Election of Israel
February 2, 2020
Commentary
Contrasts between people who are the Lord’s servants and those who have departed from Him are dramatically presented (vv. 13-16). Those who obeyed His covenant will enjoy all types of blessings, while those who rebelled will experience all types of curses. In the remainder of this chapter the Lord describes the millennial kingdom, which is seemingly identified with the eternal state (vv. 17-25). Isaiah didn’t seem to distinguish between these two aspects of God’s rule; Apparently he saw them together as one. The Millennium, though 1000 years in duration will be a mere pinpoint of time compared with the eternal state. He will then demonstrate His ability and desire to provide righteousness for sinful men by creating a new heavens and a new earth (v. 16).
At this point the prophet Isaiah sees further into the future than any other Old Testament prophet (vv. 17-20). He looks to the new heavens and the new earth (Rev. 21:1). Things will be so much better than they are now that people will not even think about things as they used to be (v. 17). The new Jerusalem will be a place of rejoicing in contrast to present mourning, and its people will be eternally happy (v. 18). God Himself will also rejoice in the new city and the new people (v. 19). Death will not have the power that it has had (v. 20) Infant mortality will be virtually unknown, and people’s life-spans will be much longer. Likewise there will be abundant safety and plenty when God brings new life into the world (vv. 21-22). Note that people will continue to work. Children will be born for productive lives (v. 23). Perfect communication with God will be another blessing of this peaceable kingdom (v. 24). Nature will no longer be man’s enemy (v. 25).
Application
This world is full of negative things but I want to spend my life being positive, rejoicing in the Lord.
Isaiah 65:13– 25 (NET)
13 So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “Look, my servants will eat, but you will be hungry. Look, my servants will drink, but you will be thirsty. Look, my servants will rejoice, but you will be humiliated.
14 Look, my servants will shout for joy as happiness fills their hearts. But you will cry out as sorrow fills your hearts; you will wail because your spirits will be crushed.
15 Your names will live on in the curse formulas of my chosen ones. The Sovereign Lord will kill you, but he will give his servants another name.
16 Whoever pronounces a blessing in the earth will do so in the name of the faithful God; whoever makes an oath in the earth will do so in the name of the faithful God. For past problems will be forgotten; I will no longer think about them.
17 For look, I am ready to create new heavens and a new earth! The former ones will not be remembered; no one will think about them anymore.
18 But be happy and rejoice forevermore over what I am about to create! For look, I am ready to create Jerusalem to be a source of joy, and her people to be a source of happiness.
19 Jerusalem will bring me joy, and my people will bring me happiness. The sound of weeping or cries of sorrow will never be heard in her again.
20 Never again will one of her infants live just a few days or an old man die before his time. Indeed, no one will die before the age of one hundred; anyone who fails to reach the age of one hundred will be considered cursed.
21 They will build houses and live in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 No longer will they build a house only to have another live in it, or plant a vineyard only to have another eat its fruit, for my people will live as long as trees, and my chosen ones will enjoy to the fullest what they have produced.
23 They will not work in vain, or give birth to children that will experience disaster. For the Lord will bless their children and their descendants.
24 Before they even call out, I will respond; while they are still speaking, I will hear.
25 A wolf and a lamb will graze together; a lion, like an ox, will eat straw, and a snake’s food will be dirt. They will no longer injure or destroy on my entire royal mountain,” says the Lord.
Illustration: Tozer The Holy Spirit is a Person
"Spell this out in capital letters: THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A PERSON. He is not enthusiasm. He is not courage. He is not energy. He is not the personification of all good qualities, like Jack Frost is the personification of cold weather. Actually, the Holy Spirit is not the personification of anything…… He has individuality. He is one being and not another. He has will and intelligence. He has hearing. He has knowledge and sympathy and ability to love and see and think. He can hear, speak, desire, grieve and rejoice. He is a Person.” (In his book The Counselor, A.W. Tozer).