Isaiah 60-66 God's Plans For The Future
Psalm 81:1-16 Delights or Dumb Desires
8 "Hear, my people, and I will testify to you, Israel, if you would listen to me! 9 There shall be no strange god in you, neither shall you worship any foreign god. 10 I am Yahweh, your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. 11 But my people didn’t listen to my voice. Israel desired none of me. 12 So I let them go after the stubbornness of their hearts, that they might walk in their own counsels. 13 Oh that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways! 14 I would soon subdue their enemies, and turn my hand against their adversaries. 15 The haters of Yahweh would cringe before him, and their punishment would last forever. 16 But he would have also fed them with the finest of the wheat. I will satisfy you with honey out of the rock."
Observations: 81:1-7 The people whom God has redeemed, freed, and delivered should joyfully praise Him in testimony and song. Those who don't joyfully sing don't have a Biblical relationship with God. Those who enthusiastically sing without profound obedience don't have one either. The touchstone of a true relationship with God is the testimony of calling to God and experiencing His deliverance. Our joy comes out of our life with God, not an amplifier.
81:8-16 These verses encapsulate the essence of a correct Biblical Theology. God really, really, really wants to richly bless those who listen and obey. Those who walk in His ways will be totally satisfied by the God who created our desires. He can even make the sweetness of honey come out of a hard and difficult situation. However, those who chose to follow their own way, desiring something other than God (be it security, significance, pleasure, or possessions), miss out on God's plan to bless, and lose. He allows them the freedom of their choice, as stupid, stubborn and unsatisfying as it may be. God has sovereignly decided to allow us free will, attaching consequences to our choices. He honors our decision, even though it pains Him (and us). This summary could also be that of Genesis 1-3.
Application: Walk with God according to His word, and enjoy the sweetest life possible; walk your own way, according to Satan's will, and experience the life of a loser. Do you want God's delights or your dumb desires?
Prayer: God who loves to bless, may I walk in Your ways, so You may be delighted to delight me with Your salvation, deliverance and sweet life. Amen.
Proverbs 20:13-15
Pr 20:13 “Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread. 14 "It’s no good, it’s no good," says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts. 15 There is gold and abundance of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.“
Observations: 20:13-15 Proverbs 6:10 and 24:33 warn of the consequences of being a sluggard and indulging in escapism. Instead of loving sleep, etc, working buys the bread. While on the subject of getting bread, a little lesson in haggling is given. But the major lesson is in verse 15; the most precious possession is not gold or rubies, but lips that speak knowledge, which is what Proverbs is designed to teach to those who seek it.
Pr 1:4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man:
Pr 1:7 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
Application: Seeking after the right objectives, and the right means of obtaining them, results in satisfaction and joy.
Prayer:God, thanks for imparting Your wisdom through Your word. May I seek to acquire it and use it for Your purposes. Amen.
Isaiah 60-66 These final chapters of Isaiah look forward to both the future regathering and glorification of Israel in the promised land, and the future new heavens and new earth in the eternal state. There are a number of verses about the purpose and activities of the Messiah, as well as God's plan for Israel, both after the captivity, and in the future.
Isaiah 60 Glory Given To God's People
9 Surely the islands shall look eagerly for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, for the name of Yahweh your God, and for the Holy one of Israel, because he has glorified you. 10 "Foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you: for in my wrath I struck you, but in my favor have I had mercy on you. 11 Your gates also shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations, and their kings led captive. 12 For that nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; yes, those nations shall be utterly wasted. 13 "The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the fir tree, the pine, and the box tree together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious. 14 The sons of those who afflicted you shall come bending to you; and all those who despised you shall bow themselves down at the soles of your feet; and they shall call you The city of Yahweh, The Zion of the Holy one of Israel.
15 "Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, so that no man passed through you, I will make you an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. 16 You shall also drink the milk of the nations, and shall nurse from royal breasts; and you shall know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty one of Jacob. 17 For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron. I will also make your officers peace, and righteousness your ruler. 18 Violence shall no more be heard in your land, desolation nor destruction within your borders; but you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. 19 The sun shall be no more your light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light to you: but Yahweh will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory. 20 Your sun shall no more go down, neither shall your moon withdraw itself; for Yahweh will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended. 21 Your people also shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. 22 The little one shall become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation; I, Yahweh, will hasten it in its time."
Observations: 60:1-22 God gives glory to His people. Most people don't understand that glory is power, dominion, authority, rule, energy, light, grace (2Cor 12:9), etc., the building block of the universe, and one of the rewards God gives His faithful servants (1Pt 1:7,10; 2Cor 4:17-18). This might be a new concept for some of you, but it's something you'll eventually need to get a grip on. You can discover it for yourself by looking up each word in a concordance, and then noting the synonyms, and surrounding circumstances. If you believe that only God gets glory, you're not believing the Scriptures.
60:1-14 God glorifies His people, with light, and dominion over the nations who once oppressed them. The nations will serve Israel.
60:15-22 Looking further into the future, God describes a time when all Israel will be righteousness, knowing Yahweh as their Savior and Redeemer. All the rulers will be righteous, and there will be righteous leaders; there will be no more destruction, and they will inherit and enjoy the land forever. With His promises fulfilled, God is glorified. God Himself will be their light in Jerusalem. See the parallel passage in Revelation 21-22.
Application: God blesses and glorifies His people when they are rightly related to Him, for He is the God who blesses, and the Lord of glory.
Prayer: Mighty God, I look forward to the time when life on the planet goes as You desire; may my life today, reflect Your glory. Amen.
Isaiah 61 Two-Part and Double Blessings
61:1 The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is on me; because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of Yahweh’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified.
10 I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its bud, and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord Yahweh will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Observations: 61:1-3 The Messiah speaks these verses, indicating the purposes for which Yahweh anointed him. When Jesus read this passage in Nazareth, in his first message to his hometown synagogue (Luke 4:16-21), he stopped after the first phrase in verse 2 “ to proclaim the year of Yahweh’s favor.” His first coming fulfilled the first five tasks; his second coming will fulfill all the rest. Isaiah didn't see the gap of a couple of thousand plus years, but the day of vengeance and replanting of Israel in the land is still future. See the sermons on Truthbase.net (part 1 and part 2) for an elaboration of each of these items, and how the first five were fulfilled in Jesus' ministry.
61:4-9 These verses look forward to the time when the nations would serve Israel, who would be doubly blessed as a firstborn. God would make an everlasting covenant with Israel, and everyone would acknowledge that all Israel was the people chosen and blessed by God.
61:10-11 A little psalm of praise celebrates the work of God in clothing the nation with salvation and righteousness, in the sight of all nations (a yet future event).
Application: God wants to bless His people with forgiveness, freedom, righteousness, and joy; are you lacking any of these?
Prayer: Lord of my salvation, thanks for the deliverance, freedom, and joy You offer, may I live so that I experience all Your blessings, and may my praise draw others to You. Amen.
Isaiah 62 Israel Draws the Nations to God
6 I have set watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day nor night: you who call on Yahweh, take no rest, 7 and give him no rest, until he establishes, and until he makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth. 8 Yahweh has sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, "Surely I will no more give your grain to be food for your enemies; and foreigners shall not drink your new wine, for which you have labored: 9 but those who have garnered it shall eat it, and praise Yahweh; and those who have gathered it shall drink it in the courts of my sanctuary."
10 Go through, go through the gates! Prepare the way of the people! Cast up, cast up the highway! Gather out the stones! Lift up a banner for the peoples. 11 Behold, Yahweh has proclaimed to the end of the earth, "Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your salvation comes. Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.’" 12 They shall call them The holy people, The redeemed of Yahweh: and you shall be called Sought out, A city not forsaken.
Observations: 62:1-9 God will not rest until His purposes for Israel are accomplished, which include drawing the nations to Him through her righteousness, salvation, blessing and being rejoined to the land. At which time He will totally rejoice over her. This can't be said of Israel at any time since the exile, so it's still future. Remember “name” is more than what goes on the name tag, it embodies, character, power, and glory.
62:10-12 In a passage evocative of Isaiah 40, in which the nation was comforted by the coming of the king of glory, these verses broaden the comfort to the end of the earth. Note that when the Messiah comes, his reward is with him, and he will payback what each deserves (2Cor 5:9-10). Everyone will recognize God's blessing on Israel and seek them out (so they can be blessed like them).
Application: When God comes back to pay back and reward, how will you fare?
Prayer: Lord, I want to live so You can rejoice over me today, and reward me when You return, and in the meantime, draw others to You. Any help would be appreciated. Amen.
Isaiah 63 Trampling Out The Vintage of the Grapes of Wrath
7 I will cause the hesed/loyal covenantal love of Yahweh and the praises of Yahweh to be remembered, according to all that Yahweh has bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he has bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his hesed/loyal covenantal love. 8 For he said, "Surely, they are my people, children who will not deal falsely": so he was their Savior. 9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bore them, and carried them all the days of old. 10 But they rebelled, and grieved his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he himself fought against them. 11 Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying, Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? where is he who put his holy Spirit in their midst? 12 who caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses? who divided the waters before them, to make himself an everlasting name? 13 who led them through the depths, as a horse in the wilderness, so that they didn’t stumble? 14 As the livestock that go down into the valley, the Spirit of Yahweh caused them to rest; so you led your people, to make yourself a glorious name.
15 Look down from heaven, and see from the habitation of your holiness and of your glory: where are your zeal and your mighty acts? the yearning of your heart and your compassion is restrained toward me. 16 For you are our Father, though Abraham doesn’t know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us: you, Yahweh, are our Father; our Redeemer from everlasting is your name. 17 O Yahweh, why/how long do you make us to err/wander from/on account your ways, and harden/treat roughly our heart from/on account of your fear/terror? Return for your servants’ sake, the tribes of your inheritance. 18 Your holy people possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down your sanctuary. 19 We have become as they over whom you never bear rule, as those who were not called by your name.
Observations: 63:1-6 Part of God's glory is exercising His power according to His rule, which involves punishing the wicked. The “Battle Hymn of the Republic” used to be in most older hymnals, and is not only full of Scriptures, but a great commentary on them. God is the one who offers salvation, because no one else is able to do so. Bozrah was the capital of Edom, the enemies of the scary God whom He swears to destroy (Jer 49:13).
63:7-14 God is grieved by rebellious sin, and rejoices in loyal obedience. His hesed keeps Him loyal to His people, even as He disciplines them, so He will eventually be glorified through them. This section is a great encapsulation of Israel's history. Verse 10 doesn't fit most people's concept of God (He fights against His own chosen people, as His enemy because of their rebellion against them), because they don't get their knowledge of God from the Scriptures. Regardless of what people want to believe, God is as He reveals Himself to be (Heb 11:6).
63:15-19 Isaiah asks God to act on the behalf of His people. Verse 17 is subject to a number of possible translations and interpretations. Incorrectly understood, it looks like God has caused His people to sin, which would be at odds with hundreds of verses to the contrary. Correctly understood it asks God when He is going to act and remove from them the discipline for failing to follow His ways.
Application: What can you do to cause God delight rather than grief today?
Prayer: God, I praise You for giving me salvation rather than wrath; may I give you glory rather than grief. Amen.
Isaiah 64 God Works For Those Who Wait and Work For Him
6 For we have all become as one who is unclean, and all our righteousness is as a polluted garment: and we all fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 7 There is none who calls on your name, who stirs up himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have consumed us by means of our iniquities. 8 But now, Yahweh, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you our potter; and we all are the work of your hand. 9 Don’t be furious, Yahweh, neither remember iniquity forever: see, look, we beg you, we are all your people. 10 Your holy cities are become a wilderness, Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. 11 Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised you, is burned with fire; and all our pleasant places are laid waste. 12 Will you refrain yourself for these things, Yahweh? Will you hold your peace, and afflict us very severely?
Observations:64:1-5 Isaiah on behalf of those in captivity, again asks God to intervene, and save those who wait for Him, wondering how long it will be. Two things worth noting: first in vv 4-5 is that God comes to the aid of (answers the prayers of) those who trust in Him and gladly do what is right (obey); the second is that God is angry toward those who rebel against them. He is not angry and rejecting of the "righteous/religions" deeds because of their original sin, but because of their continued "same old, same old" sins that cause them to become like filthy rags. The next verse (v6) is often applied to unbelievers, but in context it applies to believers behaving badly.
64:6-12 The nation in exile were all unclean and rebellious, and therefore God had rejected them. But God will not forever discipline, nor reject the people He made.
Isaiah 65 Doing What's Right in God's Sight
8 Thus says Yahweh, "As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one says, ‘Don’t destroy it, for a blessing is in it’: so will I do for my servants’ sake, that I may not destroy them all. 9 I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains; and my chosen/choice ones shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. 10 Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down in, for my people who have sought me.
11 "But you who forsake Yahweh, who forget my holy mountain, who prepare a table for Fortune, and who fill up mixed wine to Destiny; 12 I will destine you to the sword, and you shall all bow down to the slaughter; because when I called, you didn’t answer; when I spoke, you didn’t listen; but you did that which was evil in my eyes, and chose that in which I didn’t delight." 13 Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh, "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 disappointed; 14 behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but you shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall wail for anguish of spirit. 15 You shall leave your name for a curse to my chosen; and the Lord Yahweh will kill you; and he will call his servants by another name: 16 so that he who blesses himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he who swears in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hidden from my eyes.
17 "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18 But be you glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people; and there shall be heard in her no more the voice of weeping and the voice of crying. 20 "There shall be no more there an infant of days, nor an old man who has not filled his days; for the child shall die one hundred years old, and the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 They shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree shall be the days of my people, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for calamity; for they are the seed of the blessed of Yahweh, and their offspring with them. 24 It shall happen that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain," says Yahweh.
Observations: 65:1-7 God responds to the pleas in the previous chapters that He will first pay back Israel the just recompense for their sin before He restores them. He stretches out His hands toward them, but they have refused. Even Gentiles, who didn't have the history with God that Israel did, are better than Israel in responding to God.
65:8-10 After paying back those who don't seek Him, God will bless those who do seek Him.
65:11-16 Those who have forsaken God will be forsaken and destroyed by Him, and not enjoy any of the blessings of the choice servants who serve Him.
65:17-25 God gives a peek at the blessedness of the new heavens and new earth He will create in the future, where the sinful nation will not be remembered, but Israel will live in peace, prosperity and intimacy with God.
Application: Doing what's right in God's sight is the surest path to eternal delight.
Prayer: God, You are infinitely just and true to Your promises, so guide me so that I choose what's right in Your sight, and delight You, so You'll delight me. Thanks for being so gracious. Amen.
Isaiah 66 A Humble and Contrite Spirit
66:1 Thus says Yahweh, "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: what kind of house will you build to me? and what place shall be my rest? 2 For all these things has my hand made, and so all these things came to be," says Yahweh: "but to this man will I look, even to him who is humble and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word." 3 He who kills an ox is as he who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, as he who breaks a dog’s neck; he who offers an offering, as he who offers pig’s blood; he who burns frankincense, as he who blesses an idol. Yes, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations: 4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears on them; because when I called, no one answered; when I spoke, they didn’t listen; but they did that which was evil in my eyes, and chose that in which I didn’t delight."
5 Hear the word of Yahweh, you who tremble at his word: "Your brothers who hate you, who cast you out for my name’s sake, have said, ‘Let Yahweh be glorified, that we may see your joy’; but it is those who shall be disappointed. 6 A voice of tumult from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of Yahweh that renders recompense to his enemies. 7 "Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she delivered a son. 8 Who has heard such a thing? who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? shall a nation be brought forth at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. 9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth?" says Yahweh: "shall I who cause to bring forth shut the womb?" says your God. 10 "Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her: rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn over her; 11 that you may nurse and be satisfied at the comforting breasts; that you may drink deeply, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory." 12 For thus says Yahweh, "Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream: and you will nurse. You will be carried on her side, and will be dandled on her knees. 13 As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted in Jerusalem." 14 You will see it, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like the tender grass: and the hand of Yahweh shall be known toward his servants; and he will have indignation against his enemies.
15 For, behold, Yahweh will come with fire, and his chariots shall be like the whirlwind; to render his anger with fierceness, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For by fire will Yahweh execute judgment, and by his sword, on all flesh; and the slain of Yahweh shall be many. 17 "Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go to the gardens, behind one in the midst, eating pig’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, they shall come to an end together," says Yahweh. 18 "For I know their works and their thoughts: the time comes, that I will gather all nations and languages; and they shall come, and shall see my glory. 19 "I will set a sign among them, and I will send such as escape of them to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the islands afar off, who have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations. 20 They shall bring all your brothers out of all the nations for an offering to Yahweh, on horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and on mules, and on dromedaries, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says Yahweh, as the children of Israel bring their offering in a clean vessel into the house of Yahweh. 21 Of them also will I take for priests and for Levites," says Yahweh. 22 "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me," says Yahweh, "so your seed and your name shall remain. 23 It shall happen, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me," says Yahweh. 24 "They shall go forth, and look on the dead bodies of the men who have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they will be loathsome to all mankind."
Observations: 66:1-14 The mighty God who inhabits eternity and uses earth as a footstool, looks and listens to the humble and contrite person, who trembles at His word (used twice here and in Isaiah 57:15). Those who don't do what delights God, and choose their own ways, have chosen their own punishments. The bad guys hate the good guys, but the good guys will win. The nation and land will be restored in a day, and God will give Israel an abundance of comfort and glory.
66:15-24 Though God will comfort and glorify His people, He will destroy His enemies, particularly those who engage in hypocritical pagan style “worship”. Israel will be regathered, and serve as a nation of priests and ministers as God originally wanted, and will remain forever before Him, as will the new heavens and the new earth. This was the hope of the captives in Babylon, and is still the hope of believers today. All flesh will worship before God, and see the never-ending just punishment of those who rejected Him.
Application: Those who fear God and follow His word, will have enemies, whom God will vanquish when He returns and glorifies Himself in glorifying His choice servants.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, may I delight to live in a manner that glorifies You, trembling at Your word, and not those who oppose me for following it. Amen.
Digging Deeper:
God in a nutshell: God, as the Lord of History, will return, redeem, restore and glorify His people, on the earth, drawing all nations and people to Him, when they see how He has blessed Israel. He provides salvation, freedom and blessing to the humble, and judgment to the proud. He will create a new heaven and a new earth, in which peace and righteousness reside. He will eternally judge those who don't delight Him nor delight in His ways,
Us in a nutshell: We can choose to obey and delight God, and experience joy, delight, honor and glory; or we can choose to do what pleases ourselves, and experience just judgment and enduring pain. We can have an intimate relationship with God or be abandoned and forsaken based upon our responses to God and His word.
Where to Go for More:
Truthbase.net
Isaiah complete text
Isaiah 60
60:1 "Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of Yahweh is risen on you. 2 For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but Yahweh will arise on you, and his glory shall be seen on you. 3 Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. 4 "Lift up your eyes all around, and see: they all gather themselves together, they come to you; your sons shall come from far, and your daughters shall be carried in the arms. 5 Then you shall see and be radiant, and your heart shall thrill and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. 6 The multitude of camels shall cover you, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come; they shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall proclaim the praises of Yahweh. 7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together to you, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you; they shall come up with acceptance on my altar; and I will glorify the house of my glory. 8 "Who are these who fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?
9 Surely the islands shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, for the name of Yahweh your God, and for the Holy one of Israel, because he has glorified you. 10 "Foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you: for in my wrath I struck you, but in my favour have I had mercy on you. 11 Your gates also shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring to you the wealth of the nations, and their kings led captive. 12 For that nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; yes, those nations shall be utterly wasted. 13 "The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the fir tree, the pine, and the box tree together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious. 14 The sons of those who afflicted you shall come bending to you; and all those who despised you shall bow themselves down at the soles of your feet; and they shall call you The city of Yahweh, The Zion of the Holy one of Israel.
15 "Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, so that no man passed through you, I will make you an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. 16 You shall also drink the milk of the nations, and shall nurse from royal breasts; and you shall know that I, Yahweh, am your Saviour, and your Redeemer, the Mighty one of Jacob. 17 For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron. I will also make your officers peace, and righteousness your ruler. 18 Violence shall no more be heard in your land, desolation nor destruction within your borders; but you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. 19 The sun shall be no more your light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light to you: but Yahweh will be to you an everlasting light, and your God your glory. 20 Your sun shall no more go down, neither shall your moon withdraw itself; for Yahweh will be your everlasting light, and the days of your mourning shall be ended. 21 Your people also shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. 22 The little one shall become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation; I, Yahweh, will hasten it in its time."
Isaiah 61
61:1 The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is on me; because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to those who are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of Yahweh’s favour, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3 to appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified.
4 They shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations. 5 Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and foreigners shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. 6 But you shall be named the priests of Yahweh; men will call you the ministers of our God: you will eat the wealth of the nations, and you will boast in their glory. 7 Instead of your shame you shall have double; and instead of dishonour they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be to them. 8 "For I, Yahweh, love justice, I hate robbery with iniquity; and I will give them their recompense in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 9 Their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which Yahweh has blessed."
10 I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its bud, and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord Yahweh will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Isaiah 62
62:1 For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until her righteousness go forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns. 2 The nations shall see your righteousness, and all kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of Yahweh shall name. 3 You shall also be a crown of beauty in the hand of Yahweh, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. 4 You shall no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall your land any more be termed Desolate: but you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for Yahweh delights in you, and your land shall be married. 5 For as a young man marries a virgin, so your sons shall marry you; and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so your God will rejoice over you.
6 I have set watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they shall never hold their peace day nor night: you who call on Yahweh, take no rest, 7 and give him no rest, until he establishes, and until he makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth. 8 Yahweh has sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, "Surely I will no more give your grain to be food for your enemies; and foreigners shall not drink your new wine, for which you have laboured: 9 but those who have garnered it shall eat it, and praise Yahweh; and those who have gathered it shall drink it in the courts of my sanctuary."
10 Go through, go through the gates! Prepare the way of the people! Cast up, cast up the highway! Gather out the stones! Lift up a banner for the peoples. 11 Behold, Yahweh has proclaimed to the end of the earth, "Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your salvation comes. Behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.’" 12 They shall call them The holy people, The redeemed of Yahweh: and you shall be called Sought out, A city not forsaken.
Isaiah 63
63:1 Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this who is glorious in his clothing, marching in the greatness of his strength? "It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save." 2 Why are you red in your clothing, and your garments like him who treads in the wine vat? 3 "I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the peoples there was no man with me: yes, I trod them in my anger, and trampled them in my wrath; and their lifeblood is sprinkled on my garments, and I have stained all my clothing. 4 For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redeemed has come. 5 I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore my own arm brought salvation to me; and my wrath, it upheld me. 6 I trod down the peoples in my anger, and made them drunk in my wrath, and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth."
7 I will make mention of the loving kindnesses of Yahweh and the praises of Yahweh, according to all that Yahweh has bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he has bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his loving kindnesses. 8 For he said, "Surely, they are my people, children who will not deal falsely": so he was their Saviour. 9 In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bore them, and carried them all the days of old. 10 But they rebelled, and grieved his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he himself fought against them. 11 Then he remembered the days of old, Moses and his people, saying, Where is he who brought them up out of the sea with the shepherds of his flock? where is he who put his holy Spirit in their midst? 12 who caused his glorious arm to go at the right hand of Moses? who divided the waters before them, to make himself an everlasting name? 13 who led them through the depths, as a horse in the wilderness, so that they didn’t stumble? 14 As the livestock that go down into the valley, the Spirit of Yahweh caused them to rest; so you led your people, to make yourself a glorious name.
15 Look down from heaven, and see from the habitation of your holiness and of your glory: where are your zeal and your mighty acts? the yearning of your heart and your compassion is restrained toward me. 16 For you are our Father, though Abraham doesn’t know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us: you, Yahweh, are our Father; our Redeemer from everlasting is your name. 17 O Yahweh, why do you make us to err from your ways, and harden our heart from your fear? Return for your servants’ sake, the tribes of your inheritance. 18 Your holy people possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down your sanctuary. 19 We have become as they over whom you never bear rule, as those who were not called by your name.
Isaiah 64
64:1 Oh that you would tear the heavens, that you would come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence, 2 as when fire kindles the brushwood, and the fire causes the waters to boil; to make your name known to your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at your presence! 3 When you did awesome things which we didn’t look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. 4 For from of old men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither has the eye seen a God besides you, who works for him who waits for him. 5 You meet him who rejoices and works righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. Behold, you were angry, and we sinned. We have been in sin for a long time; and shall we be saved?
6 For we have all become as one who is unclean, and all our righteousness is as a polluted garment: and we all fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 7 There is none who calls on your name, who stirs up himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have consumed us by means of our iniquities. 8 But now, Yahweh, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you our potter; and we all are the work of your hand. 9 Don’t be furious, Yahweh, neither remember iniquity forever: see, look, we beg you, we are all your people. 10 Your holy cities are become a wilderness, Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation. 11 Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised you, is burned with fire; and all our pleasant places are laid waste. 12 Will you refrain yourself for these things, Yahweh? Will you hold your peace, and afflict us very severely?
Isaiah 65
65:1 "I am inquired of by those who didn’t ask; I am found by those who didn’t seek me: I said, See me, see me, to a nation that was not called by my name. 2 I have spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, after their own thoughts; 3 a people who provoke me to my face continually, sacrificing in gardens, and burning incense on bricks; 4 who sit among the graves, and lodge in the secret places; who eat pig’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; 5 who say, Stand by yourself, don’t come near to me, for I am holier than you. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burns all the day. 6 "Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, yes, I will recompense into their bosom, 7 your own iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together," says Yahweh, "who have burned incense on the mountains, and blasphemed me on the hills; therefore will I first measure their work into their bosom."
8 Thus says Yahweh, "As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one says, ‘Don’t destroy it, for a blessing is in it’: so will I do for my servants’ sake, that I may not destroy them all. 9 I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains; and my chosen shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. 10 Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for herds to lie down in, for my people who have sought me.
11 "But you who forsake Yahweh, who forget my holy mountain, who prepare a table for Fortune, and who fill up mixed wine to Destiny; 12 I will destine you to the sword, and you shall all bow down to the slaughter; because when I called, you didn’t answer; when I spoke, you didn’t listen; but you did that which was evil in my eyes, and chose that in which I didn’t delight." 13 Therefore thus says the Lord Yahweh, "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 disappointed; 14 behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but you shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall wail for anguish of spirit. 15 You shall leave your name for a curse to my chosen; and the Lord Yahweh will kill you; and he will call his servants by another name: 16 so that he who blesses himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he who swears in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hidden from my eyes.
17 "For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18 But be you glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people; and there shall be heard in her no more the voice of weeping and the voice of crying. 20 "There shall be no more there an infant of days, nor an old man who has not filled his days; for the child shall die one hundred years old, and the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 They shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. 22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree shall be the days of my people, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for calamity; for they are the seed of the blessed of Yahweh, and their offspring with them. 24 It shall happen that, before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the ox; and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain," says Yahweh.
Isaiah 66
66:1 Thus says Yahweh, "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: what kind of house will you build to me? and what place shall be my rest? 2 For all these things has my hand made, and so all these things came to be," says Yahweh: "but to this man will I look, even to him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word." 3 He who kills an ox is as he who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, as he who breaks a dog’s neck; he who offers an offering, as he who offers pig’s blood; he who burns frankincense, as he who blesses an idol. Yes, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations: 4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears on them; because when I called, no one answered; when I spoke, they didn’t listen; but they did that which was evil in my eyes, and chose that in which I didn’t delight."
5 Hear the word of Yahweh, you who tremble at his word: "Your brothers who hate you, who cast you out for my name’s sake, have said, ‘Let Yahweh be glorified, that we may see your joy’; but it is those who shall be disappointed. 6 A voice of tumult from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of Yahweh that renders recompense to his enemies. 7 "Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she delivered a son. 8 Who has heard such a thing? who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? shall a nation be brought forth at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. 9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth?" says Yahweh: "shall I who cause to bring forth shut the womb?" says your God. 10 "Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her: rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn over her; 11 that you may nurse and be satisfied at the comforting breasts; that you may drink deeply, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory." 12 For thus says Yahweh, "Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream: and you will nurse. You will be carried on her side, and will be dandled on her knees. 13 As one whom his mother comforts, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted in Jerusalem." 14 You will see it, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like the tender grass: and the hand of Yahweh shall be known toward his servants; and he will have indignation against his enemies.
15 For, behold, Yahweh will come with fire, and his chariots shall be like the whirlwind; to render his anger with fierceness, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For by fire will Yahweh execute judgment, and by his sword, on all flesh; and the slain of Yahweh shall be many. 17 "Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go to the gardens, behind one in the midst, eating pig’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, they shall come to an end together," says Yahweh. 18 "For I know their works and their thoughts: the time comes, that I will gather all nations and languages; and they shall come, and shall see my glory. 19 "I will set a sign among them, and I will send such as escape of them to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the islands afar off, who have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the nations. 20 They shall bring all your brothers out of all the nations for an offering to Yahweh, on horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and on mules, and on dromedaries, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says Yahweh, as the children of Israel bring their offering in a clean vessel into the house of Yahweh. 21 Of them also will I take for priests and for Levites," says Yahweh. 22 "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me," says Yahweh, "so your seed and your name shall remain. 23 It shall happen, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me," says Yahweh. 24 "They shall go forth, and look on the dead bodies of the men who have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they will be loathsome to all mankind."
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