All Things New: Isaiah 65 (5)

Pray Psalm 33.1-5.
Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!
For praise from the upright is beautiful.
Praise the LORD with the harp;
Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
For the word of the LORD is right,
And all His work is done in truth.
He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.

Read Isaiah 65.17-19

Reflect.
1. What does God promise to create? How will we feel about that?

2. What does Jerusalem represent here?

Meditate.
This passage is very carefully phrased by God Himself, speaking through His prophet. I want to make sure we capture the meaning and importance of it, so be prepared for a bit of grammatical nuancing in what follows.

Isaiah pulls the prophetic spyglass out to its full length. As God leads, he points us down the corridors of history to a new creation – one that is actually beginning in his own day, but which will not come to full realization until “the former” creation is a thing of the past. So we’re looking in history as we know it and beyond history at the same time.

Right away we note that God says, “I am creating” and not “I will create” (v. 17). He uses a participle, בוֹרֵ֛א, voreah, “I am creating”, rather than the imperfect (future) tense, to describe an activity that is already under way, even as Isaiah records these words. This verb is unique to God; only God can create according to what this verb intends. He is already doing this work. The sending of His people into captivity in Babylon is part of the new creation of heaven and earth that God is beginning. He wanted His people to see that, even as they were coming under judgment, they were part of something entirely new which was already in process.

So great will this new work of God be that His people won’t “remember” “the former” heavens and earth, and their hearts will not be troubled by having lost what was (NKJV mind is more accurately heart in v. 17).

God is creating Jerusalem as a City of rejoicing (v. 18). Here joy and rejoicing are the consequence of participating in the new City, where, as we have previously seen, righteousness obtains and peace is the overall condition of existence (cf. Rom. 14.17, 18). This is a place of continuous celebration because of the saving grace of God. When God says, “I will rejoice in Jerusalem” (v. 19), I take the Hebrew preposition, בִי, vee, in a locative rather than instrumental sense. He does not rejoice because of His new City, but within it! He is the “with-us-always” God, and it is His rejoicing in Himself that ignites ours, and empowers us to leave all weeping and crying behind.

God is making all things new, and that making begins with judgment, leads to deliverance, and culminates in His coming into the midst of His people for joy and rejoicing.

Reflect.
1. God is doing this great work even now. Are you part of it? How can you know?

2. God does not need us to be completely and perfectly joyful. But we need Him, and His joy, to know any joy at all. Explain.

3. God calls us to rejoice in what He is creating. What does this mean? How can we make sure that such rejoicing is our daily experience?

These words point to the church, referring to the heavenly and spiritual gifts that have been granted to it. Indeed, if the Lord took care of the Israelites for the earthly things promised to them, how much more will he provide for the church, thanks to the joy that peoples have experienced in their conversion to it. Therefore, he also calls new heavens and new earth the new and spiritual life granted to the church by the advent of Christ. Ephrem the Syrian (306-373 AD), Commentary on Isaiah 65.17

Lord, You Who are making all things new, work for newness in me today, so that I…

Pray Psalm 33.
Both the Word and the works of God reveal His greatness and love. Let this psalm lead you to reflect on each of these, and to contemplate the new creation that is yet to come.

Sing to the Lord.
Psalm 33 (Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns)
Sing with rejoicing in the Lord, for praise becomes His righteous ones!
With harps and songs raise grateful words, and let new songs of praise be sung!

Joyfully shout! His Word is true; He does His work in faithfulness.
His love prevails the whole world through; the Lord loves truth and righteousness.

God spoke and heaven came to be, and all its hosts His Spirit wrought.
He heaps the waters of the sea; the deeps their dwelling place are taught.

Let all below now fear the Lord; let all in awe of Him abide!
The worlds exist by Jesus’ Word; let all on earth in Him confide.

He nullifies the nations’ plans; forever stands His sov’reign Word.
All they are blessed who with Him stand – the chosen people of the Lord.

God from His throne looks down on men; He knows our works and made our hearts.
Let not Your Church, let none depend on strength or skill or human arts.

God watches those who fear His Name, who hope upon His grace and love; 
He keeps their souls from death and shame who trust in Him Who reigns above.

God is our Helper and our Shield; upon us let Your grace descend!
We hope in You; to You we yield; we trust in Jesus to the end.

T. M. Moore

Where do the prophets fit with the rest of Scripture? How can I be a better student of God’s Word? Our course, Introduction to Biblical Theology, can help you gain a better approach to and understanding of the Scriptures. Watch this brief preview video, then register at The Ailbe Seminary and enroll in this free online course.

Forward today’s lesson to some friends, and challenge them to study with you through this series on Isaiah. Each week’s lessons will be available as a free PDF download at the end of the week. Get a copy for yourself and send the link for the download to your friends. Plan to meet weekly to study Isaiah’s important message.

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