Isaiah 65

Isaiah 65:1

I Am, &c.] Rom. 9. 24,-26. & 10. 20. Ephes. 2. 12, 13.

sought of them that asked not for me] Sought, that is, found. as Ecclesiastes 3:6. preventing their seeking to me by seeking to them, 2 Corinthians 5:20. Ephesians 2:17. seeking put for finding; because this the end and usuall consequent thereof, Matthew 7:7. Or, sought to; that is, called upon (as Chap. 55. 6. Ezekiel 36:37.) by the Gentiles now converted; who before had no notice of me, Chap. 52. 15. & 55. 5. Romans 15:20. nor were wont to seek to me, or to aske ought of me: as Chap. 45. 11. & 58. 2. Hosea 4:12.

I said] Or, say.

Behold me, behold me] Heb. Lo I, lo I. or, Here am I. Genesis 22:1; Genesis 22:11. Gods voyce to the Gentiles; not so much inviting, or calling on them, to look after him; as Chap. 45. 22. as tendering and offering himself to them, (as Chap. 6. 8.) as ready to entertain them, and make them his people; which before they were not, Deuteronomy 32:21. Hosea 2:14. Romans 9:25. Or, returning a gracious answer unto their suits, when they seek to him, Chap. 58. 9. the words being redoubled, to intimate his readinesse to grant their requests. Vers. 24.

a nation that was not called by my name] Chap. 63. 19.

Isaiah 65:2

I have spread out my hands] As the manner is of those that require audience, Acts 26:1. or desire acceptance, Proverbs 1:24.

to a rebellious people] The main cause of the rejection of the Jewish people: their obstinate disobedience, and stiff standing out against God, notwithstanding his constant continuall invitations of them by his Prophets. Vers. 12. Chap. 66. 4. Jeremiah 7:13. and 11. 7, 8.

in a way that was not good] That is, very bad, stark naught: as 1 Samuel 2:24. Psalms 36:4. Proverbs 24:23.

after their own thoughts] Numbers 15:39. 1 Kings 12:33. Psalms 81:12. 2 Peter 3:3.

Isaiah 65:3

that provoketh me to anger] Chap. 3. 8.

that sacrificeth in gardens] Dedicated to idols, Chap. 1. 29. and 66. 17.

burneth incense upon altars of brick] Leaving Gods altar. Vers. 11. Heb. upon bricks: On their idoll altars made of such stuffe; which he therefore so calleth in contempt, Chap. 9. 10. as Ezekiah did the brasen so abused, 2 Kings 18:4. Or, upon the tops of their houses covered with tile, or brick; on which being flat roofed they used to sacrifice. See Jeremiah 19:13.

Isaiah 65:4

remain among the graves] To consult with Spirits, and have dealings with the dead, Deuteronomy 18:11. 1 Sam. 28. 8, 11. Mark 5:5.

lodge in the monuments] Or, wasts. Chap. 1. 8. & 49. 6.

eat swines flesh] Forbidden in the Law, Leviticus 11:7. Deuteronomy 14:8. Chap. 66. 3. 17.

broth] Or, pieces.

Isaiah 65:5

Which say] Yet they pretended much holinesse: and their hypocrisie was joyued with pride and a contempt of others, Luke 5:30. & Luke 7:39. & 18. 11, 12.

Stand by thy selfe] Heb. draw neer to thy self. that is, such as thou thy self art; unclean ones, like thy self.

I am holier then thou] Heb. I am holy from thee. as Jeremiah 20:7. See Chap. 66. 17.

these are a smoke in my nose, &c.] Or, in mine anger. Psalms 18:8. Chap. 13. 13. These are a continuall provocation and vexation to me, as smoke to the eyes, Proverbs 10:26. Or, my wrath is incensed and shall smoke for ever against such, Deuteronomy 29:20. Psalms 37:20. Chap. 14. 31. Or, I will dispel them like smoke, Psal 68. 2. and make them fewel for the fire, Chap. 1. 31. & 9. 18.

Isaiah 65:6

it is written before me] All that they do is upon record with me, that I may not forget them, Deuteronomy 32:34. Psalms 56:8. Jeremiah 3:22. Malachi 3:16.

I will not keep silence] I will no longer forbear; as hitherto I h〈…〉 done, Psalms 50:21. Chap. 42. 14.

recompense into their bosome] Or, into their lap. Proverbs 16:33. that is, abundantly, plentifully: as those that deliver not, what they give, by tale or weight, but pour it forth into the receivers lap, little regarding how much they give, Psalms 79:12. Jeremiah 32:18. Luke 6:38.

Isaiah 65:7

Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together] I will punish for both together, when I begin once to take vengeance, 1 Samuel 3:12. Jeremiah 3:25. Matth. 23. 32, 35, 36.

blasphemed me] Or, reproached, dishonoured me. Chap. 37. 4. Psalms 89:51. for it is no verball or vocall, but a reall and an actuall reproach, that he chargeth them with.

will I measure their former work] That is, the just reward of it. Chap. 61. 8. & 62. 11.

into their bosome] Or, lap. as Vers. 6.

Isaiah 65:8

a blessing is in it] There is some good liquor in it, through Gods blessing upon it, Jeremiah 31:8. See Chap. 36. 16.

so will I do] Though I destroy the rotten clusters, the wicked, whether professedly profane, or hypocrites; yet will I spare those that have any ound grace or goodnesse at all in them, Chap. 17. 6. & 24. 13. Or, though I do execute judgement upon them, yet I will not utterly destroy the whole nation, but do as the husbandman, who forbeareth to pull up a vine or plant by the root, when by any putting out of fruit it appeareth that there is life in some part of it.

for my servants sake] Chap. 63. 17.

Isaiah 65:9

I will bring forth] From out of the Babylonian captivitie: a type of deliverance from the thraldome of sinne and Satan, Chap 43. 5. 6.

a seed] A small remnant, Chap. 29. Romans 9:29.

an inheritour of my mountains] The mountains of Judah, Ezekiel 36:1. 8. & 38. 8.

Isaiah 65:10

Sharon, &c.] A plentifull place for sheep. Chap. 33. 9. & 35. 2. as Achor for other cattle, Hos. 2 15.

Isaiah 65:11

that forget my holy mountain] Heb. my mountain of holinesse. vers. 25. Ezekiel 20:40. My Temple, situate on mount Zion, Chap. 2. 2.

prepare a table for that troup] Or, for Gd. Genesis 30:11. The multitude and numberlesse number of their idols; which they so doted upon, that they could never have enow of them, Jeremiah 2:28. & Jeremiah 11:13. Or, the innumerable host of heaven, Jeremiah 7:18. and Jeremiah 8:2. as, as some, to Gad and Meni, two Planets, Jupiter and Mercurie, which they worshipped, the one to make them fortunate, the other to further them in their traffick.

furnish the drink-offering] Heb. fill the mixture. Proverbs 23:30.

number] Or, for Meni. Daniel 5:25-26.

Isaiah 65:12

will I number you to the sword] I will allot you to the sword in no small number: alluding to the number of their idols; mentioned, vers. 11. or the name at least of one of them. See the like, Chap 66. 3, 4. Jeremiah 34:17.

because, &c.] Proverbs 1:24. &c. Chap. 66. 4. Jeremiah 7:13.

when I called] By my Prophets: whom ye would not hear and obey, Zechariah 7:7; Zechariah 7:11-12.

ye did not answer] Or, ye would not answer. Proverbs 1:25. Chap. 50. 2. and so afterward, ye would not hear.

did evill before mine eyes] Or, that which is evill in my sight. (as Chap. 57. 1.) that is, displeasing to me, Chap. 66. 4. 2 Samuel 11:27. See vers 3. Psalms 51:4.

choose that wherein I delighted not] But abhorred, Chap. 66. 3, 4.

Isaiah 65:13

my servants shall eat &c.] They shall enjoy plentie, and live cheerfully: when it shall be farre otherwise with you, Psal. 37. 11, 19, 20. & 68. 1,-3. Proverbs 29:6. Eccl. 9. 7. Luk. 6. 20, 21, 24, 25.

Isaiah 65:14

for joy of heart] Heb. a good, or, merri heart. Proverbs 15:15.

for vexation] Heb. breaking. Chap. 61. 1.

Isaiah 65:15

leave your name for a curse] Heb. an oath. Nehem. 10. 29. because to solemn oaths were execrations usually annexed. 1 Kings 19:2. Your very name and memory shall be accursed; or used in cursing, Chap. 43. 28. Jeremiah 23:40. & Jeremiah 24:9.

call his servants by another name] A new name, Chap. 62. 2. as some, not Jews; a name now grown reproachfull and odious; but Christians, Acts 11:28. or, the children of God, John 1:12. Galatians 3:26. or, the name of a stable people, vers. 16. an other name, then that you, the wicked, bear: or, ather, an other then they now bear, Hosea 1:23. Romans 9:26. 1 Peter 2:10.

Isaiah 65:16

That] Or, So that.

who blesseth himself, &c.] By blessing and swearing is meant the whole worship of God, and the profession of it, which shall in all places be given to the true God alone: called here, the God of truth, the true and faithfull God, Psalms 31:5. Jeremiah 10:10. or the God of the firme and stable people; whose name they should use therefore in blessing and wishing well to any, as being a people blessed and established by God; as on the other side in cursing they used the names of those wicked ones, vers. 15. Genesis 28:4. and 48. 20. Zechariah 8:15.

in the earth] Or, land. and so afterward: as Chap. 66. 8.

the God of truth] Heb. God Amen. Revelation 3:14. or, the God of Amen, that is, of the firme and stable people, Hos, 11. 12. and so again afterward.

the former troubles are forgotten] No more minded now, then as if they had never been: both your sorrows, Chap. 54. 4. John 16:21. and your sinnes, Chap. 43. 25. Jeremiah 31:34. Zechariah 10:6.

they are hid from mine eyes] Psalms 32:1. & Psalms 85:2. Chap. 38. 17. Micah 7:19.

Isaiah 65:17

I create new heavens, and a new earth] I will so alter and change the state of my Church, that there shall seem to be a new world, Chap. 66. 22. 2 Corinthians 5:17. 2 Peter 3:13. Rev. 21. 1, 5.

the former shall not be remembred] So much shall the spirituall excellencie of my Church exceed that which in former times it had, that the consideration of the one shall seem to drown and abolish the memorie of the other, Jeremiah 3:16. 2 Cor. 3. 7,-10.

nor come into mind] Heb. come, or, ascend, upon the heart. Jeremiah 3:16. 1 Corinthians 2:9.

Isaiah 65:18

I create Jerusalem a rejoycing, and her people a joy] Or, for rejoycing. and for joy. as Vers. 15. that is, To be matter of joy and mirth, Chap. 66. 10. See Chap. 62. 7.

Isaiah 65:19

I will rejoyce in Jerusalem] Chap. 62. 5.

the voyce of weeping shall be no more heard, &c.] Chap. 35. 10. and 51. 11. Revelation 21:4.

Isaiah 65:20

There shall be no more thence an infant of dayes] Or, any young infant. None shall be taken away from thence by untimely death, young or old; but they shall live to the utmost of the course of nature, Exodus 23. 26. Psalms 9:10. & Psalms 55:23. & Psalms 94:23. Zechariah 8:4.

nor an old man that hath not filled his dayes] Nor any old man that hath not lived out his full time, Job 5:26.

for] Or, but. as Psalms 118:17.

the child shall die an hundred yeers old] Heb. the sonne of an hundred yeers. as Genesis 11:10. He that is now a child, shall attain to those yeers, ere he die.

but] Or, yet. or, howbeit. as Chap. 64. 8.

an hundred yeers] Heb. the sonne of an hundred yeers.

the sinner being an hundred yeers old shall be accursed] He shall be so, though he live never so long, even in those times of restitution, Ecclesiastes 8:12-13. Chap. 48. 22.

Isaiah 65:22

not build, and another inhabite, &c.] As was threatned for a curse upon disobedience, Deuteronomy 28:30. 39.

they shall not plant, and another at] See Chap. 62. 8, 9.

as the dayes of a tree, are the dayes of my people] Or, shall be the dayes of my people. Of a lasting tree; not of a fading leaf. Chap. 64. 6.

and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands] Heb. shall make them continue long. or, shall wear out, &c. They shall live long to enjoy and spend themselves what by their labours they have gotten, and gathered. Vers. 20. Psalms 128:6.

Isaiah 65:23

not labour in vain] Jeremiah 51:58. Hab. 2. 13. Hag. 1. 6. 1. Cor. 15. 58.

nor bring forth for trouble] Bring forth and breed children, to nothing but trouble and affliction: as is wont to be in times of warre and publike calamitie, Deuteronomy 28:41. Hosea 9:12-13. See Jeremiah 51:58.

the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them] Both they, and their issue, shall be blessed, Chap. 61. 9. Psalms 37:25. 26. & 115. 13. 15.

Isaiah 65:24

before they call, I will answer] Psalms 32:5. Daniel 10:12.

whiles they are yet speaking, I will hear] Chap. 58. 9.

Isaiah 65:25

The wolf and the lambe shall feed together, &c.] Chap. 11. 6, 7, 9.

dust shall be the serpents meat] He shall rest content with the food assigned him, Genesis 3:14. and not hurt, or feed on any other creature: all shall be harmlesse.

not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain] Heb. my mountain of holinesse. vers. 11. In my Church. Chap. 2. 2, 4. Psalms 15:1. & Psalms 24:3.