp
8:60).
Isa 65:13
MY SERVANTS SHALL EAT: Cp Mat 5:6; Luk
6:21,25.
Isa 65:15
Vv 15,16: "To the curse pronounced on every one that violates
God's law, he (Jesus) said 'Amen' upon the cross. To the blessing guaranteed to
all nations by God's promises to Abraham and David, he said 'Amen' when he rose
from the dead to 'live for evermore' (Rev 1:18)" (WIsa 542,543).
Isa 65:16
A BLESSING IN THE LAND... THE GOD OF TRUTH... AN OATH IN
THE LAND...: "Abraham was told that all nations would bless themselves in
his Seed (Psa 72:17). With reference to these superlative truths, Paul declared
with warm emphasis that 'For no matter how many promises God has made, they are
"Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of
God' (2Co 1:20). To this the Lord Jesus adds his own assurance: 'These are the
words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation'
(Rev 3:14). 'Behold, I am alive for evermore, the Amen; and have the keys of
death and of the grave' (as promised to Abraham: Gen 22:17a)" (WIsa
542).
Isa 65:17
Vv 17--Isa 66:2: The era of prosperity which followed in
Hezekiah's ravaged kingdom, as a result of Assyrian defeat and the phenomenal
blessings of a Year of Jubilee. Described as a return to the blessedness of a
primeval Paradise: new heavens and earth (Isa 65:17); the sinner cursed (Isa
65:20); a tree of life (Isa 65:22); children delivered from the curse (Isa
65:23); dust for the serpent (Isa 65:25).
Isa 65:20
HE WHO DIES AT A HUNDRED WILL BE THOUGHT A MERE YOUTH:
"The point seems to be that those who die at the age of a hundred will be
considered children, for the average life span will be much longer than that.
The category 'child' will be redefined in light of the expanded life spans that
will characterize this new era" (NET notes).
Isa 65:23
THEY WILL NOT TOIL IN VAIN: Used figuratively by Paul
in Phi 2:16; 1Th 3:5; 1Co 15:58.
Isa 65:25
"Wolf" = Saul of Benjamin (Gen 49:27). "Lamb" = Christ our
passover. "Lion" = Judah; "ox" = Ephraim.
BUT DUST WILL BE THE SERPENT'S FOOD: One thing will not
change in the Kingdom: the serpent-- although no longer dangerous (cp Isa 11:8)
-- will still eat dust (Gen 3:14).