Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible · Isaiah Capitolo 65

Isaiah 65:1. I am sought, &c.— I am made known to those that asked not for me, &c. Lowth. You observe here the Divinity introduced, urging an argument of his grace, in calling the Gentiles to his communion, and soon after complaining of the obstinate disobedience of the refractory Jews, who had for so long a time despised the divine power. I have spread out my hands, in the next verse, signifies, "I have taught, intreated, or called;" to each of which actions spreading out of the hands belongs. See Neh 8:9 in the original.

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Isaiah 65:5. Which say, Stand by thyself, &c.— In the following section, ch. Isa 66:5 the crime of hypocrisy as here is decried, and every reader will easily recognize in both places the Pharisees and their followers. See Luke 18:10. There cannot be a more lively description of spiritual pride and hypocritical arrogance than these words afford us.

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Isaiah 65:11. But ye are they that forsake the Lord, &c.— But, &c. Who prepare a table for Gad [the sun], and serve or fill up a drink-offering to Meni [the moon]. The prophet here renews his reproach against the apostate and covenant-breaking Jews, who, forsaking Jehovah, that is to say, separating themselves from the true worship of God, (see ch. Isaiah 1:4.) and at the same time deserting the place which God had appointed for his worship, polluted themselves with idolatry the most abominable and shameful in his sight. The translation above given is from Vitringa, who with much learning justifies and shews its propriety. See Isaiah 65:3-4.

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Isaiah 65:15. And ye shall leave your name, &c.— Vitringa reads, Ye shall leave your name for an oath to my chosen: the meaning, says he, is, that the punishment and calamity of these apostates should be so remarkable, that in the forms of swearing men should take their example from the severity of the divine judgment inflicted upon them, and from their miserable state; saying, "If I knowingly and wilfully deceive, may as great calamities happen to me, as have happened to these wicked and apostate Jews!" See Jeremiah 29:22. The Lord shall slay thee, is thought to allude to the total abolition of the Jewish oeconomy. The following verse seems to justify the translation and interpretation given by Vitringa.

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Isaiah 65:17. For, behold, I create, &c.— Vitringa observes, that these expressions signify a new and better form of religion, to be introduced into the church, the old and inferior one being abolished. It is plain, from what follows, that the prophet here foretels a future and highly-improved state of religion and felicity, greater than has yet been experienced in the church of Christ: see Revelation 19:7-9.

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Isaiah 65:20. There shall be no more thence an infant of days, &c.— No more shall there be an infant short-lived; nor an old man who hath not fulfilled his days: for he that dieth at an hundred years, shall die a boy; and the sinner that dieth at an hundred years shall be deemed accursed. Lowth. The prophet in this verse promises longevity as a necessary adjunct to the felicity of the state which he is describing; and as a proof of this longevity, he mentions, that he who shall die by any extraordinary cause, aged a hundred years, shall be thought to die a child; while the sinner, to be taken off by divine judgment, is not to be thought burdened with age, but punished for his crimes, though he be a hundred years old. Vitringa does not understand this passage in the letter, but metaphorically; as much as to say, "In this holy city, there shall be no violent or punitive death; but, all the inhabitants being holy, all shall die full of days and happy, and shall have, as it were, a foretaste, a pledge and earnest of life eternal, in their long and happy life below." See chap. Isaiah 25:8.

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Isaiah 65:22. For as the days of a tree are the days of my people— The prophet here describing another privilege of the church in these happy days, says, that the faithful at this time shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. He subjoins: They shall not plant, that another may eat, which might happen either from enemies, who might seize their fruits, or from their own immature death before those fruits were brought to perfection: intent upon which thought, and on the longevity promised, Isa 65:20 he adds, that this inconvenience was not to be feared, because the days of the people of God,—of each of the faithful, should be as the days of a tree; that is to say, should endure as long as the trees planted by them. Their age should equal the duration of a tree, whether of a vine, or of any other. This is more fully illustrated in the next article; and mine elect, &c. shall out-wear, or out-last, the work of their hands: they shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth children to no purpose.

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Isaiah 65:24. And it shall come to pass— Behold here an excellent blessing, the truest seal of divine favour and paternal love. We have observed in the analysis, that the closest conjunction of heaven and earth, that is to say, of God and men, is expressed in this verse; wherein the readiness and goodness of God to hear the petitions, and even to prevent the desires, of those who love and serve him, are spoken of in the strongest and most pleasing terms. See ch. Isa 30:19 and Psalms 145:18-19.

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