Chapter Summary
Core Passages from Isaiah 65
Isaiah 65:1I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me.
This verse shows God's heart. He is not hiding but is actively making Himself available to people who haven't even thought to ask for Him.Isaiah 65:17“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.
This is the first mention in the Bible of a 'new heavens and a new earth,' promising a total reset of the universe where the old pains are gone.Isaiah 65:24Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.
In the coming kingdom, the connection between God and His people will be so close that He answers their needs before they even finish asking.
Historical & Cultural Context
The Patient God and the Rebellious People
The chapter opens with a heartbreaking scene of God standing with His hands spread out all day long to a people who won't look His way. Following the deep prayer for mercy in Isaiah 64, God explains that the problem isn't His absence, but the people's active rebellion. They have traded a relationship with their Creator for empty rituals and the worship of luck and fate.
A Future of Peace and Restoration
As the focus shifts, God distinguishes between those who mock Him and those who serve Him. He uses the image of a cluster of grapes where most are bad, but a few have 'new wine' in them, representing the faithful few He will save. The scene ends with a glorious transformation of the landscape and the promise of a world where even the animals live in perfect harmony.
The Contrast Between Rebellion and Restoration
In Isaiah 65:1-25, the prophet records God's direct response to the spiritual state of the nation, moving from a critique of their current failures to a promise of a future reality that exceeds human imagination.
The Open Arms of God (Isaiah 65:1-7)
1 I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me.
2 I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices;
3 a people who provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens and making offerings on bricks;
4 who sit in tombs, and spend the night in secret places; who eat pig's flesh, and broth of tainted meat is in their vessels;
5 who say, "Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am too holy for you." These are a 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 indeed repay into their lap
7 both their iniquities and their fathers' iniquities together, says the Lord; because they made offerings on the mountains and insulted me on the hills, I will measure into their lap payment for their former deeds."
Commentary:
God reaches out to a rebellious people who prefer their own harmful ways over His love.
The Blessing in the Cluster (Isaiah 65:8-12)
8 Thus says the Lord: "As the new wine is found in the cluster, and they say, 'Do not destroy it, for there is a blessing in it,' so I will do for my servants' sake, and not destroy them all.
9 I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, and from Judah possessors of my mountains; my chosen shall possess it, and my servants shall dwell there.
10 Sharon shall become a pasture for flocks, and the Valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down, for my people who have sought me.
11 But you who forsake the Lord, who forget my holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny,
12 I will destine you to the sword, and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter, because, when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not listen, but you did what was evil in my eyes and chose what I did not delight in.”
Commentary:
God promises to save a faithful few while holding the unfaithful accountable for their choices.
The Great Reversal (Isaiah 65:13-16)
13 Therefore thus says the Lord God: "Behold, my servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but you shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but you shall be put to shame;"
14 Behold, my servants shall sing for gladness of heart, but you shall cry out for pain of heart and shall wail for breaking of spirit.
15 You shall leave your name to my chosen for a curse, and the Lord God will put you to death, but his servants he will call by another name,
16 So that he who blesses himself in the land shall bless himself by the God of truth, and he who takes an oath in the land shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten and are hidden from my eyes.
Commentary:
God's faithful servants will find joy and satisfaction while those who reject Him find only emptiness.
The New Heavens and New Earth (Isaiah 65:17-25)
17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness.
19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.
20 No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.
21 They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23 They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord, and their descendants with them.
24 Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,” says the Lord.
Commentary:
God promises a future world of total peace, long life, and perfect harmony with nature.
The Heart of God's New World
The Persistence of Divine Grace
The chapter reveals that God is 'ready to be found,' not a distant or hidden deity. He takes the initiative to reach out to people who are actively ignoring Him, showing that His desire for relationship often precedes our desire for Him.
The Reality of Human Choice
Isaiah 65 emphasizes that our choices matter deeply to God. He notes that when He called, people did not answer, and when He spoke, they did not listen, highlighting that spiritual life requires an active response to God's voice.
The Hope of Total Restoration
The vision of the New Heavens and New Earth shows that God's plan is to heal the entire physical world, not merely to save souls. It promises a reality where labor is meaningful, life is long, and the brokenness of the animal kingdom is finally mended.
Applying Isaiah 65 to Your Life Today
It shows you that God is not waiting for you to be perfect before He welcomes you. He is already standing there with His hands spread out. Even when you feel like you've followed your own 'devices' or made a mess of things, Isaiah 65:1-2 reminds you that He is ready to be found the moment you turn back to Him.
In verse 12, God points out that people chose things that didn't please Him. For you, this might mean chasing after 'Fortune' or 'Destiny' - relying on luck, money, or your own control - instead of trusting Him. Applying this means intentionally looking for what delights God, like kindness and truth, and making those your priority.
When you see violence or tragedy, Isaiah 65:17-25 offers a 'future-tense' hope that these things are temporary. Knowing that God is committed to a world where 'they shall not hurt or destroy' gives you the strength to work for peace now, knowing that one day, peace will be the permanent reality.
God is Making All Things New
Isaiah 65 delivers a message that God is both a patient Father and a righteous Judge. He stands with open arms, inviting everyone to leave behind their own 'devices' and find true satisfaction in Him. The ultimate goal of history is not destruction, but a glorious new creation where every sorrow is forgotten and peace reigns supreme. This chapter invites us to stop trusting in luck or our own efforts and instead join the joy of the God who makes all things new.
What This Means for Us Today
The invitation of Isaiah 65 is still open: God is ready to be found by you right now. He is calling you away from the empty promises of the world and into a future where your work has meaning and your heart finds rest. Respond to His voice today and begin living as a citizen of His coming kingdom.
- In what areas of your life are you following your 'own devices' instead of listening for God's voice?
- How would your day change if you truly believed that God is 'ready to be found' by you?
- Who can you share this hope of a 'new world' with this week?
Further Reading
Immediate Context
Connections Across Scripture
The New Testament fulfillment of Isaiah's vision, describing the New Jerusalem and the end of all tears.
The Apostle Paul quotes Isaiah 65:1-2 to explain how God reached out to the Gentiles.
A promise that we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth where righteousness dwells.
Discussion Questions
- God says He was found by those who didn't seek Him. Have you ever experienced God's presence when you weren't looking for it?
- The people in verse 5 thought they were 'too holy' for others. How can we avoid the trap of religious pride while still trying to live a good life?
- Which part of the 'New Earth' description in verses 17-25 is most exciting to you, and why?