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Thursday, November 21st, 2024
the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33

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Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 65

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Verses 1-25

Intro:
1. Outline: The Rebels; The Remnant; The Regeneration. (Warren Wiersbe; Is.65 With the Word.)
  1. 1^st Punishment; then Perfection!
2. Remember the last chapter & a half was a prayer…now God answers!
YOU CHOSE WHAT I HATE! (1-16)
1. THE REBELS! (1-7)
2. Here I am, here I am! (1)
  1. God is revealing himself to non-Jewish people; & for awhile he is choosing saved Gentiles instead of Israel to perform his will. (Willmington; Outline Bible.)
3. If the Lord is found by those that seek him not, how much more surely He will be found by those who seek Him!
  1. How much more to he who cries, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.”
4. Idolatry (2,3)
  1. Q: Why was God unable to answer the prophet’s prayer? ask
  2. He starts to enumerate the reasons that forced the Lord to turn aside from the Chosen People & call in the Gentiles to occupy the place & perform the mission which they had despised & fortified. (F.B.Meyer; Bible Commentary.)
  3. God pleaded w/His people to turn from their sins & come back to Him, but they refused.
    1. Q: What picture of God is unfolded here? ask
      1. w/outstretched hands…“please take my mercy!”
    2. Q: Ever have something you thought was good but others didn’t want it? (Good food to your toddler, try it!) (Ever pass out tracks?)
    3. When the Jews rejected God’s call, the Gentiles responded in their stead.
      1. Paul remembers this in Rom.10:20,21.
5. Witchcraft (4)
  1. They practiced necromancy(attempt to comm to the dead) in the graveyards & ate swine flesh.
  2. [Swine flesh? Yes Jews did, thus scorning the Mosaic Law]
6. Hypocrisy (5)
7. Paid in Full for their Sins (6,7)
8. THE REMNANT! (8-16)
9. God’s Faithful Remnant! (8-10)
10. Preserved & made prosperous!
  1. God always has his faithful remnant like a few grapes after the harvest – see Deut.24:21.
  2. And he uses them as the nucleus of a new beginning.
  3. Did he not spare & use “Noah, Lot, Caleb, etc.” – his faithful remnant becomes the seed germs of a new nation.
  4. Ponder vs.8-10 then ask that your life would be like the new young grapes on which the blessing of God rests!
11. Sharon – (sounds like Ariel Sharon) fertile coastal plain from Joppa to Mt. Carmel. (It was known for its floral beauty, still is)
12. Valley of Achor–[10 m so. of Jericho, proverbial for hope/blessing]See Hos.2:14,15
  1. Only God can give new meaning to old names, & wipe out painful associations w/old places.
  2. The Valley of Achor(valley of trouble), was where Achan was stoned(Joshua 7:24-26) but it became a door of hope! (a valley of hope)
13. Cut Down by the Sword! (11-12)
14. The rebels will be judged but the remnant(my servants) will be blessed.
15. Their chosen deities? Gad(דַגּ) & Meni(יִנְמ ) – the Syrian gods of fortune & destiny. (Today we know them by a different name, the Latin…“Lotto”) ☺
  1. Play on words with number/destine in vs.12.
16. Destroyed because they did not listen (12)
17. Q: Do you ever choose what God hates?
  1. Yes, we all do…but I bet we don’t look at it that way! 2.17.1.1. We see it as 2^nd best; an alternative; etc.
18. Becoming a Curse! (13-16)
19. Another Name! (13-15)
  1. Great contrasts:
  2. Hunger, thirst, sorrow of heart, grief of spirit. {phys, emotional, sp.}
  3. Finally we get to truly “eat, drink, & be merry”…& never die!
20. Forgiven (16)
21. God of truth – or God of amen! [ןֵמאָ]
NEW CREATION! (17-25)
1. A reference to the glorious Millennium.
2. THE REGENERATION! (17-25)
  1. This is what Jesus called the Kingdom God has prepared for His people.
  2. Mt.29:28 “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on 12 thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
  3. (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon) The word often used to denote the restoration of a thing to its pristine state, its renovation, as a renewal or restoration of life after death. 1B the renovation of the earth after the deluge. 1C the renewal of the world to take place after its destruction by fire, (Strong, J. (1996))
3. Jerusalem Rebuilt! (17-19)
4. (17) In Revelation 21:1 the new heavens and new earth follow the Millennium. (Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
  1. Isaiah likely merges the concepts of the millennial kingdom & the eternal state.
  2. The Millennium, though 1000 years in duration, will be a mere pinpoint of time compared with the eternal state. (Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
5. Probably won’t come to mind because the new is so fantastic!
6. (18,19) It will be a time of joy, when the blessings of God flows!
  1. The Faith Teachers aren’t wrong about health & wealth…just wrong time period!
7. Joy – What’s God all about?
  1. Often isn’t most our thoughts on God about His Holiness, righteousness, doing the right thing. Yes, but God is all about JOY!
  2. We often only think in moralistic terms: “relating to issues of right & wrong”.
    1. Q: So what’s heaven all about then?
    2. Q: If we are all perfected & can’t do wrong…is that it?
    3. What about Joy, Delight, Happiness, Pleasure, Bliss, Gratification, Elation?
    4. I thought the chief end of man was “to Glorify God & ENJOY Him forever!”
    5. Didn’t the Psalmist say, “In His presence is the fullness of Joy!”
    6. This starts here on earth once we recognize that this Joy isn’t found from God, but only in God! Piper-Christian Hedonism
8. Longevity! (20-23)
9. The blessings that are named are in contrast to the judgments listed in Deut.28:15.
10. (20a) No infant deaths. (SIDS)
11. (20b) All but the rebellious live to celebrate their 100^th birthdays.
  1. Only sinners die young.
  2. Since there is no sickness or suffering, weeping nor crying, there will be longevity.
12. (21-23) A time of great prosperity.
  1. Live in their own house (A little real estate advice: “dump you rentals before the Mill!”)
  2. Eat from their own vineyards.
  3. Are blessed by God.
13. (22) Days of a tree – it appears that believers will not die in the millennium. (if so where would they go?)
14. Peace, Peace! (24,25)
15. (24) Prayers are instantly answered!
  1. Verizon, ATT, Pac Bell, none can offer this on your cell plan!
  2. Before prayers are spoken, God answers.
  3. If there is a need, they will call, God will respond.
16. (25) The wolf, lamb, lion, & ox dwell in perfect harmony.
17. Not hurt or destroy – I guess there is no “News Stations” in the Millennium then…cuz they’re all about hurt & destruction.
  1. Imagine the News – The weather tomorrow?...well, perfect again; & Now for the local news in Jerusalem?...well, no crime again to report; no traffic; everyone’s enjoying themselves, just peace, peace, peace…back to you Jim!
18. Charles F. Kettering said, “We should all be concerned about the future because we all will have to spend the rest of our lives there.”

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Verses 1-25

Intro:
1. Outline: The Rebels; The Remnant; The Regeneration. (Warren Wiersbe; Is.65 With the Word.)
  1. 1^st Punishment; then Perfection!
2. Remember the last chapter & a half was a prayer…now God answers!
YOU CHOSE WHAT I HATE! (1-16)
1. THE REBELS! (1-7)
2. Here I am, here I am! (1)
  1. God is revealing himself to non-Jewish people; & for awhile he is choosing saved Gentiles instead of Israel to perform his will. (Willmington; Outline Bible.)
3. If the Lord is found by those that seek him not, how much more surely He will be found by those who seek Him!
  1. How much more to he who cries, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.”
4. Idolatry (2,3)
  1. Q: Why was God unable to answer the prophet’s prayer? ask
  2. He starts to enumerate the reasons that forced the Lord to turn aside from the Chosen People & call in the Gentiles to occupy the place & perform the mission which they had despised & fortified. (F.B.Meyer; Bible Commentary.)
  3. God pleaded w/His people to turn from their sins & come back to Him, but they refused.
    1. Q: What picture of God is unfolded here? ask
      1. w/outstretched hands…“please take my mercy!”
    2. Q: Ever have something you thought was good but others didn’t want it? (Good food to your toddler, try it!) (Ever pass out tracks?)
    3. When the Jews rejected God’s call, the Gentiles responded in their stead.
      1. Paul remembers this in Rom.10:20,21.
5. Witchcraft (4)
  1. They practiced necromancy(attempt to comm to the dead) in the graveyards & ate swine flesh.
  2. [Swine flesh? Yes Jews did, thus scorning the Mosaic Law]
6. Hypocrisy (5)
7. Paid in Full for their Sins (6,7)
8. THE REMNANT! (8-16)
9. God’s Faithful Remnant! (8-10)
10. Preserved & made prosperous!
  1. God always has his faithful remnant like a few grapes after the harvest – see Deut.24:21.
  2. And he uses them as the nucleus of a new beginning.
  3. Did he not spare & use “Noah, Lot, Caleb, etc.” – his faithful remnant becomes the seed germs of a new nation.
  4. Ponder vs.8-10 then ask that your life would be like the new young grapes on which the blessing of God rests!
11. Sharon – (sounds like Ariel Sharon) fertile coastal plain from Joppa to Mt. Carmel. (It was known for its floral beauty, still is)
12. Valley of Achor–[10 m so. of Jericho, proverbial for hope/blessing]See Hos.2:14,15
  1. Only God can give new meaning to old names, & wipe out painful associations w/old places.
  2. The Valley of Achor(valley of trouble), was where Achan was stoned(Joshua 7:24-26) but it became a door of hope! (a valley of hope)
13. Cut Down by the Sword! (11-12)
14. The rebels will be judged but the remnant(my servants) will be blessed.
15. Their chosen deities? Gad(דַגּ) & Meni(יִנְמ ) – the Syrian gods of fortune & destiny. (Today we know them by a different name, the Latin…“Lotto”) ☺
  1. Play on words with number/destine in vs.12.
16. Destroyed because they did not listen (12)
17. Q: Do you ever choose what God hates?
  1. Yes, we all do…but I bet we don’t look at it that way! 2.17.1.1. We see it as 2^nd best; an alternative; etc.
18. Becoming a Curse! (13-16)
19. Another Name! (13-15)
  1. Great contrasts:
  2. Hunger, thirst, sorrow of heart, grief of spirit. {phys, emotional, sp.}
  3. Finally we get to truly “eat, drink, & be merry”…& never die!
20. Forgiven (16)
21. God of truth – or God of amen! [ןֵמאָ]
NEW CREATION! (17-25)
1. A reference to the glorious Millennium.
2. THE REGENERATION! (17-25)
  1. This is what Jesus called the Kingdom God has prepared for His people.
  2. Mt.29:28 “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on 12 thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”
  3. (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon) The word often used to denote the restoration of a thing to its pristine state, its renovation, as a renewal or restoration of life after death. 1B the renovation of the earth after the deluge. 1C the renewal of the world to take place after its destruction by fire, (Strong, J. (1996))
3. Jerusalem Rebuilt! (17-19)
4. (17) In Revelation 21:1 the new heavens and new earth follow the Millennium. (Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
  1. Isaiah likely merges the concepts of the millennial kingdom & the eternal state.
  2. The Millennium, though 1000 years in duration, will be a mere pinpoint of time compared with the eternal state. (Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1983-c1985). The Bible knowledge commentary : An exposition of the scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
5. Probably won’t come to mind because the new is so fantastic!
6. (18,19) It will be a time of joy, when the blessings of God flows!
  1. The Faith Teachers aren’t wrong about health & wealth…just wrong time period!
7. Joy – What’s God all about?
  1. Often isn’t most our thoughts on God about His Holiness, righteousness, doing the right thing. Yes, but God is all about JOY!
  2. We often only think in moralistic terms: “relating to issues of right & wrong”.
    1. Q: So what’s heaven all about then?
    2. Q: If we are all perfected & can’t do wrong…is that it?
    3. What about Joy, Delight, Happiness, Pleasure, Bliss, Gratification, Elation?
    4. I thought the chief end of man was “to Glorify God & ENJOY Him forever!”
    5. Didn’t the Psalmist say, “In His presence is the fullness of Joy!”
    6. This starts here on earth once we recognize that this Joy isn’t found from God, but only in God! Piper-Christian Hedonism
8. Longevity! (20-23)
9. The blessings that are named are in contrast to the judgments listed in Deut.28:15.
10. (20a) No infant deaths. (SIDS)
11. (20b) All but the rebellious live to celebrate their 100^th birthdays.
  1. Only sinners die young.
  2. Since there is no sickness or suffering, weeping nor crying, there will be longevity.
12. (21-23) A time of great prosperity.
  1. Live in their own house (A little real estate advice: “dump you rentals before the Mill!”)
  2. Eat from their own vineyards.
  3. Are blessed by God.
13. (22) Days of a tree – it appears that believers will not die in the millennium. (if so where would they go?)
14. Peace, Peace! (24,25)
15. (24) Prayers are instantly answered!
  1. Verizon, ATT, Pac Bell, none can offer this on your cell plan!
  2. Before prayers are spoken, God answers.
  3. If there is a need, they will call, God will respond.
16. (25) The wolf, lamb, lion, & ox dwell in perfect harmony.
17. Not hurt or destroy – I guess there is no “News Stations” in the Millennium then…cuz they’re all about hurt & destruction.
  1. Imagine the News – The weather tomorrow?...well, perfect again; & Now for the local news in Jerusalem?...well, no crime again to report; no traffic; everyone’s enjoying themselves, just peace, peace, peace…back to you Jim!
18. Charles F. Kettering said, “We should all be concerned about the future because we all will have to spend the rest of our lives there.”

return to 'Top of Page'

IsaiahIsa 64 IsaiahIsa IsaiahIsa 66

Copyright Statement
These files are the property of Brian Bell.
Text Courtesy of Calvary Chapel of Murrieta. Used by Permission.

Bibliographical Information
Bell, Brian. "Commentary on Isaiah 65". "Bell's Commentary". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/cbb/isaiah-65.html. 2017.

Bible CommentariesIsaiah 65

Bell's Commentary on the BibleBell's Commentary

Verses 1-25

Verses 1-25

Bible Commentaries
Isaiah 65