Jeremiah 3, Worth Than Israel (DRAFT)

(This DRAFT study has been done fairly quickly, without the further guide of commentaries. I hope to improve on it later.)

Jeremiah 3:1, Many lovers

"If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him 

and marries another man, 

should he return to her again? 

Would not the land be completely defiled? 

But you have lived as a prostitute with many lovers-- 

would you now return to me?" declares the LORD. 

God accuses Israel of running after many lovers. If a husband had a wife who did this, would he take her back?

Jeremiah 3:2-5, Brazen prostitute

"Look up to the barren heights and see. 

Is there any place where you have not been ravished? 

By the roadside you sat waiting for lovers, 

sat like a nomad in the desert. 

You have defiled the land with your prostitution and wickedness. 

Therefore the showers have been withheld, 

and no spring rains have fallen. 

Yet you have the brazen look of a prostitute; 

you refuse to blush with shame. 

Have you not just called to me: `My Father, my friend from my youth, 

will you always be angry? 

Will your wrath continue forever?' 

This is how you talk, but you do all the evil you can." 

God continues to speak.  The people of Israel have put idols on every hilltop. They have acted like prostitutes who brazenly have sex with customers wherever they wish. Because of this action, the rains that comfort the desert have been withheld and the land has suffered.

Jeremiah 3:6-9, Judah, like Israel

During the reign of King Josiah, the LORD said to me, "Have you seen what faithless Israel has done? She has gone up on every high hill and under every spreading tree and has committed adultery there. I thought that after she had done all this she would return to me but she did not, and her unfaithful sister Judah saw it. 

I gave faithless Israel her certificate of divorce and sent her away because of all her adulteries. Yet I saw that her unfaithful sister Judah had no fear; she also went out and committed adultery. Because Israel's immorality mattered so little to her, she defiled the land and committed adultery with stone and wood. 

Now Jeremiah speaks and describes a conversation he had with God during the reign of Josiah. Israel had committed idolatry and been wiped out by the Assyrians. Yet Judah continued in its idolatry. YHWH seems surprised by Judah's actions.

Jeremiah 3:10-11, Judah even worse

In spite of all this, her unfaithful sister Judah did not return to me with all her heart, but only in pretense," declares the LORD. 

The LORD said to me, "Faithless Israel is more righteous than unfaithful Judah. 

In continuing their idolatry after Israel's judgment, Judah is even worse than Israel.

Jeremiah 3:12-13, To the northern kingdom

Go, proclaim this message toward the north: 

"`Return, faithless Israel,' declares the LORD, 

`I will frown on you no longer, for I am merciful,' declares the LORD, 

`I will not be angry forever. 

Only acknowledge your guilt-- 

you have rebelled against the LORD your God, 

you have scattered your favors to foreign gods under every spreading tree, 

and have not obeyed me,'" 

declares the LORD. 

Jeremiah is to carry a message to the northern kingdom (which has been long gone) that YHWH will not be angry forever. If the people will only repent and return to Him.

Jeremiah 3:14-18, The Throne of YHWH

"Return, faithless people," declares the LORD, "for I am your husband. I will choose you--one from a town and two from a clan--and bring you to Zion. Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding. 

In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land," declares the LORD, "men will no longer say, `The ark of the covenant of the LORD.' It will never enter their minds or be remembered; it will not be missed, nor will another one be made. At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne of the LORD, and all nations will gather in Jerusalem to honor the name of the LORD. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts. 

In those days the house of Judah will join the house of Israel, and together they will come from a northern land to the land I gave your forefathers as an inheritance. 

YHWH, as husband of Israel, will choose a remnant to bring to Zion. In this future time, Jerusalem will be called The Throne of YHWH and the nations (not just Jews!) will gather in Jerusalem. The two kingdoms of Israel will be united. There will be no need for the ark of the covenant for God, Himself, will be there.

Jeremiah 3:19-20, Father to a people

"I myself said, 

"`How gladly would I treat you like sons 

and give you a desirable land, 

the most beautiful inheritance of any nation.' 

I thought you would call me `Father' 

and not turn away from following me. 

But like a woman unfaithful to her husband, 

so you have been unfaithful to me, 

O house of Israel," declares the LORD. 

The earlier metaphor had YHWH as husband to Israel. Here, somewhat unique for the Old Testament, YHWH says that He could be called "Father."

Jeremiah 3:21, Crying

A cry is heard on the barren heights, 

the weeping and pleading of the people of Israel, 

because they have perverted their ways 

and have forgotten the LORD their God. 

The people of Israel weep and plead, due to the calamities brought upon them by abandoning God.

Jeremiah 3:22-25, Backsliding

"Return, faithless people; I will cure you of backsliding." 

"Yes, we will come to you, for you are the LORD our God. 

Surely the [idolatrous] commotion on the hills and mountains is a deception; 

surely in the LORD our God is the salvation of Israel. 

From our youth shameful gods have consumed the fruits of our fathers' labor--

 their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters. 

 Let us lie down in our shame, 

and let our disgrace cover us. 

We have sinned against the LORD our God, 

both we and our fathers; 

from our youth till this day 

we have not obeyed the LORD our God." 

The people are called to return. Some claim that they want to return, that the worship of idols is mere "commotion" and "deception." There is a strong voice of repentance here.

Jeremiah 2, As Many Gods as Towns (DRAFT)

(This DRAFT study has been done fairly quickly, without the further guide of commentaries. I hope to improve on it later.)

Jeremiah has been called to stand up and speak to the nations, beginning with the leaders of Judah.

Jeremiah 2:1-4, Formerly a bride

The word of the LORD came to me: "Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: 

"`I remember the devotion of your youth, 

how as a bride you loved me 

and followed me through the desert, 

through a land not sown. 

Israel was holy to the LORD,

 the firstfruits of his harvest;

all who devoured her were held guilty, 

and disaster overtook them,'" declares the LORD. 

Hear the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, 

all you clans of the house of Israel. 

Judah's love for YHWH has declined and decayed.

Jeremiah 2:5-7, Don't you remember?

This is what the LORD says: 

"What fault did your fathers find in me, 

that they strayed so far from me? 

They followed worthless idols 

and became worthless themselves.

They did not ask, `Where is the LORD, who brought us up out of Egypt 

and led us through the barren wilderness, 

through a land of deserts and rifts, 

a land of drought and darkness,

a land where no one travels and no one lives?' 

I brought you into a fertile land 

to eat its fruit and rich produce. 

But you came and defiled my land 

and made my inheritance detestable. 

Judah is challenged to remember the days and promises of the Exodus.

Jeremiah 2:8-10, Ignorant and rebellious leaders

The priests did not ask, `Where is the LORD?'

Those who deal with the law did not know me; 

the leaders rebelled against me. 

The prophets prophesied by Baal,

 following worthless idols.

"Therefore I bring charges against you again," declares the LORD. 

"And I will bring charges against your children's children. 

Cross over to the coasts of Kittim and look, send to Kedar 

and observe closely; 

see if there has ever been anything like this: 

The priests have ignored YHWH and the leaders and prophets have rebelled. God is about to act in Kittim (in the Mediterranean) and Kedar an Arabian kingdom.

Jeremiah 2:11-12, Changed its gods

Has a nation ever changed its gods? 

(Yet they are not gods at all.)

But my people have exchanged their Glory for worthless idols.

Be appalled at this, O heavens, 

and shudder with great horror," declares the LORD. 

The nation has replaced YHWH with silly, worthless idols.

Jeremiah 2:13-16, Forsaken YHWH, different cisterns

"My people have committed two sins: 

They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, 

and have dug their own cisterns, 

broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

Is Israel a servant, a slave by birth? 

Why then has he become plunder? 

Lions have roared; they have growled at him. 

They have laid waste his land; 

his towns are burned and deserted.

Also, the men of Memphis and Tahpanhes have shaved the crown of your head.

The people have both turned away and aggressively pursued other gods. And so the nation is powerless.

Jeremiah 2:17-19, To Egypt or Assyria?

 Have you not brought this on yourselves by forsaking the LORD your God 

when he led you in the way?

Now why go to Egypt to drink water from the Shihor?

And why go to Assyria to drink water from the River?

Your wickedness will punish you; 

your backsliding will rebuke you. 

Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you 

when you forsake the LORD your God 

and have no awe of me," 

declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty. 

The people now "drink water" from other nations. They have slid back into wickedness.

Jeremiah 2:20-21, Rebellious prostitution

"Long ago you broke off your yoke 

and tore off your bonds; 

you said, `I will not serve you!'

 Indeed, on every high hill 

and under every spreading tree 

you lay down as a prostitute.

 I had planted you like a choice vine of sound and reliable stock. 

How then did you turn against me into a corrupt, wild vine? 

The nation has rebelliously sold itself to other gods.

Jeremiah 2:22-25a, Guilt stain won't wash off

Although you wash yourself with soda

 and use an abundance of soap, 

the stain of your guilt is still before me," 

declares the Sovereign LORD.

"How can you say, `I am not defiled; 

I have not run after the Baals'? 

See how you behaved in the valley; 

consider what you have done. 

You are a swift she-camel running here and there,

a wild donkey accustomed to the desert,

sniffing the wind in her craving-- 

in her heat who can restrain her? 

Any males that pursue her need not tire themselves; 

at mating time they will find her.

Do not run until your feet are bare and your throat is dry. 

The peoples' guilt will not wash off. They act like wild donkeys in heat.

Jeremiah 2:25b-28, As many gods as towns

But you said, `It's no use! 

I love foreign gods, and I must go after them.' 

"As a thief is disgraced when he is caught, 

so the house of Israel is disgraced-- 

they, their kings and their officials,

 their priests and their prophets.

They say to wood, `You are my father,' 

and to stone, `You gave me birth.' 

They have turned their backs to me and not their faces; 

yet when they are in trouble, they say, `Come and save us!'

Where then are the gods you made for yourselves? 

Let them come if they can save you when you are in trouble! 

For you have as many gods as you have towns, O Judah. 

The people love foreign gods and worship useless wood and stone. There are as many gods in Judah as towns!

Jeremiah 2:29-30, Prophets devoured

"Why do you bring charges against me? 

You have all rebelled against me," declares the LORD.

"In vain I punished your people; 

they did not respond to correction. 

Your sword has devoured your prophets like a ravening lion. 

The people are rebellious and refuse to turn back to God.

Jeremiah 2:31-33, Wandering

"You of this generation, consider the word of the LORD: 

"Have I been a desert to Israel or a land of great darkness? 

Why do my people say, `We are free to roam; 

we will come to you no more'? 

Does a maiden forget her jewelry, 

a bride her wedding ornaments? 

Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number. 

How skilled you are at pursuing love! 

Even the worst of women can learn from your ways. 

The people have been eager to wander, to wander away from YHWH, as if a young bride had forgotten her husband.

Jeremiah 2:34-37, Blood of the innocent

On your clothes men find the lifeblood of the innocent poor, 

though you did not catch them breaking in. 

Yet in spite of all this you say, `I am innocent; he is not angry with me.'

But I will pass judgment on you because you say, `I have not sinned.' 

Why do you go about so much, changing your ways? 

You will be disappointed by Egypt as you were by Assyria.

You will also leave that place with your hands on your head, 

for the LORD has rejected those you trust; 

you will not be helped by them. 

The people make excuses, claiming to be innocent and to have not sinned. But they will be disappointed by the nations of Egypt (on the west) and Assyria (on the east) and will leave those places as prisoners.

Jeremiah 1, A Prophet to the Nations (DRAFT)

(This DRAFT study has been done fairly quickly, without the further guide of commentaries. I hope to improve on it later.)

God's voice comes to a priest during the reign of Josiah around 625 BC.

Jeremiah 1:1-3, A priest speaks out for forty years

The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. The word of the LORD came to him in the thirteenth year of the reign of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah, and through the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, down to the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem went into exile. 

Jeremiah's prophetic ministry will continue for forty years through to the capture of Jerusalem by Babylon in 586 BC.

Jeremiah 1:4-7, A young man is a prophet to the nations

The word of the LORD came to me, saying, 

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, 

before you were born I set you apart; 

I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." 

"Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child." 

But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, `I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD. 

The passage switches to first person. Jeremiah describes being called to be a prophet, not just to Judah but to the nations.

The NIV says that "knew" in verse 4 could be translated "chose".

Jeremiah 1:9-10, Mouth touched

Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant." 

As Isaiah received a burning coal (Isaiah 6:6-7), in a similar way, Jeremiah's mouth is touched by YHWH.

Jeremiah 1:11-12, An almond tree

The word of the LORD came to me: "What do you see, Jeremiah?" 

"I see the branch of an almond tree," I replied. 

The LORD said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled." 

Surely there is a play on the Hebrew word (shaqed) for "almond" here.

Jeremiah 1:13-16, A boiling pot

The word of the LORD came to me again: "What do you see?" 

"I see a boiling pot, tilting away from the north," I answered. 

The LORD said to me, "From the north disaster will be poured out on all who live in the land. I am about to summon all the peoples of the northern kingdoms," declares the LORD. 

"Their kings will come and set up their thrones 

in the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem; 

they will come against all her surrounding walls 

and against all the towns of Judah. 

I will pronounce my judgments on my people 

because of their wickedness in forsaking me,

 in burning incense to other gods 

and in worshiping what their hands have made. 

The boiling pot, tilting towards the north, represents invasion from the north. This is a result of God's judgment.

Jeremiah 1:17-19, Stand up

"Get yourself ready! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be terrified by them, or I will terrify you before them. Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land--against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land. 

They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD. 

Jeremiah is then told to stand up and get ready. He will have to address the kings and all the leaders of Judah.

Isaiah 66, A New Jerusalem Approaches

Isaiah continues to describe some future Day of judgment and restoration, leading to a new heaven, new earth, new Jerusalem, as the conquering Messiah takes final charge. 

Motyer says that the chapter has an envelope ABBA structure, with the first four verses and the last seven describing God's house and the middle passages (5-14 and 15-17) dealing with those who are false and do not deserve this paradise.

Isaiah 66:1-2a, All earth is mine

This is what the Lord says:

    “Heaven is my throne,

and the earth is my footstool.

Where is the house you will build for me?

    Where will my resting place be?

Has not my hand made all these things,

    and so they came into being?”

declares the Lord.

All earth belongs to God. There is no real physical house that could contain Him. (See 1 Kings 8:27.)

Isaiah 66:2b, Humble and contrite

“These are the ones I look on with favor:

    those who are humble and contrite in spirit,

    and who tremble at my word.

God looks for those who are humble and contrite, not arrogant and pride.

Isaiah 66:3-4, Abominations

But whoever sacrifices a bull

    is like one who kills a person,

and whoever offers a lamb

    is like one who breaks a dog’s neck;

whoever makes a grain offering

    is like one who presents pig’s blood,

and whoever burns memorial incense

    is like one who worships an idol.

They have chosen their own ways,

    and they delight in their abominations;

so I also will choose harsh treatment for them

    and will bring on them what they dread.

For when I called, no one answered,

    when I spoke, no one listened.

They did evil in my sight

    and chose what displeases me.”

The people have sham worship services and so will eventually face judgment. Verse 3 includes a series of antithetical lines, "in which permissible acts are linked with impermissible ones" (Motyer, p. 313.)

Isaiah 66:5-6, Falsehood repaid

    Hear the word of the Lord,

you who tremble at his word:

“Your own people who hate you,

    and exclude you because of my name, have said,

‘Let the Lord be glorified,

    that we may see your joy!’

    Yet they will be put to shame.

Hear that uproar from the city,

    hear that noise from the temple!

It is the sound of the Lord

    repaying his enemies all they deserve.

The people of Israel will be put to shame. (Grogan argues that the two lines "Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy" do not represent honest worship but are "uttered in irony" (p. 352.) 

God's presence in His temple, and his passing judgment, is loud and noisy. As Grogan points out, the Christian is reminded of Jesus clearing the temple (see John 2:13-17, for example.)

Isaiah 66:7-8, Instantly

“Before she goes into labor,

    she gives birth;

before the pains come upon her,

    she delivers a son.

Who has ever heard of such things?

    Who has ever seen things like this?

Can a country be born in a day

    or a nation be brought forth in a moment?

Yet no sooner is Zion in labor

    than she gives birth to her children.

Judah will arise as a nation in a moment, as if a pregnant woman delivered a baby before birth pangs.

Isaiah 66:9, No futile effort here

Do I bring to the moment of birth

    and not give delivery?” says the Lord.

“Do I close up the womb

    when I bring to delivery?” says your God.

When God is in charge, the birth and delivery will come to fruition.

Isaiah 66:10-11, Rejoice you who mourn

    “Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her,

all you who love her;

rejoice greatly with her,

    all you who mourn over her.

For you will nurse and be satisfied

    at her comforting breasts;

you will drink deeply

    and delight in her overflowing abundance.”

Those who mourn for Jerusalem will rejoice and drink deeply of her prosperity. Jerusalem is described as a nursing mother, inviting the people to suck at her breasts.

Isaiah 66:12-14, Peace like a river

For this is what the Lord says:

“I will extend peace to her like a river,

    and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream;

you will nurse and be carried on her arm

    and dandled on her knees.

As a mother comforts her child,

    so will I comfort you;

    and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.”

When you see this, your heart will rejoice

    and you will flourish like grass;

the hand of the Lord will be made known to his servants,

    but his fury will be shown to his foes.

Peace will extend like a river; Jerusalem will be comforted like a child carried by her mother. The image of God as a mother, comforting her child, is expressed poignantly in Psalm 131.

In many places in the Old Testament (eg. Isaiah 40:8), grass is a symbol of frailty and transience; here it represents widespread steady growth.

Isaiah 66:15-16, Chariots of fire

See, the Lord is coming with fire,

    and his chariots are like a whirlwind;

he will bring down his anger with fury,

    and his rebuke with flames of fire.

For with fire and with his sword

    the Lord will execute judgment on all people,

    and many will be those slain by the Lord.

YHWH comes in power and fire, ready to execute judgment.

Isaiah 66:17, Flesh of pigs and rats

“Those who consecrate and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one who is among those who eat the flesh of pigs, rats and other unclean things—they will meet their end together with the one they follow,” declares the Lord.

The breaking of eating requirements of the Law is described here.

Isaiah 66:18, A final gathering

“And I, because of what they have planned and done, am about to come and gather the people of all nations and languages, and they will come and see my glory.

And then, suddenly, YHWH gathers all the nations together.

Isaiah 66: 19-21, Proclamation to Tarshish, Libya... and distant islands

“I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations—to Tarshish, to the Libyans and Lydians (famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations. And they will bring all your people, from all the nations, to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the Lord—on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels,” says the Lord. 

“They will bring them, as the Israelites bring their grain offerings, to the temple of the Lord in ceremonially clean vessels. And I will select some of them also to be priests and Levites,” says the Lord.

The proclamations about God will go out to all the nations, indeed to all the Gentiles. Some of these people will be "priests and Levites", says God.

Isaiah 66:22-24, Two choices

“As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me,” declares the Lord, “so will your name and descendants endure. From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me,” says the Lord. 

“And they will go out and look on the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; the worms that eat them will not die, the fire that burns them will not be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.”

The people can rejoice in the new heavens and new earth, or they can be part of the slaughtered. They may rejoice with YHWH or have their bodies tossed into the burning trash heap. The image of the burning trash heap in the Valley of Gehenna is repeated by Jesus in Mark 9:42-48. (A similar prophecy, mentioning this valley, occurs in Jeremiah 7:30-8:3.)

The new earth has no evil in it; the righteous enjoy the presence of YHWH and the evil are gone.

Isaiah 65, New Heaven, New Earth, Wolves, Lions

Isaiah continues to describe some future Day of judgment and restoration. Motyer sees Isaiah 63:7- 64:12, as a prayer by an intercessor for Israel. The last chapter ends with a cry for YHWH to respond to the ruins of Jerusalem and to not be silent. A response to that prayer is given in these two final chapters, in the future appearance of a new Jerusalem.

Isaiah 65:1-5, Here I am

“I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me;

    I was found by those who did not seek me.

To a nation that did not call on my name,

    I said, ‘Here am I, here am I.’

All day long I have held out my hands

    to an obstinate people,

who walk in ways not good,

    pursuing their own imaginations—

a people who continually provoke me

    to my very face,

offering sacrifices in gardens

    and burning incense on altars of brick;

who sit among the graves

    and spend their nights keeping secret vigil;

who eat the flesh of pigs,

    and whose pots hold broth of impure meat;

who say, ‘Keep away; don’t come near me,

    for I am too sacred for you!’

Such people are smoke in my nostrils,

    a fire that keeps burning all day.

The passage begins with a remarkable statement -- God is not passively watching but is actively holding out His arms to people, including Gentiles.  It is natural that the first two verses of this chapter are quoted in the New Testament by Paul in Romans 10:21-22.

The people of Israel routinely flout God's laws, telling Him to stay away, even though He holds out His arms to them. 

Isaiah 65:6-7, Full payment coming

“See, it stands written before me:

    I will not keep silent but will pay back in full;

    I will pay it back into their laps—

both your sins and the sins of your ancestors,”

    says the LORD.

“Because they burned sacrifices on the mountains

    and defied me on the hills,

I will measure into their laps

    the full payment for their former deeds.”

And because of these sins, judgment will come.

Isaiah 65:8-10, Remnant

This is what the LORD says:

“As when juice is still found in a cluster of grapes

    and people say, ‘Don’t destroy it,

    there is still a blessing in it,’

so will I do in behalf of my servants;

    I will not destroy them all.

I will bring forth descendants from Jacob,

    and from Judah those who will possess my mountains;

my chosen people will inherit them,

    and there will my servants live.

Sharon will become a pasture for flocks,

    and the Valley of Achor a resting place for herds,

    for my people who seek me.

But despite the sins of the nation, a remnant will be saved. Descendant will come from Jacob/Judah to inherit the land.

Both Sharon and Achor represent, to Isaiah, "[national] deterioration and messianic renewal" says Motyer (p. 308), citing 33:9 and 35:2. It was in the valley of Achor that the family of Achan was stoned, Joshua 7:24-26, after the defeat at Ai as the Israelites moved into Canaan.

Isaiah 65:11-12, Mixed wine for Destiny

“But as for you who forsake the LORD

    and forget my holy mountain,

who spread a table for Fortune

    and fill bowls of mixed wine for Destiny,

I will destine you for the sword,

    and all of you will fall in the slaughter;

for I called but you did not answer,

    I spoke but you did not listen.

You did evil in my sight

    and chose what displeases me.”

But those who insist on forsaking YHWH will indeed be punished. they have prepared offerings for Fortune and Destiny -- and their fortune and destiny will be slaughter, because they rejected God. 

The Hebrew words for Fortune and Destiny are Gad and Meni . These are also the names of two Syrian gods (Grogan, p. 353.)

Isaiah 65:13-15, Servants prosper

Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says:

“My servants will eat,

    but you will go hungry;

my servants will drink,

    but you will go thirsty;

my servants will rejoice,

    but you will be put to shame.

My servants will sing out of the joy of their hearts,

but you will cry out from anguish of heart  and wail in brokenness of spirit.

You will leave your name

    for my chosen ones to use in their curses;

the Sovereign LORD will put you to death,

    but to his servants he will give another name.

There is a clear distinction between those who serve God and those who do not. God's servants will prosper while the disobedient go hungry and are put to shame.

Note the rapid beat of the antithetical parallelism in verse 13, "My servant... but you...," with positive promises and negative punishments. This rapid beat slows down to one longer summary statement in verse 14.

Isaiah 65:16, Swearing by the true God

Whoever invokes a blessing in the land

    will do so by the one true God;

whoever takes an oath in the land

    will swear by the one true God.

For the past troubles will be forgotten

    and hidden from my eyes.

In that Day, people will be blessed -- and will swear by -- the one true God,

Isaiah 65:17-20, New heavens and new earth

“See, I will create

    new heavens and a new earth.

The former things will not be remembered,

    nor will they come to mind.

But be glad and rejoice forever

    in what I will create,

for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight

    and its people a joy.

I will rejoice over Jerusalem

    and take delight in my people;

the sound of weeping and of crying

    will be heard in it no more.

“Never again will there be in it

    an infant who lives but a few days,

    or an old man who does not live out his years;

the one who dies at a hundred

    will be thought a mere child;

the one who fails to reach a hundred

    will be considered accursed.

Finally we see God's ultimate solution. God will create a new Jerusalem, as part of a new heavens and new earth. (See Revelation 21 for the New Testament description of this.) In this new Jerusalem, a one-hundred-year-old will be viewed as a mere youth. There will no longer be the tragedy of infant deaths.  Although death is mentioned, it appears to be a rare (and possibly nonexistent?) event amidst the joy of this future time.

Isaiah 65:21-24, Houses and vineyards for themselves

They will build houses and dwell in them;

    they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

No longer will they build houses and others live in them,

    or plant and others eat.

For as the days of a tree,

    so will be the days of my people;

my chosen ones will long enjoy

    the work of their hands.

They will not labor in vain,

    nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune;

for they will be a people blessed by the LORD,

    they and their descendants with them.

Before they call I will answer;

    while they are still speaking I will hear.

The people in this new Jerusalem will have their own houses and vineyards -- property that they can safely keep. It will not be taken from them by oppressors.

Isaiah 65:25, Wolf, lamb, lion, serpent

The wolf and the lamb will feed together,

    and the lion will eat straw like the ox,

    and dust will be the serpent’s food.

They will neither harm nor destroy

    on all my holy mountain,”

says the LORD.

In this new Jerusalem, the wolf, lamb and lion will be companions; the serpent will no longer be a threat. (This passage essentially repeats the ideas in Isaiah 11:6-9.)

Humanity gets to enjoy a new Eden.

Isaiah 64, We Are Wasted

Isaiah continues to describe some future Day of judgment and restoration.

Isaiah 64:1-3, Please come down!

Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down,

    that the mountains would tremble before you!

As when fire sets twigs ablaze

    and causes water to boil,

come down to make your name known to your enemies

    and cause the nations to quake before you!

For when you did awesome things that we did not expect,

    you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.

Isaiah begs for YHWH to show Himself. His appearance would disrupt the nations, just like a fire causes water to boil. This poem has an envelope structure, beginning with an appeal to "rend the heavens and come down" and ending with "came down and the mountains trembled."

Isaiah 64:4-5, How can we be saved?

Since ancient times no one has heard,

    no ear has perceived,

no eye has seen any God besides you,

    who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.

You come to the help of those who gladly do right,

    who remember your ways.

But when we continued to sin against them,

    you were angry.

    How then can we be saved?

In this short praise piece, Isaiah acknowledges that there is no one but God and then confesses that the people of Israel do not deserve salvation.

Isaiah 64:6-7, All unclean

All of us have become like one who is unclean,

    and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags;

we all shrivel up like a leaf,

    and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

No one calls on your name

    or strives to lay hold of you;

for you have hidden your face from us

    and have given us over to our sins.

"All our righteousness like filthy rags", says Isaiah. None of us, he continues, seek YHWH or calls on Him, and yes, He hides His face. The term "filthy rags" represents the bloody cloths from a woman's menstrual period.

Grogan (p. 343) writes "Verses 5-7 present a many-sided doctrine of sin, remarkably full for an OT passage."

Isaiah 64:8-9, Clay and potter

Yet you, LORD, are our Father.

    We are the clay, you are the potter;

    we are all the work of your hand.

Do not be angry beyond measure, LORD;

    do not remember our sins forever.

Oh, look on us, we pray,

    for we are all your people.

In this metaphor, the clay challenges the potter -- why have you made me so? This is like those who ask the same of YHWH. Jeremiah gives a clear parable in Jeremiah 18:1-6 of God being the potter working with clay. This becomes a favorite metaphor for the prophets, showing up here and in Isaiah 29:16 and Isaiah 45:9. In the New Testament, Paul quotes this passage in Romans 9:19-21. 

Isaiah 64:10-12, Destroyed

Your sacred cities have become a wasteland;

    even Zion is a wasteland, Jerusalem a desolation.

Our holy and glorious temple, where our ancestors praised you,

    has been burned with fire,

    and all that we treasured lies in ruins.

After all this, LORD, will you hold yourself back?

    Will you keep silent and punish us beyond measure?

In Isaiah 63:15, God's throne is called qāḏ·šə·ḵā wə·ṯip̄·’ar·te·ḵā, translated "(your) holy and glorious" throne. In verse 11 here, that phrase is repeated. The temple in Jerusalem is described as "(our) holy and glorious" (qā·ḏə·šê·nū wə·ṯip̄·’ar·tê·nū) temple. The temple in Jerusalem is a "shadow" of the throne of YHWH in heaven. (This is made explicit in the New Testament, in Hebrews 8:1-6, where the Messiah serves as high priest in that heavenly temple.)

The city of Jerusalem and its beautiful temple have been laid waste and are destroyed. The chapter ends with a cry for YHWH to respond to the ruins and to not be silent. The next two chapters bring the answer to this prayer.