Written by Paul J Bucknell on December, 01, 2023

Isaiah 65:1-25 God’s Amazing Grace with Study Questions

As human beings, we cannot sustain our lives without the divine intervention of God’s grace upon us. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the true significance of God’s grace becomes more apparent to us in ways we could not have comprehended before. However, it’s easy to forget the true essence of His grace and take it for granted.

“How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You, which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, before the sons of men!” (Psalm 31:19)

Two problems hinder the work of grace in our lives.

We forget about God’s grace and are distracted by life’s responsibilities, burdens, and joys.
We don’t ponder the unique features of God’s grace. It grows mundane, too familiar. We stop experiencing the rich way it deepens our relationship with God.

Isaiah 65 explains four ways God manifests His grace to mankind’s benefit.

1. God Cares For Those Who Shun Him (Is 65:1-7)

“I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me. I said, ‘Here am I, here am I, ‘To a nation which did not call on My name. ² “I have spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, Who walk in the way which is not good, following their own thoughts, ³ A people who continually provoke Me to My face, Offering sacrifices in gardens and burning incense on bricks; ⁴ Who sit among graves and spend the night in secret places; Who eat swine’s flesh, And the broth of unclean meat is in their pots. ⁵ “Who say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, For I am holier than you!’ These are smoke in My nostrils, A fire that burns all the day. ⁶ “Behold, it is written before Me, I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will even repay into their bosom, ⁷ Both their own iniquities and the iniquities of their fathers together,” says the Lord. “Because they have burned incense on the mountains And scorned Me on the hills, Therefore I will measure their former work into their bosom.” (Isaiah 65:1-7)

Isaiah 65:1-2 Commentary

Grace begins with mercy. Mercy admits our great need. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which he loved us” (Eph. 2:4).

We left God. We should seek Him, but we avoid Him! He has every right to ignore us and leave us to our perdition but instead He comes to finds us. He calls us even when we avoid Him. "Here I am. Here I am." This is man’s once-in-a-lifetime chance.

“I permitted Myself to be sought by those who did not ask for Me; I permitted Myself to be found by those who did not seek Me. (Is 65:1)

The depraved nation of Israel was unwilling to accept God’s mercy. Though some Israelites, like Isaiah, desired God’s Lordship, most spurned Him.

God’s response of wrath is most fitting. “I will not keep silent, but I will repay; I will even repay into their bosom” (Is 65:6). How scary when God’s people dare reject His precious grace. If people who know the truth can be so wayward, what about the heathen? We can only assume Satan work mischievously among God’s people and can blind and distract His followers.

The apostle Paul (Rom 10:20-21) took verse 1 and some other OT verses to share how God was willing to reveal Himself to all the nations and not just Israel alone. ‘Nation’ in verse 1 is not the usual word for Israel (which was Yam - peoples; e.g., Is 40:1).

The term for nation was used before Israel entered Canaan, that is, Israel did not mix with the natives and thus became its own nation in Canaan. “Yam (עם) is used largely for a group of people or for people in general.”

Isaiah 65:3-7 Commentary

“A people who continually provoke Me to My face, offering sacrifices in gardens and burning incense on bricks.” (Is 65:3)

Their times in Babylon (seen by the bricks) were as bad as in their homeland. They learned nothing and were fit to be silenced forever. Verse 4 depicts them purposely doing unclean things. Sometimes this is done to show their freedom from their fathers’ ways; otherwise, it might be a sensual means of learning secrets of the future.

Rejection of God’s offer of mercy is followed by judgment. Do not deceive yourself. No one can continue to do evil and yet, at the same time, experience His care and mercy. Instead, let us humbly accept God’s sign of concern and care. Only obedience brings joy.

Prayer

Dear Lord, I am ashamed as I consider how You have sought my attention and love through every possible means, only to face my constant rejection. Please forgive me for my indifference and ungratefulness towards You. I realize how ironic it is that I only seek You when I believe You can grant me what is best for me. Please help me to open my heart to Your tender promptings and loving care, so that I may fully experience the depth of Your love and grace. Amen.

2. God Chooses Sinful People (Isa 65:8-12)

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,’ So I will act on behalf of My servants In order not to destroy all of them. ⁹ “I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, And an heir of My mountains from Judah; Even My chosen ones shall inherit it, And My servants will dwell there. ¹⁰ “Sharon will be a pasture land for flocks, And the valley of Achor a resting place for herds, For My people who seek Me. ¹¹ “But you who forsake the Lord, Who forget My holy mountain, Who set a table for Fortune, And who fill cups with mixed wine for Destiny, ¹² I will destine you for the sword, And all of you will bow down to the slaughter. Because I called, 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.” (Is 65:8-12)

Isaiah 65:8-10 Commentary

How is it possible we are totally upset with how some people leave garbage hanging around their house, while we do the same thing with the sin in our hearts? We stand condemned. We judge others while letting ourselves off easy. Notice the sins listed in these verses.

God still chooses sinful people. This is God’s mighty grace. We say, “Choose the best.” “Do not destroy it, for there is benefit in it” (Is 65:8). But there is no best or righteous person. So God sent His Son to die for us so we could become His. We don’t deserve any mercy.

God chooses those who seek Him even though they have sin. “So I will act on behalf of My servants In order not to destroy all of them. “I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, And an heir of My mountains from Judah” (Is 65:8-9). We see this with Jesus. He looked for the ‘sick’. Praise Him. We don’t look for Him, but He finds us. We can’t get near His holy standard, but by the ultimate cost of His Son, He makes us clean.

Recycling plants are a fascinating aspect of modern society. They provide a way to resourcefully use garbage, trash, and other discarded materials that would otherwise go to waste. In the past, Israel had behaved poorly and deserved to be judged. While it would have been easy to simply dispose of them, God, in His great mercy, intervened with His own recovery plan. Just like grapes are used to make wine, God has a way of transforming His people and bringing them back on the right path.

“... even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)”(Eph 2:5)

God is selective. All were destined for God’s wrath (Is 64:5-7), but through His divine wisdom, He ‘reprocesses’ a small number (i.e., remnant) to bless the whole earth. These, in turn, seek the Lord, and though not perfect, they desire the Lord.

Isaiah 65:10-11 Commentary

“But you who forsake the Lord” (65:11). Most stubborn people don’t desire to follow the Lord and would only be a bitter sediment in the new wine. They will be effectively silenced so that they no longer blemish God’s name. (Note: Fortune and Destiny were the two Arab heavenly beings supposed to preside over mankind’s fortune.)

We might wonder whether God’s selection method (verse 12) is fair. “Because I called, but you did not answer.” God spoke graciously, endearing them to Him, but they did not respond. Instead, they chose to do evil. Strictly speaking, God’s grace is unfair; we don’t deserve it!

Application

Similarly, we have all gone astray, but God, in His great mercy, has chosen to work with those of humble heart who desire to follow Him. In prayer, share with God your willingness to follow.

Dear Father in heaven, I am continually amazed at how You can turn bitter into sweet and ugly into beauty. As humans, we are not exempt from this transformation, and I am a prime example of how You brought me to seek your grace and never ceased to let me go. Thank You for teaching me the true meaning of grace. I am forever grateful. — Your faithful servant.

3. God Blesses His Servants (Isaiah 65:13-16) Commentary

¹³ Therefore, thus says the Lord God, “Behold, My servants will eat, but you will be hungry. Behold, My servants will drink, but you will be thirsty. Behold, My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame. ¹⁴ “Behold, My servants will shout joyfully with a glad heart, But you will cry out with a heavy heart, And you will wail with a broken spirit. ¹⁵ “You will leave your name for a curse to My chosen ones, And the Lord God will slay you. But My servants will be called by another name. ¹⁶ “Because he who is blessed in the earth Will be blessed by the God of truth; And he who swears in the earth Will swear by the God of truth; Because the former troubles are forgotten, And because they are hidden from My sight! (Isaiah 65:13-16)

We forget about God’s special grace because we think we deserve the blessings we get. We don’t deserve it a little bit. A servant has permission to work in his master’s castle but cannot expect favors. God blesses us with things that change our whole orientation to this world. It is believed that the Sermon on The Mount delivered by Jesus drew heavily from this passage. According to this passage, God molds our lives in a way that is more valuable than healing, prosperity, or fame. A “broken spirit” (Is 65:14) opens the doors to blessings from His grace.

The Lord chose those who sought Him and now abundantly blesses them. And in the same way, He did not leave us in our miseries without hope but raised us up with Him. “... and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:6).

In this section, it is evident that God shows favor to those He chooses and passes judgment on those He doesn’t choose. God refers to his chosen ones as “My Servants” and is not looking for loyalty anymore since He has already found it and claims it. Christ also clearly states the expectations of those who follow Him. We are no longer in control of our lives, and the sooner we realize this, the easier our lives become.

Those who reject God’s call for obedience will find themselves with an even more difficult taskmaster, making their already challenging work even more grievous. Their actual poverty is described as hunger, thirst, shame, pain, and a broken spirit. This means that there is not only a shortage of food and drink, but also a deeper pain that resides in the heart.

The word ‘blessing’ is powerfully mentioned at the end of this section. “Because he who is blessed in the earth will be blessed by the God of truth” (65:16). Blessings always follow obedience and only come from the God of truth. Anyone who expects to find blessings outside of the Lord will be disappointed. God promises blessing because He no longer deals with these loyal ones based on their behavior, but because of their trust in the true God. Imagine how liberating it would be to hear that our past troubles are hidden from His sight!

Application

Christians should expect blessings from God in their lives when they obey Him. These blessings are perhaps not what the world is looking for, but when everything is added up, the blessings of God far surpass what this world provides. We are truly blessed!

Prayer

Oh, Lord. You are so good to us. You not only promise this joy and peace but bring it to our hearts and lives. True blessings come only from you. While Satan grabs, You spread your hand out, offering us the very best. Thank you for making me one of your servants.

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth” (Isa 65:17).

4. God Graciously Gives Eternal (Isaiah 65:17-25)

¹⁷ “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind. ¹⁸ “But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem for rejoicing And her people for gladness. 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. ²⁰ “No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, Or an old man who does not live out his days; For the youth will die at the age of one hundred And the one who does not reach the age of one hundred Will be thought accursed. ²¹ “They will build houses and inhabit them; They will also plant vineyards and eat their fruit. ²² “They will not build and another inhabit, They will not plant and another eat; For as the lifetime of a tree, so will be the days of My people, And My chosen ones will wear out the work of their hands. ²³ “They will not labor in vain, Or bear children for calamity; For they are the offspring of those blessed by the Lord, And their descendants with them. ²⁴ It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear. ²⁵ The wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox; and dust will be the serpent’s food. They will do no evil or harm in all My holy mountain,” says the Lord. (Isaiah 65:17-25)

Isaiah 65:17-20 Commentary

God indeed richly blesses us but realizes this grace is inadequate. “In order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:7). “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth” (Is 65:17). He will make “a new heavens and earth!” Be assured God is preparing something nice and new as a means to show us His overflowing grace.

Throughout history, humans have been searching for a perfect world, a utopia. But what does God promise in this section? According to the prophet Isaiah, God will create new heavens and a new earth where old things will not be remembered. This new world will not accept anything inferior, damaged, or painful from the past. Instead, it promises peace, tranquility, and security.

However, it’s unclear how this new world relates to the promised millennium (Lit. a thousand years) in Revelation 20. The terms “new heavens,” “new earth,” “forever,” and “no longer” suggest a sense of permanence and a silent promise that the new world will last forever.

Views of Isaiah 65 – New Heavens and Earth

There are three main ways to understand this new world. We favor the latter.

1) The Church–age view has been happening now for 2000 plus years, though sorrow and sin are still present. It exists from Jesus’ time to the final judgment; eternity is quite different.

Key: Fulfillment is in the present kingdom of God.

This ideal society portrays the change God’s Servant has made in our lives. Since a Christian is a new creation, their life has wholly changed. Christians’ present experience is like living in a new world.

But as Romans 8:18-25 indicates, perfection or full joys do not come in this world. We and nature are less than perfect and groaning. This world’s worries are not yet forgotten. Furthermore, the New Testament teaches a cataclysmic ending to the present heavens and earth, so we still await the new heavens and earth (2 Pet 3:10-13).

2) The Premillennial view is short-lived, the described millennium in Revelation 20. It’s only 1,000 years long and yet in the future. Because of the character of its closing age, it is imperfect for sin and sorrow will still be present, though limited. According to this view, it starts seven years after the rapture of the saints to meet the Lord in the sky (1 Thes 4) with the final judgment coming after these 1000 years, which ushers into eternity.

Key: Fulfillment is in a literal millennium (Revelation 20).

The literal millennialist sees the promised new heaven and earth as a separate thousand years to live this idealistic life on earth. After all, the reference to long life still leaves the possibility of death. “For the youth will die at the age of one hundred and the one who does not reach the age of one hundred Will be thought accursed” (65:20). The bearing of children also suggests life continuing. These things don’t happen in heaven. So the 1000 years of Rev 20:2 is not the same as the new heavens and earth (Rev 21:1). Most explain that the millennium is only for those who become Christians after the rapture, during the Great Tribulation. It does not promise life for anyone who has already died or any Christian presently alive.

3) The Heavenly view regards this as a future and eternal age without sorrow or sin. It starts with the final judgment and goes straight into eternity.

Key: Fulfillment in the new heavens and earth.

This heavenly view understands the new heavens and earth literally, just as 2 Peter and Revelation 21 state. The view is not a perfect description of man’s new world but a sketch of what ‘new earth and heaven’ will be like.

Abstract, future things can be explained by what is already understood and accepted; the unfamiliar is explained by the familiar. The problems they face on earth would be done away with along with the memory of former things.

But what about the possibility of death and the bearing of children? Heaven, a term that describes the coming eternal age, does not contain these things. The Lord uses their present hope as a picture of eternal hope. The Old Testament people had little, if any, concept of eternal life and, therefore, were more concerned about extending the best of their lives on earth.

Application—Making heaven relevant!

If Isaiah were writing today, he would likely describe a new world in which harmony reigns among people, human lives are respected, God’s creation is respected, and cities are devoid of violence, stress, and loneliness. In this ideal world, elderly individuals would have complete control over their bodies, and nursing homes would no longer exist.

We should view Isaiah’s words as a painting through words and attempt to envision the joy that humanity would experience in this future world. It’s essential to focus on man’s happiness rather than the angels.

Prayer

I’m waiting Lord. Take my computers, my friends, and my possessions. The present heavens and earth shall pass away. Thanks for preparing something much more excellent without the wretched stain of sin and pain. My hope has begun with your promises and will continue forever with that same touch of grace.

Summary

The belief that God is too disconnected from our world is an inadequate and unimaginative theology. However, many Christians struggle to articulate what heaven will be like.

Isaiah, in chapter 65, presents a completely different vision of the new world, which includes harmony among all people, respect for human life, and positive plans for animal life, among other things. We should view Isaiah’s words as a vivid description of this new world.

If you are still skeptical, consider what you might be missing out on. God’s servants will spend eternity in the new heavens and earth (i.e., the universe). Our hearts should not be hardened but embrace God’s amazing promises, even though we are undeserving sinners. God motivates us to be faithful by presenting us with clear and inspiring promises.

Bible Study Questions on Isaiah 65

Bible Study Questions on Isaiah 65:1-7

State verse 1 in your own words.
What is God trying to tell us in Isaiah 65:1?
With what offenses does God charge Israel (2-5)? Which ones don’t you understand?
What is God’s response to their sin (6-7)?

Bible Study Questions on Isaiah 65:8-12

What can one do with extra grapes (8)?
What has the Lord decided to do with His rebellious people (8b-9)?
How will the Lord choose which ones to work with (10)?
Which ones will He discard (11)? Is this fair (11)?
State your loyalty to the Lord and seek Him never to let you depart from His grace.

Bible Questions on Isaiah 65:13-16

What does the Lord call His loyal ones in verses 13-16? How many times?
Why do you think there is such an emphasis on the Lord’s calling?
Choose 3 blessings and curses (13-15). Compare them and consider what they might look like in your lives.
What does the godly one base his hope of blessings on (16)?
Compare the Sermon on the Mount (Mat 5:1-11) with these four verses. What is similar? Different?

Bible Study Questions on Isaiah 65:17-25

What is God said to create in verse 17?
Go through the verses following 17 and list five special characteristics of that age.
Why might Isaiah have chosen these words from chapter 65 to describe the future of God’s people experiencing His blessings?
This idealistic life is written from a farmer’s perspective. Please write or draw what the new heavens and earth might be like. Draw it from your own perspective. Think of your problems and how things would be different if those problems were nonexistent.
Are you looking forward to heaven, or have too many attachments on earth distracted you from thinking about what God has planned for you? Meditate on this.