1
I was pleased to give guidance to those who did not ask for Me;
I was pleased to be found by those who did not seek Me.
I said, “Here I am, here I am!”
to a nation that did not call on My name.
2
All day long I have held out My hands
to a rebellious people,
who walk in a way that is not good
and follow their own plans;
3
a people who continually provoke Me
to My face,
by offering sacrifices in gardens
and burning incense on bricks;
4
who sit among the graves
and spend the night in caves;
who eat swine’s flesh
and broth of unclean meat is in their pots;
5
who say, “Keep away,
do not come near me, for I am holier than you!”
These are smoke in My nostrils,
a fire that burns all day long.
6
Behold, it is written before Me:
I will not keep silent, but I will repay,
yes, I will repay them,
7
for their own iniquities and for the iniquities of their fathers together,” says the LORD.
“Because they have burned sacrifices on the mountains
and dishonored Me on the hills.
I will measure into their lap
full payment for their former deeds.”
8
Thus says the LORD:
“As when one says of a cluster of grapes, ‘Do not destroy it,
for there is still blessing in it,’
so will I act for the sake of My servants;
I will not destroy them all.
9
I will bring forth descendants from Jacob,
and from Judah those who will inherit My mountains;
My chosen ones will inherit them,
and My servants will dwell there.
10
Sharon shall become a pasture 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 Gad,
and who fill cups of mixed wine for Meni:
12
I will destine you for 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 hear,
but you did what was evil in My sight
and chose what did not please Me.”
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
indeed, My servants shall sing for joy of heart,
but you shall cry out in sorrow of heart,
and you shall wail because of a broken spirit.
15
You shall leave your name to My chosen ones
as a curse oath to be used in this way:
May the Lord GOD make you like them!
But My servants shall be called by another name,
16
so that whoever seeks a blessing in the land
shall seek a blessing by the faithful God,
and whoever takes an oath in the land
shall swear by the faithful God,
because the former troubles are forgotten,
and hidden from My eyes.”
17
“For behold, I create a new heavens
and a new earth;
the former things shall not be remembered,
nor come to mind again.
18
But be glad and rejoice forever
in what I create,
for behold, I create Jerusalem a joy,
and her people a delight.
19
I will rejoice over Jerusalem,
and be glad over My people;
no more shall the sound of weeping
or the sound of crying be heard in her.
20
There shall no longer be there an infant who lives only a few days,
or an old man who does not reach his full age;
for the one who dies at a hundred years old shall still be considered young,
and the one who does not reach a hundred years old shall be considered accursed.
21
They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22
They shall not build for another to inhabit,
and they shall not plant for another to eat;
for the days of My people shall be like the days of a tree,
and My chosen ones shall enjoy the work of their hands.
23
They shall not labor in vain,
or bear children doomed to sudden death,
for they are the offspring of those blessed by the LORD,
and their descendants are with them.
24
Before they call, I will answer;
while they are still speaking, I will hear.
25
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
the lion shall eat straw like the ox,
and the serpent shall eat dust.
They shall not hurt or destroy
in all My holy mountain,” says the LORD.
🌍🔥🌿 Summary of Isaiah 65 – God’s Answer: Judgment for the Rebellious and the Promise of a New Heaven
Isaiah 65 is God’s answer to the prayer of repentance in the previous chapter. He declares that although His people cry out, many of them still rebel and refuse God. Yet in the midst of judgment, God promises restoration for His servants and the creation of a new heaven and earth. This chapter affirms: God is just in repaying sin, but also full of love in preparing a glorious future for the faithful.
📌 1. God Finds Those Who Do Not Seek Him (verses 1–2)
“I was found by those who did not ask for Me…”
- The Lord revealed Himself even to other nations, who had not known Him before
- But the chosen people instead rebelled and “kept provoking the Lord’s heart continually”
🎯 God does not only answer cries, but also offers Himself to those who have not yet sought Him — a picture of mercy that goes beyond boundaries.
📌 2. Judgment on Sinners (verses 3–7)
“This people… offer sacrifices in gardens and burn incense on bricks…”
- Idolatrous worship practices are strongly condemned
- The Lord declares: “I will not keep silent”, but will repay their sin to their descendants
🎯 God is patient, but He does not allow sin to continue without justice.
📌 3. Separation Between Servants and Rebels (verses 8–16)
“My servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry…”
- A clear picture:
The Lord’s servants are blessed
Sinners are judged and their name becomes a curse
- The Lord creates a new people, who live in righteousness and do not call on the names of false gods
🎯 The Lord sifts His people — not all Israel is true Israel.
📌 4. The New Heavens and the New Earth (verses 17–25)
“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth…”
- An extraordinary promise:
No more weeping or lamenting
Long life, the blessing of labor, and peace
The wolf and the lamb will eat together
🎯 A picture of complete restoration — a new heaven of peace and justice is the final hope of God’s people.
📖 Main Teaching
- God opens the door of salvation even to those who do not seek Him — universal grace
- Sin will still be judged if it is not accompanied by repentance — the Lord is just
- The separation between the Lord’s servants and rebels shows the importance of living in obedience
- The promise of a new heaven and new earth is a great hope for the faithful
- Salvation and restoration are not automatic, but for those who truly follow the Lord
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
“I was found by those who did not seek Me…”
➡️ Paul quotes Isaiah 65:1 — God’s grace is now open to the nations (Gentiles).
“I saw a new heaven and a new earth… death shall be no more.”
➡️ The promise of the new heaven and new earth is perfectly fulfilled in Jesus.
“Many will come from east and west and sit at table… but the children of the kingdom will be cast out…”
➡️ A reminder that heritage does not guarantee salvation — faith and obedience are what matter.
“We look for a new heaven and a new earth…”
➡️ The eternal hope of believers is based on the promise of restoration from Isaiah.
🎯 Salvation is not inherited physically, but received by obedient faith and pure love for the Lord.
🕊️ “I was found by those who did not seek Me…” – Isaiah 65:1
🕊️ “My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame.” – Isaiah 65:14
🕊️ “Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth…” – Isaiah 65:17
🕊️ “The lion will eat straw like the ox…” – Isaiah 65:25
