Isa 65:13-14 | KingComments | STEP | In the prophecy returns to the guilty ones who are addressed in a threatening way in . They have left the LORD. They do not think of worshiping Him. Instead, they have accepted the antichrist ( ) and surrendered to idolatrous sacrificial meals in honor of the “beast”. Two objects of worship are called: “Fortune”, the god of fortune or Jupiter, and “Destiny”, the god of fate or Venus. Thus, even now, there are countless people who believe that you should be lucky in life and that life is ruled by fate, either good or evil. They believe that gods like Fortune and Destiny control their lives. For one they set a table and for the other they fill cups with mixed wine. That table is an idol table and the drinking cup is that of the demons. Paul may have thought of this when he writes down what we read in 1 Corinthians 10 ( ). It is like an idolatrous unholy supper dedicated to demons. It is recognizable in professing Christianity where many heathen elements are integrated in the celebration of supper. This is particularly present in the roman-catholic church, which is called “a dwelling place of demons” ( ). Consistent with this, the LORD declares that He will destine – a word containing the thought of ‘fate’ – them for the sword. The sword used by the LORD as an instrument is here the king of the North and his, Arab or islamic, allies. Just as they bow to their images for their happiness, so they will have to kneel down to be slaughtered ( ). Through the use of the same words, in this statement of the LORD resounds irony. He says that it is not fate that destines their destiny, but He! And He has been so patient to them. He has called, but they have not answered. He has spoken, but they have refused to listen and deliberately chosen what displeases Him. In the LORD vividly presents the contrast between these faithless and His faithful who walk as He pleases. The unfaithful crowd did not listen when the LORD cried, but these faithful servants, those connected with the true Servant, the Servant of the LORD, did listen. The LORD stands up for His servants. With the call “behold” he points the disobedient to them. His servants shall eat and drink and rejoice and sing for joy, while those who turned away from the LORD shall suffer want, and shall know shame and fear and brokenness of spirit ( ). The name of the wicked will become a curse ( ). This refers to the oath pronounced by the priest to a woman suspected of adultery, whom he had to make drink the bitter water bringing the curse ( ), because Israel acted like an adulteress. In contrast with this, the LORD will call His servants by another name. That name will be a blessing ( ). That blessing is linked to “the God of truth”, literally “the God of the amen”. That points to God as the God Who fulfills His Word and will fulfill the promises of His covenant. For us and all believers of all times, all promises of God in Christ are “yes” and “amen” ( ; cf. ). In the coming day, the redeemed people will stand firm in a powerful and uninterrupted connection with the LORD. This makes clear the folly, meaninglessness and sinfulness of going our own ways, carrying out our own plans and pursuing things that God does not like, instead of listening to His voice and rejoicing in doing His will. Through our walk with God He fulfills, and will fulfill, all the promises of His Word. He joyfully responds to the trust in Him by adding an ‘amen’ to His assurance. An obedient heart and a trusting spirit give peace and the enjoyment of the sunshine of His face and of a holy fellowship with Him. The LORD gives the assurance that the former troubles, i.e. the great tribulation, a time of distress for Jacob ( ), will be forgotten and hidden from His eyes ( ). Instead, in the following verses He predicts the unspeakable blessing and joy that will be ministered to the redeemed Israel in the coming millennial day.

‏ Isaiah 65:13-14

The Unfaithful and the Faithful

In Isa 65:11 the prophecy returns to the guilty ones who are addressed in a threatening way in Isa 65:1-7. They have left the LORD. They do not think of worshiping Him. Instead, they have accepted the antichrist (Jn 5:43) and surrendered to idolatrous sacrificial meals in honor of the “beast”. Two objects of worship are called: “Fortune”, the god of fortune or Jupiter, and “Destiny”, the god of fate or Venus.

Thus, even now, there are countless people who believe that you should be lucky in life and that life is ruled by fate, either good or evil. They believe that gods like Fortune and Destiny control their lives. For one they set a table and for the other they fill cups with mixed wine. That table is an idol table and the drinking cup is that of the demons.

Paul may have thought of this when he writes down what we read in 1 Corinthians 10 (1Cor 10:20-21). It is like an idolatrous unholy supper dedicated to demons. It is recognizable in professing Christianity where many heathen elements are integrated in the celebration of supper. This is particularly present in the roman-catholic church, which is called “a dwelling place of demons” (Rev 18:2).

Consistent with this, the LORD declares that He will destine – a word containing the thought of ‘fate’ – them for the sword. The sword used by the LORD as an instrument is here the king of the North and his, Arab or islamic, allies. Just as they bow to their images for their happiness, so they will have to kneel down to be slaughtered (Isa 65:12).

Through the use of the same words, in this statement of the LORD resounds irony. He says that it is not fate that destines their destiny, but He! And He has been so patient to them. He has called, but they have not answered. He has spoken, but they have refused to listen and deliberately chosen what displeases Him.

In Isa 65:13-16 the LORD vividly presents the contrast between these faithless and His faithful who walk as He pleases. The unfaithful crowd did not listen when the LORD cried, but these faithful servants, those connected with the true Servant, the Servant of the LORD, did listen. The LORD stands up for His servants. With the call “behold” he points the disobedient to them. His servants shall eat and drink and rejoice and sing for joy, while those who turned away from the LORD shall suffer want, and shall know shame and fear and brokenness of spirit (Isa 65:13-14).

The name of the wicked will become a curse (Isa 65:15). This refers to the oath pronounced by the priest to a woman suspected of adultery, whom he had to make drink the bitter water bringing the curse (Num 5:21-24), because Israel acted like an adulteress. In contrast with this, the LORD will call His servants by another name. That name will be a blessing (Isa 65:16).

That blessing is linked to “the God of truth”, literally “the God of the amen”. That points to God as the God Who fulfills His Word and will fulfill the promises of His covenant. For us and all believers of all times, all promises of God in Christ are “yes” and “amen” (2Cor 1:20; cf. Rev 3:14). In the coming day, the redeemed people will stand firm in a powerful and uninterrupted connection with the LORD.

This makes clear the folly, meaninglessness and sinfulness of going our own ways, carrying out our own plans and pursuing things that God does not like, instead of listening to His voice and rejoicing in doing His will. Through our walk with God He fulfills, and will fulfill, all the promises of His Word. He joyfully responds to the trust in Him by adding an ‘amen’ to His assurance. An obedient heart and a trusting spirit give peace and the enjoyment of the sunshine of His face and of a holy fellowship with Him.

The LORD gives the assurance that the former troubles, i.e. the great tribulation, a time of distress for Jacob (Jer 30:7), will be forgotten and hidden from His eyes (Isa 65:16). Instead, in the following verses He predicts the unspeakable blessing and joy that will be ministered to the redeemed Israel in the coming millennial day.