Indictment of Israel

Isaiah 65:1–12
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In response to the prayer of the previous chapter, where God speaks to the Gentiles who have come to trust in Him. He says that He now stands ready to answer those who were not asking and to be found by those who were not searching (v. 1). He has reached out to stubborn and sinful people going their own way (v. 2). He is angry at those who keep sneering at Him, by offering sacrifices to idols and burning incense (v. 3). They go through a ritual of eating pig meat cooked in sauces unfit to eat, while claiming to be dedicated to God and telling others not to come near them (vv. 4-5). He says He has written this down and won’t keep silent but will one day pay them back, just as their sins deserve (vv. 6-7).

However, in that judgment, a remnant will be preserved (vv. 8-12). As a few grapes are left when vineyards are gleaned (v. 8) (Deut. 24:21), so a remnant will be left who will return to the land, cultivate it, and pasture their flocks there again (vv. 9-10). Sharon, the coastal plain south of Mount Carmel, is excellent land for agriculture, and the Valley of Achor (Hosea 2:15) west of Jericho was known for its sheepherding. The reference to the holy mountain (v. 11) refers to the forsaking of the worship of the Lord at His temple.  On the other hand, people are destined for slaughter if they do not trust the Lord, and if they disregard the temple. This worship involved the offering of items connected with the peoples’ food and drink. Instead, these were being presented to pagan gods (v. 12). Fortune and Destiny were names of gods Israel worshiped in her attempts to know the future. Constantly reaching out to Israel, God revealed Himself to those who did not even ask for that revelation. Only because of His grace did He do so, even calling out to them, Here am I. Yet they did not respond. He was always ready to help them.

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