Matthew Henry Commentary Isaiah 65
Matthew Henry Commentary
Isaiah 65
Matthew Henry Commentary
Isaiah 65
"I am inquired of by them that asked not [for me]; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, that walk in a way that is not good, after their own thoughts; a people that provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens, and burning incense upon bricks; that sit among the graves, and lodge in the secret places; that eat swine`s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; that say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me, for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day. Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, yea, I will recompense into their bosom, your own iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith Jehovah, that have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills; therefore will I first measure their work into their bosom." — Isaiah 65:1-7 (ASV)
The Gentiles came to seek God, and find him, because they were first sought and found by him. Often he meets some thoughtless trifler or profligate opposer, and says to him, Here I am; and a speedy change takes place. All the gospel day, Christ waited to be gracious.
The Jews were invited, but would not come. It is not without cause they are rejected by God. They would do what most pleased them. They grieved, they vexed the Holy Spirit. They forsook God's temple, and sacrificed in groves.
They did not care for the distinction between clean and unclean meats, before it was taken away by the gospel. Perhaps this is put for all forbidden pleasures, and all that is thought to be gained by sin, that abominable thing which the Lord hates. Christ denounced many woes against the pride and hypocrisy of the Jews.
The proof against them is plain. And let us watch against pride and self-preference, remembering that every sin, and the most secret thoughts of man's heart, are known and will be judged by God.
"Thus saith Jehovah, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants` sake, that I may not destroy them all. And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains; and my chosen shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me." — Isaiah 65:8-10 (ASV)
In the bunch of unripe grapes, at present of no value, the new wine is contained. The Jews have been kept a distinct people, that all may witness the fulfilment of ancient prophecies and promises. God's chosen, the spiritual seed of praying Jacob, shall inherit his mountains of bliss and joy, and be carried safe to them through the vale of tears. All things are for the display of God's glory in the redemption of sinners.
"But ye that forsake Jehovah, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for Fortune, and that fill up mingled wine unto Destiny; I will destine you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter; because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but ye did that which was evil in mine eyes, and chose that wherein I delighted not. Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be put to shame; behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall wail for vexation of spirit. And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen; and the Lord Jehovah will slay thee; and he will call his servants by another name: so that he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes." — Isaiah 65:11-16 (ASV)
Here the different states of the godly and wicked, of the Jews who believed, and of those who persisted in unbelief, are set against one another. They prepared a table for that multitude of deities which the heathen worship, and poured out drink offerings to that countless number. Their worshippers spared no cost to honour them, which should shame the worshippers of the true God.
See the malignity of sin; it is doing by choice what we know will displease God. In every age and nation, the Lord leaves those who persist in doing evil and despise the call of the gospel. God's servants will have the bread of life and will lack nothing good for them.
But those who forsake the Lord will be ashamed of vain confidence in their own righteousness and the hopes they built on it. Worldly people bless themselves in the abundance of this world's goods, but God's servants bless themselves in him. He is their strength and portion.
They will honour him as the God of truth. And it was promised that in him all the families of the earth would be blessed. They will think themselves happy in having him for their God, who made them forget their troubles.
"For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create; for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people; and there shall be heard in her no more the voice of weeping and the voice of crying. There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days; for the child shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner being a hundred years old shall be accursed. And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree shall be the days of my people, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for calamity; for they are the seed of the blessed of Jehovah, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent`s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith Jehovah." — Isaiah 65:17-25 (ASV)
In the grace and comfort believers have in and from Christ, we are to look for this new heaven and new earth. The former confusions, sins and miseries of the human race will no longer be remembered or renewed. The approaching happy state of the church is described under a variety of images.
He will be thought to die in his youth, and for his sins, who only lives to the age of a hundred years. The event alone can determine what is meant; but it is plain that Christianity, if universal, would so do away with violence and evil as to greatly lengthen life. In those happy days, all God's people will enjoy the fruit of their labours.
Nor will children then be the trouble of their parents, or suffer trouble themselves. The evil dispositions of sinners will be completely mortified; all will live in harmony. Thus the church on earth will be full of happiness, like heaven. This prophecy assures the servants of Christ that the time approaches in which they will be blessed with the undisturbed enjoyment of all that is necessary for their happiness.
As workers together with God, let us attend his ordinances, and obey his commands.
Jump to: