126. Inheritor of My Mountains

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Hymns: RHC 100 He Lifted Me 101 Leaning on the Everlasting Arms 106 Christ Liveth in Me

Isaiah 65

1 I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. 2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; 3 A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; 4 Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; 5 Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day. 6Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom, 7 Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom. 8 Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants’ sakes, that I may not destroy them all. 9 And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. 10 And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me. 11 But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number. 12 Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not. 13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: 14 Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit. 15 And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name: 16 That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes. 17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. 20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. 22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. 24 And it shall come to pass, 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 bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

Inheritors of My Mountains (1)

OUTLINE

  • Blessings of the Gentiles and Bypassing of the Conceited Jews (v1-7, v11-12, 14b-15)
  • Blessings of the LORD’s True Servants (v8-10, 13-14a, 16-25)
    • The Remnant Identified (v8-10, 13-14a, 16)
    • Enjoying the Millennia and Eternal Comforts (v17-25)

INTRODUCTION

Israel is precious in the sight of God. God created and chosen Israel to bear His name out of all the nations of the world. Israel was the apple of His eye. The privileges given to Israel were tremendous. They had God so nigh to them. Yet, they forsook their God by going after strange gods. This is Israel’s history. Time and again they rejected their God.

The Apostle Paul quotes the prediction of Moses in Deuteronomy 32:21 “They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.” 

Romans 10:19 (KJV) But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

Israel would be such a rebellious people that God’s anger would be kindled against them. As a nation, they have crucified their Messiah, Jesus Christ. As a result of their utter rebellion, God’s grace would come upon the Gentiles. The Jews by their privilege position as God’s people views the Gentiles as foolish and senseless people who does not know the living and true God. As Israel witnesses the salvation of Gentiles, may it provoke them to jealousy. It is meant to jolt them to come back to God.

Dear brethren, pray for the people of Israel that God may open their spiritual eyes to acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Messiah. Pray for the backslidden Christians from your circle of friends that they may come back to God. Extend an invitation for them to come back to church.

The Apostle Paul quotes the prophet Isaiah who boldly highlights how the Gentiles turned to God although they were not a people who were supposed to seek God.

Isaiah 65:1 “I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.” 

It is interesting to observe through Church History the movement of Holy Spirit in the salvation of Gentile nations reached with the gospel. From Israel, the Apostle Paul brought the gospel to Europe. And the gospel continued to spread to the continents of Africa, America and Asia. Truly, many of the people in Asia were idol worshippers before they received the gospel, putting away their idols. 

We are seeing this trend continuing today. God is opening the spiritual eyes of those who have no link with Israel’s Messiah, Jesus Christ. Thank God for His mercy that the gospel is carried by Gentile missionaries to Gentile nations steeped in idolatry.

As the hymn writer Charles H. Gabriel testified:

In lovingkindness Jesus came, 

my soul in mercy to reclaim,

And from the depth of sin and shame

Thru grace He lifted me.

From sinking sand He lifted me,

With tender hand He lifted me;

From shades of night to plains of light,

O praise His name, He lifted me!

It is sad to see the nation of Israel today still rejecting their Messiah Jesus Christ although they are now back in the land after 2000 years. The land Jesus once walked. It is comforting to know that God has not forsaken Israel. In fact, God loves Israel and they are still the apple of His eye. May God save His people!

Romans 10:21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

While the Gentiles nations come to acknowledge Israel’s Messiah, Jesus Christ, as Lord and Saviour, Israel remains rebellious and unbelieving. The word “gainsaying” means “contradicting or opposing”. While the Gentile nations put away their idols and have faith in Jesus Christ, Israel remains indifferent and unmoved.

The prophet Isaiah pictured the scene of the father of the prodigal son daily at the gates awaiting his son’s return.

Isaiah 65:2-3 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; 3 A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face…

Indeed, God has been very patient and continues to allow time that the people of Israel may come to their senses and come to saving faith. Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, came to Jesus by night to seek the way to God (John 3). He was gloriously saved. There are Jews who were saved amidst a general rebellion. It is a consolation to not give up but persevere in praying and reaching out for the conversion of the Jews. May God be merciful to Israel!

  • Blessings of the Gentiles and Bypassing of the Conceited Jews (v1-7, v11-12, 14b-15)

1 I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. 2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; 

Romans 11:1-2a  I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.  2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew…

The Apostle Paul cited himself as an example that God has not completely cast away His people Israel. The blindness in Israel does not occur to everyone. There is a remnant like himself. He could trace his ancestry back to Abraham and the tribe of Benjamin which he belongs. His spiritual eyes were opened to receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. It was an about-turn in his life from a being a persecutor of the church to becoming her foremost missionary.

To Abraham was given the promise that all families of the earth be blessed through his seed. This blessing was alluding to the coming of Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, God will use a group of converted Jews to form the infant church that will bring the gospel from Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth. It seemed that God has sidelined Israel and the church is now God’s witness to the world. But this is not so! God has chosen Israel to be His people and this promise has not changed even though a majority of them has rejected their Messiah, Jesus Christ.

It is indeed unfathomable and mind-boggling that a people whom God has given so much privilege would be so far from Him. Today, as we survey the church scene, it is sad to observe for the majority, church life is simply a Sunday routine. I pay my tithe and don’t bother me the rest of the week. There is no desire to serve, no zeal for prayer in this materialistic society. It seemed the only thing that matters is to get ahead for this life. There is little desire for witnessing, little traces of spiritual vitality.

Has God given up on His church? No! Neither has God given up on Israel. May the Holy Spirit work a mighty work of grace to revive His church. 

This is the description of professing believers who in actual life lives contrary to the faith (v3-7).

3 A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;

That provoketh me to anger – That is, by their sins. They give constant occasion for my indignation.

To my face – There is no attempt at concealment. Their abominations are public. It is always regarded as an additional affront when an offence is committed in the very presence of another, and when there is not even the apology that it was supposed he did not see the offender. It is a great aggravation of the guilt of the stoner, that his offence is committed in the very presence, and under the very eye, of God.

The command of God was that the altars for sacrifice should be made of unhewn stone (Exodus 20:24-25). 

Exodus 20:24-25 (KJV) An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee. 25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.

But the pagan had altars of a different description, and the Jews had sacrificed on those altars. Some have supposed that this means that they sacrificed on the roofs of their houses, which were flat, and paved with brick, or tile, or plaster. 

4 Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine’s flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;

Which remain among the graves – That is, evidently for purposes of necromancy and divination. They do it to appear to hold converse with the dead, and to receive communications from them. The idea in necromancy was, that departed spirits must be acquainted with future events, or at least with the secret things of the invisible world where they dwelt, and that certain persons, by various arts, could become intimate with them, or ‘familiar’ with them, and, by obtaining their secrets, be able to communicate important truths to the living. [Barnes]

And lodge in the monuments – Evidently for some purpose of superstition and idolatry. The word rendered ‘lodge’ (yaliynu), means properly to pass the night, and refers not to a permanent dwelling in any place, but to remaining over night; and the probability is, that they went to the places referred to, to sleep – in order that they might receive communications in their dreams from idols, by being near them, or in order that they might have communication with departed spirits. 

The word rendered ‘monuments’ (netsurym) is derived from natsar, to watch, to guard, to keep; then to keep from view, to hide – and means properly hidden recesses; and dark and obscure retreats. It may be applied either to the adyta or secret places of pagan temples where their oracles were consulted and many of their rites were performed; or it may be applied to sepulchral caverns, the dark and hidden places where the dead were buried. [Barne]

5 Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day. 

Who at the time that they engage in these abominations are distinguished for spiritual pride. The most worthless people are commonly the most proud; and they who have wandered farthest from God have in general the most exalted idea of their own goodness. It was a characteristic of a large part of the Jewish nation, and especially of the Pharisees, to be self-righteous and proud whom our Lord Jesus denounced when He began His earthly ministry.

Matthew 5:20 (KJV) For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

6 Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom, 7 Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.

The LORD will not withhold His judgment on them for their departure from Him.

11 But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number. 12 Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.

The design of this verse is to remind them of their idolatries, and to assure them that they should not escape unpunished.

That forget my holy mountain – Mount Moriah, the sacred mountain on which the temple was built.

That prepare a table – It was usual to set food and drink before idols – with the belief that the gods consumed what was thus placed before them. The meaning here is, that the Jews had united with the pagan in thus ‘preparing a table;’ that is, setting it before the idols referred to, and placing food on it for them.

  • Blessings of the LORD’s True Servants (v8-10, 13-14a, 16-25)
    • The Remnant Identified (v8-10, 13-14a, 16)
    • Enjoying the Millennia and Eternal Comforts (v17-25)

8 Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants’ sakes, that I may not destroy them all. 9 And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. 10 And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me.

The whole nation shall not be cut off, but a remnant shall be kept and saved.

for my people that have sought me; with their whole hearts, being first sought and found by Him.

To be continued…