Isaiah 65,66; Jeremiah 1

Isaiah 65

Isaiah 65:1 reads very differently between versions 

I was sought by those who did not ask for Me;
I was found by those who did not seek Me.
NKJV

I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me;
I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me.
ESV

God: “I was ready to be sought…”

• People who did not seek Him found Him

God was not hiding but instead people were resisting.

Persistent rebellion

• Walking in wrong ways
• Idolatrous practices
• Ritual impurity
• Spiritual arrogance (“Keep to yourself…”)

God was provoked to anger

Separation Between Servants and Rebels

• Servants: Like good grapes in a cluster
  • will inherit land
• Rebels: Those who forsake the LORD
  • Trust in false gods (Fortune and Destiny imagery)
  • Their future: Sword instead of feast

Servants: Eat, drink, rejoice, sing

Rebellious: Hunger, thirst, shame, anguish

 New Heavens and New Earth

• “New heavens and a new earth”
• Former things not remembered

Isaiah 65:17 (ESV)

“For behold, I create new heavens
and a new earth,
and the former things shall not be remembered
or come into mind.”

Revelation 21:4 (ESV)

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,
and death shall be no more,
neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore,
for the former things have passed away.”

New Earth- similar to Eden

• Long life
• Fruitful labor
• Security

Peace restored

• God answers before they call
• Wolf and lamb together
• Serpent restrained

Isaiah 66

True vs False Worship

God says Heaven is His throne and the Earth His footstool

What God seeks:

• Humble
• Contrite
• Trembles at His word

Sacrifices without obedience:

• Compared to murder
• Compared to idolatry

Those who persecuted faithful will see God act.

Birth in a day: Nation born in a day

• Rapid restoration

Jerusalem nourishes

• Comfort
• Peace like a river
• Overflowing glory

Vs God’s Anger

• Anger fury of fire
  • Rebuke flames of fire 
• Judgment executed
• Idol worshipers consumed

Global worship

• Nations see God’s glory
• Survivors proclaim among nations
• Even foreigners become priests and Levites

Eternal Worship

• “New heavens and new earth”
• All flesh worships
• All of God’s glory declared

Wicked face shame and destruction

• Final image: unquenched fire

Jeremiah 1

• Author: Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, a priest from Anathoth (1:1)
• Location: Anathoth  priestly town in Benjamin, ~3 miles NE of Jerusalem
• Date of Call: 13th year of King Josiah (ca. 627 BC)
• Political Setting:
  • Assyria declining
  • Babylon rising
  • Egypt competing for regional power
• Jeremiah’s Ministry Span:
  • Through reigns of Josiah, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, Zedekiah
  • Witnessed fall of Jerusalem (586 BC)

Word of God: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…” 

Objection: “Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.”

• Echoes Moses (Exod 4:10).
• Suggests Jeremiah likely late teen or early adult.

God’s Response

• “Do not say…” 
• “To all to whom I send you, you shall go.”

The Touching of the Mouth

• Physical sign-act.
• Parallels Isaiah 6 (coal touching lips).
• God places His words in Jeremiah’s mouth.

The Sixfold Commission

“to pluck up… break down… destroy… overthrow… build… plant”

Hebrew Verbs

• לִנְתּוֹשׁ (lintōš)  pluck up
• לִנְתּוֹץ (lintōṣ)  break down
• לְהַאֲבִיד (lehaʾăbîd)  destroy
• לַהֲרוֹס (lahărōs)  overthrow
• לִבְנוֹת (livnôt)  build
• לִנְטוֹעַ (lintôaʿ)  plant
• 4 negative verbs, 2 positive 

Vision of the Almond Branch

• Wordplay: almond tree = “watching tree.”
  • שָׁקֵד (šāqēd)  almond tree
  • שֹׁקֵד (šōqēd) watching
• “I am watching (šōqēd) over my word to perform it.”

Vision of the Boiling Pot

• Boiling pot tipped from the north.
• “Out of the north disaster shall be let loose.”
  • Babylon invades from north (though geographically east).
    • Military route follows Fertile Crescent.

Commission: “Dress yourself for work”

• Literally: “Gird up your loins.”

Threefold Metaphor

• Fortified city
• Iron pillar
• Bronze walls

Prophet stands against:

• Kings
• Officials
• Priests
• People

 Promise: “They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you.”

Application

Isaiah 65 shows us that God distinguishes true servants from the rebellious and promises a future new creation. Our hardship on earth isn’t forever! Chapter 66 then shows us what will happen in his Everlasting Kingdom. Jeremiah 1 transitions to showing how God sovereignly appoints His servant before he “thinks” he is ready. God showed him that with God he can do all things.