IV. THE PRAYER OF ISRAEL AND THE LORD'S RESPONSE (63:1-65:25)
A. Because Of The Lovingkindness Of The Lord Toward Zion, He Will Bring Vengeance Against All Her Enemies (63:1-9)
1. Jehovah's vengeance on his enemies (63:1-6)
(1) Here Jehovah is portrayed by the prophet as a mighty warrior returning from punishing Edom. Jehovah identifies Himself as I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.
(2) The garments worn by Jehovah are stained red as if He had been treading wine in a winepress.
(3) The stains are the blood of His enemies, not only Edom but all nations that have come against Him. Jehovah has acted alone in bringing this judgment upon His enemies. His judgment has far reaching consequences as all my raiment has been stained. The heathen meet their Maker as His Word treads them in the winepress of His wrath.
(4) The Lord's holiness is vindicated in this vengeance against the heathen. It was in His heart to trample the wicked.
(5) Just as no counsellor could be found in physical Zion, no ally was among the peoples (Gentiles). Jehovah was appalled that no helper could be found. He therefore relied only on His own might and His own holy wrath to sustain Him through the battle with evil.
(6) The nations would be completely trodden under His feet, being reduced to a state of total helplessness.
2. Jehovah's enduring love for His people (63:7-9) - It is now time to count blessings and offer praise to Jehovah.
(7) It is probable that the prophet is speaking on behalf of the faithful remnant. Isaiah mentions Jehovah's acts of tenderness based on His everlasting love, the graciousness of Jehovah to which they can appeal for forgiveness, and the Lord's sympathy for His people. These are representative characteristics of Jehovah for which His followers should be thankful.
(8) Because Jehovah has chosen them as His people He has a right to expect certain behavior from them. His people must be faithful and obedient to remain in His good graces.
(9) Alexander believes this verse should be read "in all their enmity (to Him) He was not an enemy (to them)." He afflicted them to help them, not hurt them. If instead the basic translation is taken, then Jehovah is pictured as being empathetic with the afflictions of the people (Jud. 10:16, Heb. 4:15). The word angel could be translated messenger and thus could refer to Moses (Ex. 33:14), but most probably refers to the Messiah (2 Cor. 4:4,6; Col. 1:15; Heb. 1:3) who is the Word of God made flesh (Jn. 1:14). Throughout their history Israel's redemption and care have been provided by Jehovah.
B. Though Israel Often Rebelled, They Now Pray For Mercy And Help (63:10-19)
1. The people's response: rebellion (63:10-14)
(10) The people had chosen to ignore God's graciousness and instead grieve the Holy Spirit. In the end, Jehovah became the enemy of Israel-Judah just as He had become the enemy of the entire world in the time of Noah.
(11) Five questions are posed concerning the days of Moses. 1, Where is he that brought them up out of the sea...? This refers to Moses himself. 2, Where is he that put his holy Spirit in the midst of them? This could refer to Jehovah giving His Spirit to the elders in the wilderness (Num. 11:17,25,29).
(12) 3, Where is he...that caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses? This points back to Jehovah leading and strengthening Moses. 4, Where is he that divided the Red Sea and by that miracle made an everlasting name for Himself among all peoples?
(13) 5, Where is He that led them through the depths? Without Jehovah the people would have drowned in the depths of the sea, instead (with His help) they were as a sure-footed horse traveling on flat, dry ground.
(14) The people were finally led (by Jehovah) to their valley of rest - Canaan land. If God performed all this glorious work at the beginning of Israel's history, why is He not doing anything at the present (Isaiah's) time?
2. The impassioned prayer for mercy and help begins (63:15-19)
(15) Comparing His care for them in the time of Moses to His lack of care for them now, the people pray for help.
(16) The ground for their appeal is that He is their Father. They are beyond the help of Abraham and Israel, they must rely on Jehovah.
(17) Because the people had not hearkened to the prophet's words they had become hardened to God's will.
(18,19) The people had possessed the promised land, but through years of idolatry had caused themselves to "utterly perish from off the land" (Deut. 4:25,26). After the corruption of the land by Manasseh (2 Ki. 21:1-18) there was only one more good king; four wicked kings followed, then the destruction of Jerusalem and the Babylonian exile. This scenario seems to be the fulfillment of Isaiah's words in these verses. Those who have trodden down thy sanctuary could be the Babylonians or the idolaters (who because of their idolatry were like foreigners to Jehovah). [TOP OF THIS PAGE]
C. Their Prayer Is Concluded With A Confession Of Sin And Acknowledgment Of Dependence Upon The Lord (64:1-12)
1. Prayer for Jehovah's presence and action (64:1-7)
(1) As the prophet continues to speak for the nation he calls for Jehovah to make His presence known. The people seem to have forgotten the terror experienced by their ancestors at Sinai as they call for Jehovah to once again appear in their midst.
(2) Jehovah's presence would be as an intense fire that would cause His name to be recognized among all His adversaries as they become fully aware of His power and being.
(3) Sometimes God's actions have indeed been terrible (terrifying) things. In their prayer the people call for similar awe-inspiring actions from Jehovah (Nah. 1:5).
(4) No idol or man-made god had ever performed anything that could be compared to the works of Jehovah. Simply put, the idols had not performed anything at all. Jehovah God is incomparable!
(5) The meaning of this verse appears to be that Jehovah meets and aids those who rejoice in Him and work righteousness. Thou meetest could also be translated "you intercede" for him that rejoices and works righteousness. In spite of all God does on man's behalf, man still sins. To be in a right relationship with God, man must seek, listen to, and obey Him (Isa. 55:6,7).
(6) Even the remnant has been affected by the consequences of the national sins of Israel. The uncleanness of the nation as a whole has made the people unfit to collectively approach the Lord. Their righteousness has become polluted, as the rags used by a women during their monthly menstrual cycle, when they, along with her garments, are impure and untouchable (Lev. 15:19-30, 33). It is during such an unholy time when the people are easily carried away from Jehovah.
(7) It is possible that even the faithful few have ceased to pray, perhaps because they believe that God no longer answers their prayers or because they are unfit to pray. Without Jehovah's assistance the nation is as weak, helpless, and shapeless as melted wax.
2. A renewed cry for mercy (64:8-12)
(8) Now their cry to Jehovah is based on Him as the Creator. The Potter can mold the clay only as the clay is willing to yield to His hands. If he cannot make a vessel of honor, then he will make one of dishonor (Jer. 18:1-4). Because the people (clay) have not yielded themselves to Jehovah (Potter), He must make of them a vessel of dishonor.
(9) The people beg God not to remember their sins in eternity. We will see God's answer to this plea as we study chapter 65, as He separates the faithful from the unfaithful and declares the destiny of each.
(10) Here thy holy cities probably refer to the cities of Judah (Zech. 2:12). The cities are to become a wilderness and Jerusalem itself a desolation.
(11) Isaiah through Jehovah's inspiration looks ahead to the total destruction of the temple and its surroundings.
(12) The prayer concludes with two questions for Jehovah: 1, In view of the described conditions how can He fail to act and 2, will the affliction continue indefinitely? We will see an implied answer to these questions in the next chapter.
D. The Lord's Answer To Their Prayer (65:1-25) - Because of their rebellion and idolatry, God will not answer their prayers the way they hoped; He cannot save fleshly Israel. Instead the present order will pass away and a new God-created order will take its place.
1. Their suffering was a just reward for their sins (65:1-7)
(1) Paul (in Rom. 10:20,21) applies verse 1 to the Gentiles and verse 2 to the Jews. It will be through the gospel that the Gentiles (a people that sought Me not) will be invited to become part of God's people (Mt. 28:18-19).
(2) Jehovah has continuously appealed to Israel to remain faithful, despite their rebellious and stubborn nature. A nature that the Jews still possessed in New Testament times (Acts 7:51).
(3) Following their own wisdom the people have: insulted, defied, and blasphemed God and practiced idolatry and other improper forms of worship.
(4) Instead of seeking God's advice it is possible that the people were consulting with the dead as they chose to sit among the graves. They also were violating God's laws concerning food, perhaps even to the extent of concocting supposed magical potions (broth of abominable things).
(5) Those that practiced these abominations considered themselves holier than the true worshipers of God. Idolaters are as smoke in Jehovah's nose; an irritant and cause of divine jealousy and deep anger.
(6) Jehovah not only keeps an account of the deeds of the righteous He also keeps an account of the deeds of the wicked. The rebellious and idolaters will be paid in full for their sins. Bosom, represents a fold in an apron where goods can be carried (Ruth 3:15) or a bribe concealed (Prov. 17:23).
(7) These sins that must be recompensed were ancient sins of their fathers that they had continued up to Isaiah's day. Reproach had been brought against God's holy name by their idolatry, immoral practices, and blasphemy. Jehovah will have no alternative other than casting off such a wicked nation.
2. A seed (remnant) shall be saved out of Zion who sought the Lord, but those who forgot His Holy Mountain shall be numbered to the sword (65:8-16)
a. Salvation of a remnant - destruction of the faithless (vv. 8-12)
(8) Once again Jehovah promises that a remnant will be spared. This is in keeping with His previous promises to Abraham (Gen. 12:3; 22:18) and Isaac and Jacob (Gen. 26:2-5; 28:14).
(9) To fulfill His purpose Jehovah will bring forth a seed out of Jacob and an inheritor of my mountains from Judah. Both Israel and Judah went into captivity, both ceased to exist as political kingdoms, and from both Jehovah will redeem His remnant. To possess God's mountain a set of conditions must be met which include standards of: morality, faithfulness, and repentance (Deut. 9:3-5; Lev. 18:24-30; Deut. 4: 37-40; 1 Chron. 28:8; Deut. 30:8-10). Neither the exiles that returned from Babylon nor their offspring were able to meet these conditions. Therefore the promise of inheritance passed from physical Israel to the new seed.
(10) Physical places are used to show the expanse of the spiritual kingdom making the point that the homeland of spiritual Israel will be characterized by abundance, security, and blessings.
(11) What will become of those that forget His holy mountain and turn from Him to serve idols? The words that troop and that number in the KJV would be more properly rendered Fortune (Gad) and Destiny (Meni). "Fortune" and "Destiny" are Canaanite deities that Israel had chosen to embrace. Believers in the One True God reject the ideas of luck (Fortune) and fate (Destiny), because the righteous, and the wise, and their works, are in the hand of God (Ecc. 9:1). God's providence determines the destiny of all mankind.
(12) Jehovah plays on the word destine as He continues with: I will destine you to the sword... It is the counsel and providence of God that will determine man's "destiny" and "fate," not the work of some idol. He will destroy His own people because they did not answer His call and did not attend to what He said.
b. Blessings and judgments (vv. 13-16)
(13,14) Here Jehovah provides four stark contrasts between those who are His "servants" and those that are rejected. 1, behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry; 2, behold my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty. The Servant will come offering the people the bread from heaven and the living water and those who partake of them will neither hunger nor thirst (Jn. 6:35). 3, Behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be put to shame; and 4, behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart... There will be no fullness, joy, or singing apart from God.
(15) The name of fleshly Israel will be left as a curse. Because of the stigma attached to that name, Jehovah's people will be called by a another name, "My delight is in her" (Isa. 62:4, marginal reading). The new name in the New Testament that summarizes all that is new about God's new people is Christian.
(16) The only true blessings to be had are found only in the Lord. "Fortune" and "Destiny" will not aid man, but the God of truth will hold fast His commitments (2 Cor. 1:20; Rev. 3:14). For an oath to be truly sworn it must be done in the name of the God of truth. Only He can remove the afflictions brought on by unfaithfulness and set them aside to be remembered by Him no more.
3. The Lord promises to create new Heavens and a new Earth (65:17-25)
(17) It will be in Christ that all things will be brought together under one head (Eph. 1:10). This arrangement to which Paul refers is the new heavens and new earth of Isaiah's prophecy. This new arrangement will be newly created, that is, something brand new; not something refurbished, rebuilt, or renovated. All the aspects of Judaism will be done away, including: the special physical nation (both the people and their land), animal sacrifices, religious holy days, and ceremonial rites (2 Cor. 5:17).
(18,19) The new spiritual age will cause rejoicing among God and His people. The newly created people will need a new Jerusalem, so God will create them one.
(20) With God, it is not the length of one's days on this earth that counts, but instead the fullness of those days. Each citizen of the new Jerusalem will be called on to fulfill his mission in God's purpose, but the length of his days might be short (Stephen) or long (John). The sinner, however, will be accursed regardless of the length of his days.
(21,22) In the new city God will provide security, permanence, beauty, and fruitfulness (Jer. 17:8).
(23) The labors of the people in the new order will not be in vain (1 Cor. 15:58), nor will they produce the death and destruction from the Lord that their forefather's idolatry did. Why? Because they are the seed of the blessed Jehovah, and their offspring with them.
(24) Jehovah will see the needs of His people before they do and will make provisions for them. This does not do away with the need for prayer, but only guarantees that He is keeping an eye on His people and listening for their cries (Ps. 34:15; 1 Pet, 3:12; Phil. 4:4-7).
(25) Compare this verse with what was said concerning (Isa.
11:6-9). This verse confirms that this passage concerns the messianic
period. For more on God's holy mountain review (Isa. 2:2-4; 56:6,7;
57:13). Dust shall be the serpent's food reminds us of
(Gen. 3:14). This phrase is a metaphor concerning the humble,
defeated condition that Satan will experience when he confronts
the Servant (Heb. 2:14; 1 Jn. 3:8; Rom. 16:20). The relationship
that we have with God that we obtain through the Servant is the
holy mountain and heavenly Jerusalem in which we experience spiritual
blessings (Heb. 12:22). [TOP OF THIS
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