Lesson: Isaiah 65:17-21, 23-25
Golden Text: “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former 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” (Isaiah 65:17-18).
I.
INTRODUCTION.
We have become so accustomed to living in a fallen world
that we cannot imagine what nature and society will be like when Jesus returns
to make all things new. Our minds are conditioned to expect
disappointment and disaster. We have come to think of our
imperfect world as normal. Daily newscasts are filled with
unspeakable crimes, immoral perversions, and corrupt governments.
Train derailments, automobile accidents, and plane crashes occur with
distressing regularity. As we get older, we watch an increasing
number of our peers disappear from the earthly scene. We also see
the lives of infants and youths tragically shortened by disease, crime, war, and
accidents. However, this week’s lesson tells us that these
conditions will not last forever. Under the rule of the Messiah,
the redemptive work He began at His first advent will yield its final fruit.
II. THE NATURE OF
THE NEW CREATION (Isaiah 65:17-19). In the
earlier verses of Isaiah chapter 65, God responded to the prayer of His people
of the Northern Kingdom of Israel who were now in exile. In verses
1-7, the Lord indicated that Israel’s rejection of His love would bring about
judgment. In verses 8-12, God said that He would preserve a
remnant whose lives would be totally better than those who are wicked (see
verses 13-16). This better life would include the assurance that
the former troubles they suffered due to sin will be forgotten.A. A new creation beyond comparison (Isaiah 65:17). Isaiah begins our text by saying “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” The word “For” introduces the reason why Israel’s former troubles will be forgotten. It’s because God said “behold, I create new heavens and a new earth.” The term “behold” calls attention to the dramatic, grand climax to which God will bring His eternal plan. The word “create” is the same Hebrew word used in Genesis 1:1 indicating that just as God brought new things into existence by His authoritative word, so in the future He will make all things new again. The word “former” refers to anything that has to do with the old heavens and earth. The work that God performs will be so complete that the “former” or first creation, and everything in it, will “not be remembered, nor come into mind.”
B. A creation of joy (Isaiah 65:18-19).
1. (vs. 18). Still referring to the Eternal Kingdom, God speaks to His people through Isaiah saying “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.” In the eternal state, God’s people are told to be glad and rejoice forever in His new creation. Part of His new creation will be “Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.” The fact that Jerusalem will be created speaks of the eternal kingdom when “New Jerusalem” will come down from heaven to the new earth (see Revelation 21:1-2). When this happens, Jerusalem will be a joy to God’s people, which includes saints of all ages not just saved Jews.
2. (vs. 19). In this verse God continues to say to His people Israel “And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.” Old Testament Jerusalem was usually not joyful; it was under the chastening hand of God for its sins. Even today it’s a place of tension and rivalries, not joy. But during the Eternal Kingdom as well as during the Millennial Kingdom (see Micah 4:1-3: Zechariah 14:1-4), not only will God’s people rejoice, but God Himself will “rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people.” The Lord has always loved Israel, but they have not always brought Him joy. In Jerusalem during both kingdoms, not only will there be joy like never before, but also “the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.” The tragedies, losses, and regrets caused by sin will no longer plague God’s New Jerusalem (see Revelation 7:13-17; 21:1-4). The same will be true of Jerusalem during the millennial reign. This tells us that there will be some similarities with the Millennial Kingdom and the Eternal Kingdom.
III. THE BLESSINGS OF A NEW CULTURE (Isaiah 65:20-25). As noted earlier, this portion of our lesson deals specifically with the culture of the Millennial Kingdom, or the thousand year reign of Christ. Since verse 20 deals with life and death, it is a key verse in establishing the time frame of the remaining verses 18-25, because the continued presence of birth and death is proof that these verses do not describe the final eternal state or Eternal Kingdom. There will be no birth or death in the eternal state.
A. Increased longevity (Isaiah 65:20). In the Messiah’s kingdom, people will live much longer. Isaiah prophesied that “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 an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.” The phrase “There shall be no more thence an infant of days” means that during the millennial reign there will no longer be cases of infants dying after living only a few days. Parents will no longer have to endure the sorrow of losing a newborn child to death. In the future kingdom, infant death will be unknown. Similarly, there will not be “an old man that hath not filled his days.” In other words, even though death will still be present in the millennium, when an old person dies it will not be until he or she has completed a full life span. The elderly will not die prematurely. This will be possible because there will be healing for those with sickness and disease (see Isaiah 29:18; 33:24; 35:5-6; Ezekiel 34:16). The Lord also proclaimed that “the child shall die an hundred years old.” This means that one who dies at the age of one hundred will be considered a mere child because he will have not completed his potential life span. During this time life spans will be greatly increased. Today a life span of one hundred years is unusual. However, the longevity of life that will accompany the millennium won’t be anything new. In fact, that was the norm from Adam to Noah. After the flood, changes in climatic conditions, as well as the effects of sin contributed to a decrease in life expectancy. This verse ends by identifying that the one who dies prematurely at one hundred is the “sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.”
B. Security from oppression (Isaiah 65:21). Isaiah says in this verse that “And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.” In their earlier years as a nation, the Lord warned the Israelites that if they departed from Him their land would be invaded and pillaged by foreigners and they would eventually be carried away into captivity (see Deuteronomy 28:30-33). In addition their resources would be used by others. This prophecy came to pass many times (see Judges 6:1-6) and reached its final fulfillment in the Babylonian Captivity. But now God promised that would never happen during the messianic age. Never again will anyone build a house only to see it inhabited by someone else. For the one who builds the houses shall “inhabit them.” Nor will people plant and cultivate a vineyard only to see others eat its grapes (see Isaiah 62:8-9; Amos 9:14-15). For the one who “shall plant vineyards” will be the ones to “eat the fruit of them.”
C. Divinely blessed labor (Isaiah 65:23-24).
1. (vs. 23). Here the prophet continues to elaborate on the kingdom blessings to be enjoyed. He says “They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.” Again, the word “They” specifically refers to regenerated Israel. God’s people during the Messiah’s reign, first “shall not labour in vain” meaning that whatever work God’s people put into their products, they won’t lose anything due to invasion or natural disasters as they had in the past. In addition, God’s people will not “bring forth for trouble.” This indicates that human reproduction will continue in the kingdom age and the children that are born will not suffer misfortune or terror as many off springs do today. The reason for these blessings is that “they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.” Here there appears to be three generations mentioned, “the blessed of the Lord” or those saved Jews who preceded these who enter the kingdom. Next are the “the seed of the blessed of the Lord” those who have now entered the messianic age and “their offspring with them” refers to the children of those who have entered the messianic age. All three groups are “blessed.” Finally family life will reach the ideal for which God intended it. The generations will coexist and enjoy the same blessings because premature death will not carry any of them away.
2. (vs. 24). In the future kingdom God’s people will have His ear constantly. God says here “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” God’s people will enjoy such a new and better relationship with Him that He says “before they call, I will answer.” He will grant their requests before they even ask because their thoughts and desires will be the same as God’s. The Lord also says “and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” This means that the Lord will grant their requests while t the requests are still on their tongues. Again, God will answer in this way because the desires and thoughts of His people will finally be perfectly aligned with His.
D. Harmony in nature (Isaiah 65:25). Isaiah’s prophetic description of the messianic age concludes with the fact that “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord.” This verse is similar to Isaiah 11:6-9. During the messianic age there will also be changes in the animal kingdom resulting in peace and harmony between man and animal. Several examples to illustrate this harmony is given. First, “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together.” The normally ferocious wolf will feed together with the helpless lamb. The term “together” can be translated literally “as one.” In other words, the wolf and the lamb will graze as if they were one animal. The second illustration is “the lion shall eat straw like the bullock.” The normally meat eating lion will eat straw just like the bullock or ox. These are indications that nature’s curse will be lifted (se Genesis 3:14-18). There will be peace between man and the animal kingdom (see Isaiah 11:8; Hosea 2:18) and a return to conditions in the Garden of Eden that will even include the serpent. It is possible to understand here that the serpent’s habits will not change during the Millennial Kingdom, because Isaiah says “and dust shall be the serpent's meat.” God placed a curse on the serpent in Genesis 3:14 declaring that “upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.” This phrase can also be seen as an assurance that snakes will no longer sink their fangs into human flesh because their food will be dirt. Isaiah’s prophecy ends with “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord.” This sentence predicts the end of all destruction in God’s “holy mountain.” The term “holy mountain” is probably not limited to Mount Zion, the Temple Mount, or even the city of Jerusalem. It most likely refers to the entire mountainous homeland of Israel (see Isaiah 57:13).
IV. Conclusion. Someday God will create a new heaven and a new earth. But before that happens the millennium, which has been described in our lesson, will take place. Joy and an extended life span, along with peace and prosperity, shall be aspects of the age to come. Besides these benefits, there will be an enhanced relationship between God and His people. Harmony in nature also will be restored. Israel and the world have waited centuries for the fulfillment of these prophecies. We can rest assured that a new world is indeed coming
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