Isa 65.1-25 tells us that Israel is seen as if they are a heathen nation, but God will not abandon them. The prophetic context is the second coming of Yeshua and God is going to bring charges against his people because when Yeshua comes it will be during the high holy days of Rosh Ha Shanah and Yom Kippur, both considered to be a Yom Ha Din or “Day of Judgment.”
v 1…”I permitted myself to be sought by those who did not ask for me (answers the prayer in 63.15), I permitted myself to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here I am, here I am” to a nation (Israel is called “Goy” in Hebrew here, not “Am” because they were acting like the heathen) which did not call on my name (did not invoke his name like a heathen who did not know it).
v 2…I have spread out my hands all day long (to embrace them; he did not leave them alone) to a rebellious people (Israel, he is inviting them), who walk in the way which is not good, following their own thoughts (and ways contrary to the Torah-Judges 21.25).
v 3…A people who continually provoke me to my face (with pagan practices by the exiles and are now brought out, which are different from their fathers), offering sacrifices in gardens (Isa 1.29, 66.7, 57.5) and burning incense on bricks (God’s altars were to be of unhewn stone-Exo 20.25);
v 4…who sit among graves (sacrificing to the dead); and spend the night in secret places (not accessible to everyone); who eat swine’s flesh (a main sacrifice of the pagans-2 Macc 6.2; Prov 14.4; Acts 10.1-28; Isa 65.11, 66.7), and the broth of unclean meat is in their pots (contrary to Lev 11.1-12);
v 5…Who say, “Keep to yourself; do not come near me, for I am holier than you (respect what I am doing or God will be displeased. People who do this think they are actually doing what God said and are “holy”)!” These are smoke in my nostrils (irritating and in God’s wrath), a fire that burns all the day (not going to be extinguished).
v 6…Behold (see for yourself), it is written before me (their idolatry), I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will even repay into their bosom (he will keep silent when he has repaid them),
v 7…Both their own iniquities and the iniquities of their fathers together (because theirs were a continuation of their father’s sins),” says the Lord (Yehovah). “Because they have burned incense on the mountains, and scorned me on the hills, therefore I will measure their former work into their bosom.”
v 8…Thus says the Lord, “As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one says, ‘Do not destroy it, for there is benefit in it (the juice)’, so I will act on behalf of my servants in order not to destroy all of them (in other words, just like a small cluster of grapes is plucked from an otherwise unfruitful tree, a remnant will be preserved in Israel).
v 9…And I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, and an heir of my mountains from Judah (the two exiles will have survivors who will take possession of the holy mountains of Israel); even my chosen ones (the elect) will inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.
v 10…And Sharon (to the west) shall be a pasture land for flocks, and the valley of Achor (in the east) a resting place for herds (the whole extent of the land will be peaceful and prosperous), for my people who seek me.
v 11…But you who forsake the Lord (for other gods; Ha Satan has tried to mix or sow his word into God’s word, the Torah. But God’s word is the only good seed-Matt 13.1-30; Luke 8.4-15), who forget my holy mountain (Mount Moriah, the Temple Mount; it is called the “mount of assembly” in Isa 14.13 or “Har ha Moghed” where we get “Har Moghedon” or “Armageddon” from in Rev 16.16), who set a table (keep a festival or celebration) for Fortune (Hebrew “Gad”, a semitic deity of fortune. This god is usually mentioned with “Meni” meaning “destiny” or “numberer.” This verse alludes to a “meal of the gods-Jer 7.18; 51.44- held in their honor. The exiles were worshiping these false gods after the customs of the Babylonians) and fill cups with mixed wine for Destiny (“Meni” in Hebrew and just mentioned. Rome moved away from the worship of Jupiter, Juno and Mars to their own version of what is called “Mithraism.” This was a Persian system that was westernized by Rome and became the premier religion by 325 A.D. and Constantine. Mithraism “disappeared” about that time according to some scholars, but it really didn’t disappear. It was absorbed into Replacement Theology Christianity. These deities and their associated names through the years in the pantheon of false gods were worshiped on December 24th and December 25th in paganism. Meni means “numberer” as seen in Dan 5.25 and is associated with “Fate.” Some believe it was a moon deity that went by “Luna”, “Fortuna” and “Tyche” in paganism).
v 12…I will destine you (a play on words in Hebrew) for the sword and all of you shall bow down (submit) to the slaughter because I called you, but you did not answer’ I spoke but you did not hear. And you did evil in my sight, and chose that in which I did not delight (Isa 56.4-8 tells us what he delights in-Torah observance).
v 13…Therefore (as a result), thus says the Lord God (Adonai Yehovah), “Behold (see for yourself), my servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry (back in captivity). Behold, my servants shall drink (Isa 62.8), but you shall be thirsty. Behold, my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be put to shame (there will be blessings on those who obey the Torah, and curses to those who don’t).
v 14…Behold, my servants shall shout joyfully with a glad heart, but you shall cry out with a heavy heart, and you shall wail with a broken spirit (this carries the same thought as v 13).
v 15…And you will leave your name for a curse to my chosen ones (forsaken, desolate in captivity-Isa 62.4), and the Lord will slay you (by his judgments). But my servants will be called by another name (Isa 62.1-4- “Hephri-bah” or “my delight is in her” and “Beulah” meaning “married.” A marriage has taken place and it uses imagery of the Olam Haba-Rev 20-21).
v 16…Because he who is blessed in the earth shall be blessed by the God of truth (empowered to succeed); and he who swears in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hidden from my sight!
v 17…For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth (the fact that they have passed as before; the heavens and the earth have changed before-2 Pet 3.10-13; Isa 11.6-10, 54.4; Rev 22.1-3-look for Sukkot themes now); and the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind (this is talking about the Atid Lavo, or “coming age” and also the Messianic Kingdom).
v 18…But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing, and her people for gladness.
v 19…I will also rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; and there will no longer be heard in her the voice of weeping and the sound of crying.
v 20…No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days (premature death), or an old man who does not live out his days (not attained his days; died in his youth); for the youth will die at the age of one hundred and the one who does not (who misses the mark; a sinner) will reach the age of one hundred shall be thought accursed (because he is lost for eternity-there is death in the kingdom).
v 21…And they shall build houses and inhabit them (construction in the kingdom, and they will live peaceably); they shall also plant vineyards (farming in the kingdom) and eat their fruit (not their enemies).
v 22…They shall not build, and another inhabit (dispossessed by an enemy), they shall not plant, and another eat; for as the lifetime of a tree, so shall the days of my people (long-lasting, not like the leaf), and my chosen ones (the elect) shall wear out (long enjoy) the work of their hands.
v 23…And they shall not labor in vain, or bear children for calamity (children will be born in the kingdom from those who survived the birth-pains in their physical bodies); for they are the offspring of those blessed by the Lord, and their descendants with them.
v 24…And it shall also come to pass that before they call (in prayer), I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear (this has not happened yet, this will be like in Gan Eden-John 16.23; 1 Cor 13.9-13; Isa 30.19-21; Num 12.1-9).
v 25…The wolf and the lamb shall graze together (nature will be redeemed also), and the lion will eat straw like the ox (not ferocious anymore), dust shall be the serpent’s food (that has not changed from Gen 3; it will still slither in the dust but will not injure man). They shall do no evil or harm in all my holy mountain,” says the Lord (the “holy mountain” is a term for the Atid Lavod, or Messianic Kingdom, and the Olam Haba, or “world to come”-Dan 2.35).
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