Jer 6:2

SO BEAUTIFUL AND DELICATE: But not necessarily a “woman” (as in KJV, where ‘woman’ is italicized). Could ref a pasture (see continuing figurative language).

Jer 6:4

BUT, ALAS, THE DAYLIGHT IS FADING: The attackers are distressed that the day is not long enough for them to carry out all their plans.

Jer 6:16

THE ANCIENT PATHS: “The old paths” (AV). The clear, well-marked, well-trodden paths, devoid of pitfalls or precipices — in which the careful shepherd might lead his flock.

REST FOR YOUR SOULS: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Mat 11:28-30).

“Never was appeal more powerfully made, more superbly translated into words of one syllable, than in the warm humanity of Jeremiah’s words, which were one day to become a model for the Son of God when he in his turn laid siege to the wilful hearts of Israel… Stand! see! ask! and ye shall find! Even their walking in the old paths was itself to prove a refreshing rest from their present jading life of vanity” (WJer 42).

Jer 7:1

Jer 7-10: All one section (cp intro here and Jer 11:1). Time: reign of Jehoiakim (ie Jer 25:1; cp Jer 25:6 with Jer 7:12,14). Jehoiakim reigned 609-597 BC. He was placed on throne by Necho of Egypt, and then was made servant to Babylon, against whom he rebelled. He was defeated and killed, and then given the burial of an ass (Jer 22:19; 36:30; cp Jer 8:2).

Jer 7: “This chapter reveals the hypocrisy and false confidence of Judah in their religious formalism. It is typical of the reign of the flesh within the community of the faithful. It was probably proclaimed before the second reform of Josiah, when the people were enthusiastically contributing to the restoration of the temple, and when an apparent willingness to honour Yahweh was presented. But it was an empty facade. The spiritual perception of the people was soon to manifest itself in the feasting and debauchery of the gods of the land. The people were involved in a religion of deceit, with false prophets contradicting Jeremiah’s warnings, and turning from his appeal for righteousness in the land. Instead the false leaders preached peace and unity, where there was none. Jeremiah stood in the very court of the temple and courageously declared the divine will. He told them that the temple will not save (vv 1-7); that it would experience a similar fate to Shiloh (vv 8-16); that the city and people were full of adultery against God (vv 17-20); that ritualism cannot save (vv 21-28); that the ecclesia had forgotten her vows (vv 29-31); that it has prepared for its own destruction (vv 32-34). What a sad end to a monarchy that commenced with the courage and faithfulness of David, and now saw the abandonment of the royal sons of David when ultimately Zedekiah assumed the throne. When the pioneers of the ecclesia are ignored; the people become wilful in their folly (cp 2Pe 3:3-4)” (GEM).

Jer 7:4

‘God will never allow His temple to be cast down,’ they said. But God had ceased to care for His temple (Jer 5:10) — typ of Christ’s prophecy in Mar 13:2. Also, the people themselves claimed to BE God’s “temple” (ie Joh 2:21; 1Co 3:16; Isa 57:15; 66:1,2), but they were not!

Jer 7:10

“I know the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan” (Rev 2:9).

SAFE TO DO ALL THESE DETESTABLE THINGS: By a discharge of the merest formalities, they are now free to return to their wickednesses.

Jer 7:11

A DEN OF ROBBERS: Not where the robbers commit their crimes, but where they hide to escape the consequences of their crimes committed elsewhere (vv 9,10). THIS was the temple!

Jer 7:12

SHILOH: Ref to the incidents of 1Sa 1-4: Eli and his sons; God’s judgments; loss of ark (1Sa 4:7,11,21). Cp Psa 78:58-68.

Jer 7:13

I SPOKE TO YOU AGAIN AND AGAIN: Unwearied earnestness.

Jer 7:16

Cp with Joh 17:9; 1Jo 5:16; Heb 10:26,27.

Jeremiah was told not to pray for this people (Jer 7:16; 11:14; 14:11), and yet he did (Jer 14:20; 42:2,4).

Jer 7:18

THE QUEEN OF HEAVEN: “This goddess was probably the Assyro-Babylonian Ishtar (cf also Jer 44:17) — the goddess of love and fertility; she was the planet Venus. It appears she was worshiped mainly by women (cf Jer 44, esp vv 15-19). Such worship was probably initiated by Manasseh (2Ki 21:1-9) and reintroduced into Judah by Jehoiakim. This obscene idolatry was practiced not only privately but also by whole families, including the children. The ‘cakes’ have been described as round and flat, resembling the moon” (EBC).

Jer 7:19

God’s attitude toward these sins: Rom 1:28; 2Th 2:11.

Jer 7:21

That is, ‘all this will avail you nothing!’

Jer 7:22

I DID NOT JUST…: “Not only… but also”.

Jer 7:23

That is, the important laws concerned individual conduct and love and mercy (Hos 6:6; Psa 51:16,17; Mat 9:13; 12:7).

Jer 7:25

The parable of the tenants of the vineyard: Luk 20:9-16.

Jer 7:29

CUT OFF YOUR HAIR AND THROW IT AWAY: Because they had profaned their vow of Nazariteship, or holiness (Num 6:9). This may also be a sign (as in Eze 5), of the smiting and scattering of Judah by God.

Jer 7:31

TOPHET: “Gehenna” (Mat 5:22).

Jer 7:33

Rev 19:17,18,21; Eze 39:17.

Jer 7:34

Conclusion: Jeremiah is called to trial because of this speech (Jer 29:1-17).

Jer 5:6

Notice all the “wild beasts” which would “tear” and “devour” Israel:

A LION: Babylon, which destroyed Judah.

A WOLF: Assyria, which destroyed Israel (cp v 11).

A WOLF FROM THE DESERT: Literally, in Hebrew, a “zeeb” of the “ereb” (Arabs?): referring to the marauders whom Gideon routed (Jdg 7:25).

A LEOPARD: Medo-Persia (cp Dan 7:6), watching over the desolate cities of the land (made so by Babylon and Assyria).

The wolf, the leopard, and the lion all appear also in Isa 11:6 — a beautiful picture of the coming glories of God’s eternal Kingdom: “The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.”

Jer 5:22

Yahweh’s control of the waters at creation — a commentary on the Canaanite “sea chaos” myth: see Lesson, Leviathan — esp the “Creation”.

Jer 2:1

Jer 2: “The voice of the prophet Jeremiah commences a forty year ministry leading to the dissolution of the Kingdom of Judah. He gives a review of Israel’s sins, showing that Yahweh still loves His people, but expects that the filial love be reflected to Him. Through the prophet, Yahweh expostulates on their ungrateful return for past goodness, and shows that their wickedness has resulted in calamity. The voice concludes with an appeal to them to return.

“This chapter may be outlined: [1] Israel’s early promise: vv 1-4. [2] Yahweh kept His contract despite provocation: vv 5-8. [3] The enormity of Israel’s conduct once more stressed: vv 9-13. [4] Israel suffers because it turned from Yahweh: vv 14-19. [5] The true character of the nation despite Josiah’s reformation: vv 20-30. [6] Israel will suffer: vv 31-35. [7] Israel in heart turned to Egypt: vv 36,37.

“It must have been a sad experience for the young prophet, brought to witness for the righteousness of his God, and seeing about him the failure of the ecclesia. The nation rejoiced in its high and holy privilege, and boasted in its attendance at the temple in Jerusalem, but did little to manifest divine qualities in daily life. They were barren, thankless soil, returning nothing for Yahweh’s glory. Instead they looked to their southern neighbour [Egypt] for support and help, putting confidence in the power of the flesh. Yet, in spite of the darkness of their spiritual condition, the voice of Jeremiah brought a measure of encouragement to the faithful remnant that were looking for a redeemer. So he continues to witness at the end of the age — as must those of the Brotherhood today as we wait the advent of the Great Judge” (GEM).

Jer 2:2

I REMEMBER: But My people have forgotten Me: v 32.

Jer 2:5

WORTHLESS: Heb “hebel” = lit, a breath; vanity, nothing. Because they followed nothing, they became nothing!

Jer 2:13

THE SPRING OF LIVING WATER: “All my fountains are in you (ie Jerusalem)”: Psa 87:7.

CISTERNS: Very poor sources of water… liable to crack, full of dirt, vermin (LB 287).

Jer 2:18

WHY GO TO EGYPT TO DRINK WATER FROM THE SHIHOR?: “By sundry miracles, by divers mercies, by strange deliverances Jehovah had proved Himself to be worthy of Israel’s trust. Yet they broke down the hedges with which God had enclosed them as a sacred garden; they forsook their own true and living God, and followed after false gods. Constantly did the Lord reprove them for this infatuation, and our text contains one instance of God’s expostulating with them, ‘What hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of the muddy river?’ — for so it may be translated. ‘Why dost thou wander afar and leave thine own cool stream from Lebanon? Why dost thou forsake Jerusalem to turn aside to Noph and to Tahapanes? Why art thou so strangely set on mischief, that thou canst not be content with the good and healthful, but wouldst follow after that which is evil and deceitful?’ Is there not here a word of expostulation and warning to the Christian? O true believer, called by grace and washed in the precious blood of Jesus, thou hast tasted of better drink than the muddy river of this world’s pleasure can give thee; thou hast had fellowship with Christ; thou hast obtained the joy of seeing Jesus, and leaning thine head upon His bosom. Do the trifles, the songs, the honours, the merriment of this earth content thee after that? Hast thou eaten the bread of angels, and canst thou live on husks?… If thou art wandering after the waters of Egypt, O return quickly to the one living fountain: the waters of Sihor may be sweet to the Egyptians, but they will prove only bitterness to thee. What hast thou to do with them?” (CHS).

Jer 2:32

Ct v 2.

We must not forget those spiritual garments which will insure the approval of the Bridegroom: (1) Gown of wrought gold, sig faith by works (1Pe 1:7): Psa 45:13,14. (2) Gown of needlework, sig painstaking labor: Psa 45:13,14. (3) Girdle, or sash — sig constant readiness and careful walk (Luke 12:35,36; 1Pe 1:13): Isa 61:10. (4) Ornaments and jewels, sig wisdom (Job 28:18,19; Pro 3:13,15) and modesty (1Pe 3:3,4): Isa 61:10. (5) Sandals, sig preparation (Exo 12:11; Eph 6:15), as for a march or military operation: Isa 5:27. (6) Headdress and veil — sig humility, modesty and deference — in the woman (1Co 11).

Jer 3:25

Where the prophets of Israel witnessed against the spiritual abuses among their contemporaries they did so while still continuing full fellowship with those whom they denounced. More than this, the examples of Moses (Exo 32:30-33), Daniel (Dan 9:5-14), Nehemiah (Neh 1:6,7), Jeremiah (Jer 3:25; 9:1), and Ezra (Ezr 9:6,7,13) show these men intimately associated with the people whom they reprimanded, even so far as confessing the sins of the nation as though they were their own. Here is the spirit of true fellowship, or sharing, by which those most exercised against error bear the burdens of their brethren, and strive with them as partners — not outsiders — to defeat the enervating effects of sin.

Jer 4:1

Jer 4: “Jeremiah saw the beginnings of the deterioration of the monarchy. It had reached the fulness of its iniquity, although a remnant of faith remained. The prophet issues an appeal to return to their former spiritual heights and to uphold the divine righteousness. There were three principles they must observe to reveal that Yahweh lives: His Truth, Judgment and Righteousness. These three elements are revealed in the work of Messiah. Christ was first the Truth when he appeared on earth; he became the Judgment in his priestly mediatorial role in heaven; he will finally be seen as the Righteousness when he returns to justify his faithful ones. But because Judah largely ignored these principles, judgment upon them was inevitable. Jeremiah explained that impending troubles stem from Yahweh’s anger (vv 3-8), that the extent of coming destruction would be grievous (vv 9-13); that true inward repentance was the only hope for individuals (vv 14-18); and an example was seen in the prophet’s deep, personal concern (vv 19-22); apart from such a return, Judah would be completely destroyed (vv 23-31). Notice the repetition of ‘I beheld’ in vv 23,24,25,26. Judah was in danger of returning to the very condition of the world before creation, because of a refusal to conform to the divine image. The sad story of Jeremiah would witness the sinfulness of mankind” (GEM).

Jer 4:3

Cp parable of sower: esp Mat 13:7.

Jer 4:7

In some cases, poetic overstatement. This was fulfilled by Nebuchadnezzar (Jer 44:2,6; 52:5-8), but even so some Jews were left (Jer 52:15,16).

Jer 4:11

A SCORCHING WIND: The “scirroco” (HistGeo 52).

Jer 4:15

FROM DAN: In the far north, the direction of Babylon’s invasion (Eze 1:4).

Jer 4:23

Vv 23-26: This is powerful, shattering language. The prophet sees the LORD reversing the effect of the days of the original Creation. In Genesis, the Divine work was designed to develop order out of chaos; here, it is designed to develop chaos out of order!

Jer 4:24

Earthquakes accompany awesome manifestations of God: Exo 19:18; Jdg 5:4; Psa 77:18; 114:4; Isa 2:10-22; Jer 4:24; Eze 38:20; Joe 3:16; Amo 9:1,5; Zec 14:4; Rev 6:12; 11:19; 16:18.

Jer 4:30

Allusions to Jezebel, and her fate: “When Jezebel heard about it, she painted her eyes, arranged her hair and looked out of a window” (2Ki 9:30,31). But it was all “in vain” — the servants threw her down to her death.

Author: Jeremiah and Baruch

Time: 630 – 575 BC

Summary: Jeremiah warns of the impending military force of Babylon that would destroy Jerusalem and enslave the Jews. He urges Jerusalem to turn from its wicked ways, but there is no response. He further warns of the false prophets who are leading the people astray with deceptive doctrines and falsehoods. He urges the Israelites to submit to the Babylonian authority as the instrument of God’s judgment. They do not heed his warnings and the people are carried away to Babylon. He predicts that the captives will return after 70 years to rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple.

Outline

1. The prophet’s call: Jer 1

2. Prophetic oracles against Jerusalem and Judah: Jer 2-35

a) Early discourses: Jer 2-6 b) Temple message: Jer 7-10 c) Covenant and conspiracy: Jer 11-13 d) Messages concerning the drought: Jer 14-15 e) Disaster and comfort: Jer 16:1-17:18 f) Command to keep the Sabbath holy: Jer 17:19-27 g) Lessons from the potter: Jer 18-20 h) Condemnation of kings, prophets and people: Jer 21-24 i) Foretelling the Babylonian exile: Jer 25-29 j) Promises of restoration: Jer 30-33 k) Historical appendix: Jer 34-35

3. Sufferings and persecutions of Jeremiah: Jer 36-38

a) Burning Jeremiah’s scroll: Jer 36 b) Imprisoning Jeremiah: Jer 37; 38

4. The fall of Jerusalem and its aftermath: Jer 39-45

a) The fall itself: Jer 39 b) Accession and assassination of Gedaliah: Jer 40:1-41:15 c) Migration to Egypt: Jer 41:16-43:13 d) Prophecy against those in Egypt: Jer 44 e) Historical appendix: promise to Baruch: Jer 45

5. Prophecies against the nations: Jer 46-51

a) Against Egypt: Jer 46:1-28 b) Against Philistia: Jer 47:1-7 c) Against Moab: Jer 48:1-47 d) Against Ammon: Jer 49:1-6 e) Against Edom: Jer 49:7-22 f) Against Damascus: Jer 49:23-27 g) Against Arabia: Jer 49:28-33 h) Against Elam: Jer 49:34-39 i) Against Babylon: Jer 50; 51

6. Historical appendix: Jer 52

a) Judah’s fall and captivity: Jer 52:1-30 b) Jehoiachin’s liberation: Jer 52:31-34

Jeremiah’s chapters in chronological order

1-6; 11; 12; 26; 7-10; 14-20; 35; 36; 45; 25; 46-49; 13; 22-24; 27-29; 50; 51; 30-33; 21; 34; 37-39; 52; 40-44.

See Lesson, Jeremiah type of Christ

See Lesson, Jeremiah’s family tree

See Lesson, Jeremiah/his life and times

Jer 1:1

See Lesson, Prophet, the.

JEREMIAH: Sig “Yahweh is exalted”, or “Yahweh establishes”. Not the man of 2Ki 23:31.

HILKIAH: Sig “Yahweh is my portion (or inheritance)”: cp Psa 16:5. This Hilkiah is poss the High Priest in the days of Josiah (2Ki 22:4). This may explain how Jeremiah is represented as a man of importance, with ready access to kings and priests.

ANATHOTH: A small Levitical village three miles northeast of Jerusalem. It was the home of Abiathar the priest and of Jeremiah, his descendant (1Ki 2:26; Jer 1:1; 11:21-23). Located in the land of Benjamin (Jos 21:18), it was assigned to the sons of Aaron. Two of David’s men of valor, Abiezer and Jehu, came from Anathoth (2Sa 23:27; 1Ch 12:3). Here, by revelation, Jeremiah purchased a field which had belonged to his ancestors (Jer 32:7-25). Upon their return from exile, the Benjamites again occupied it (Neh 11:32).

Jer 1:2

THE THIRTEENTH YEAR OF THE REIGN OF JOSIAH: Approx 41 1/2 years before the fall of Jerusalem (cp prophecy of John Bapt and Jesus, approx 40 years before fall of Jerusalem again).

Jer 1:4

Did the call come through his grandmother Huldah the prophetess?

Jer 1:5

BEFORE I FORMED YOU IN THE WOMB I KNEW YOU: The foreknowledge of God, who knows end from beginning. (But does not, of course, prove that Jeremiah actually existed before his birth!) See 1Pe 1:20,21; Rev 13:8; Joh 1:6; Rom 8:29; Eph 1:4.

Jer 1:6

ONLY A CHILD: Prob 20-25 years old. “In person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing” (2Co 10:10).

Examples of prophetic reluctance: Exo 4:10; Jer 1:6; Eze 3:14; Jon 1:3; 1Ki 19:10; Luk 5:8,10; 9:59; 18:23; Act 13:13; 18:9. Ct Isa 6:8.

Jer 1:8

“DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEM, FOR I AM WITH YOU AND WILL RESCUE YOU,” DECLARES THE LORD: “Whenever fear comes in and makes us falter, we are in danger of falling into sin. Conceit is to be dreaded, but so is cowardice. ‘Dare to be a Daniel.’ Our great Captain should be served by brave soldiers. What a reason for bravery is here! God is with those who are with Him. God will never be away when the hour of struggle comes. Do they threaten you? Who are you that you should be afraid of a man that shall die? Will you lose your situation? Your God whom you serve will find bread and water for His servants. Can you not trust Him? Do they pour ridicule upon you? Will this break your bones or your heart? Bear it for Christ’s sake, and even rejoice because of it.

“God is with the true, the just, the holy, to deliver them; and He will deliver you. Remember how Daniel came out of the lions’ den and the three holy children out of the furnace. Yours is not so desperate a case as theirs; but if it were, the LORD would bear you through and make you more than a conqueror. Fear to fear. Be afraid to be afraid. Your worst enemy is within your own bosom. Get to your knees and cry for help, and then rise up saying, ‘I will trust, and not be afraid’ ” (CHS).

Jer 1:10

Jeremiah’s declarations would be so sure (Jer 23:29) that it would appear he had done the things!

“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building”: 1Co 3:9.

Jer 1:11

ALMOND TREE: Heb “shaked”. From rt “to hasten” — ie, the “awakener”. Almond is the first to bloom in Palestine. The symbol of divine selection — Aaron’s rod (Num 17:8; Heb 9:4), related to land of Israel (Isa 27:6) and worship in Tabernacle (Exo 25:34). Like the almond tree, God has quickly and suddenly awakened to His nation.

Jer 1:13

NORTH: See Eze 1:4n. The direction of Babylon, Gog; sig “dark”, “hidden”. But Jerusalem = cauldron in Eze 1:3,7; 24:1-14. Into it was to be poured the fury of the Babylonian invasion.

Jer 1:17

Vv 17-19: God reassures Jeremiah. (To proclaim the coming invasion would seem to be unpatriotic, and would bring serious persecution upon Jeremiah.)

GET YOURSELF READY: Lit, “gird up thy loins”: as for a grueling race (1Ki 18:46) or a desperate fight (Job 38:3). Prophets often “run” with their messages (Jer 23:21; Hab 2:2; Amo 8:12; Psa 147:15; Eze 1:14,20; etc).

DO NOT BE TERRIFIED BY THEM: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mat 10:28).

Jer 1:18

PILLAR: A pillar to mark separation of the faithful remnant from the faithless majority: cp Gen 31:45-52; Exo 14:19,20.

Jer 1:19

FOR I AM WITH YOU: “Immanuel” — ct Jer 20:7.

Isa 65:1

Vv 1,2: Cit Rom 10:20,21 — both Gentiles and Jews turning to seek the LORD.

THOSE WHO DID NOT ASK FOR ME… DID NOT SEEK ME: “The people of the Northern Kingdom had in effect become Gentiles by their centuries of disloyalty to the God of Israel. But now many of them, although only a remnant of the mass of the nation, responded to Hezekiah’s appeal to join in Passover observance at Jerusalem” (WIsa 539,540).

Isa 65:3

CONTINUALLY: The word commonly used of the continual burnt offering.

OFFERING SACRIFICES…: Following the example of the evil Ahaz (cp 2Ki 23:12).

ALTARS OF BRICK: In ct the unhewn stone of Exo 20:25; Deu 27:5.

Isa 65:4

Vv 4,5: All these details are echoed in the healing of Legion (Mar 5:2-16).

WHO SIT AMONG THE GRAVES: Seances in cemeteries and sepulchres (cp Isa 8:19,20).

Isa 65:5

KEEP AWAY; DON’T COME NEAR ME: “The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men — robbers, evildoers, adulterers — or even like this tax collector…’ But the tax collector stood at a distance” (Luk 18:11,13).

Isa 65:7

INTO THEIR LAPS: // Luk 6:38.

Isa 65:8

DON’T DESTROY IT, THERE IS YET SOME GOOD IN IT: A faithful remnant who clung to the hope of the God of Israel and abhorred the abominations around them. Isaiah’s refs to the faithful remnant: Isa 1:9,10,28; 4:3; 6:11-13; 13:12; 17:4-6; 24:13-16; 33:15-17; 51:1-3; 57:13; 66:5,10-14. Cp also Amo 5:13-15; 8:1; 9:8,9; Jer 24; Psa 74.

Isa 65:10

Even the prospective invasion routes would be safe for flocks.

SHARON: A plain located to the west, along the Mediterranean coast north of Joppa and south of Carmel.

Isa 65:11

TABLE FOR FORTUNE… WINE FOR DESTINY: Alluded to in 1Co 10:21: “You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.”

FORTUNE: Heb “Gad”. A Syrian deity of good fortune.

DESTINY: Heb “Meniy” — a deity of Canaan (BSp 8:60).

Isa 65:13

MY SERVANTS SHALL EAT: Cp Mat 5:6; Luk 6:21,25.

Isa 65:15

Vv 15,16: “To the curse pronounced on every one that violates God’s law, he (Jesus) said ‘Amen’ upon the cross. To the blessing guaranteed to all nations by God’s promises to Abraham and David, he said ‘Amen’ when he rose from the dead to ‘live for evermore’ (Rev 1:18)” (WIsa 542,543).

Isa 65:16

A BLESSING IN THE LAND… THE GOD OF TRUTH… AN OATH IN THE LAND…: “Abraham was told that all nations would bless themselves in his Seed (Psa 72:17). With reference to these superlative truths, Paul declared with warm emphasis that ‘For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God’ (2Co 1:20). To this the Lord Jesus adds his own assurance: ‘These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation’ (Rev 3:14). ‘Behold, I am alive for evermore, the Amen; and have the keys of death and of the grave’ (as promised to Abraham: Gen 22:17a)” (WIsa 542).

Isa 65:17

Vv 17–Isa 66:2: The era of prosperity which followed in Hezekiah’s ravaged kingdom, as a result of Assyrian defeat and the phenomenal blessings of a Year of Jubilee. Described as a return to the blessedness of a primeval Paradise: new heavens and earth (Isa 65:17); the sinner cursed (Isa 65:20); a tree of life (Isa 65:22); children delivered from the curse (Isa 65:23); dust for the serpent (Isa 65:25).

Isa 65:20

HE WHO DIES AT A HUNDRED WILL BE THOUGHT A MERE YOUTH: “The point seems to be that those who die at the age of a hundred will be considered children, for the average life span will be much longer than that. The category ‘child’ will be redefined in light of the expanded life spans that will characterize this new era” (NET notes).

Isa 65:23

THEY WILL NOT TOIL IN VAIN: Used figuratively by Paul in Phi 2:16; 1Th 3:5; 1Co 15:58.

Isa 65:25

“Wolf” = Saul of Benjamin (Gen 49:27). “Lamb” = Christ our passover. “Lion” = Judah; “ox” = Ephraim.

BUT DUST WILL BE THE SERPENT’S FOOD: One thing will not change in the Kingdom: the serpent– although no longer dangerous (cp Isa 11:8) — will still eat dust (Gen 3:14).

Isa 66:2

HAS NOT MY HAND MADE ALL THESE THINGS…?: “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand” (1Ch 29:14).

Isa 66:3

V 3: “Some understand a comparison here and in the following lines. In God’s sight the one who sacrifices is like (ie, regarded as) a murderer or one whose worship is ritually defiled or idolatrous… the language is not metaphorical, but descriptive of the sinners’ hypocritical behavior. (Note the last two lines of the verse, which suggests they are guilty of abominable practices.) On the one hand, they act pious and offer sacrifices; but at the same time they commit violent crimes against men, defile their sacrifices, and worship other gods” (NET notes).

Isa 66:5

YOUR BROTHERS WHO HATE YOU: “All men will hate you because of me” (Mat 10:22). But such persecution is actually a sign of blessing (Luk 6:22)!

Isa 66:7

SHE DELIVERS A SON: Hezekiah, new-born from the brink of death, at the time of the great Assyrian crisis.

(NT) Christ the man-child born to Israel before the “travail” of 70 AD (Joh 16:20,21).

Isa 66:8

CAN… A NATION BE BROUGHT FORTH IN A MOMENT?: Those who are born anew in Christ, through the preaching of the apostles and others.

Isa 66:9

DO I BRING TO THE MOMENT OF BIRTH AND NOT GIVE DELIVERY?: Here is God’s answer to the lament of Hezekiah at the time of the Assyrian invasion: “This day is a day of distress and rebuke and disgrace, as when children come to the point of birth and there is no strength to deliver them” (Isa 37:3). But the LORD did deliver! The “children” were the hundreds of thousands of captives dragged away to other parts of Sennacherib’s empire, especially Babylon, and of refugees who had fled in terror to surrounding countries to escape the Assyrian cruelties. And now — with the overthrown of the great host of God’s enemies — those captives would return, as though born again, immediately and without a struggle: the children of Zion!

Isa 66:11

Figure of mother and children in Isaiah: Isa 8:3,4; 11:8; 26:17,18; 28:9; 45:10,11; 46:3,4; 49:15,20-23; 54:1; 60:16; 66:11-13.

Isa 66:15

Vv 15,16: “There is no escaping the plain meaning of words like these. However figurative the expressions, their gist is unmistakable — one day God will weary of mankind, and modern Sodoms like London and Los Angeles and Tel Aviv will feel the weight of His anger. In particular those Middle East nations which have stubbornly refused to recognize Israel’s right to exist as God’s people in God’s Land will meet with retribution at the very time when they gloat over their achievement in wrestling the Holy City from Zionist intruders (cp Eze 35; Oba 1:17,18; Joel 3:18-21)” (WIsa 551). See //s in Isa 17:13,14; 29:5,6; 30:27,30-33; 31:9.

HIS CHARIOTS ARE LIKE A WHIRLWIND: Horses and chariots would kick up much dust, as would a whirlwind in the desert.

Isa 66:18

AND GATHER ALL NATIONS: Same words used in Jesus’ judgment parable of Mat 25:32.

Isa 66:19

TARSHISH (Psa 48:7) was a son of Javan (Gen 10:4); it is a name which came to refer to the Phoenicians, a sea-faring and trading people (hence such references as Jonah 1:3; Eze 27:12; 1Ki 9:26; 10:22; 2Ch 9:21). That Tarshish represents a latter-day power is evident both here and in Eze 38:13 (where it appears as an ally of Sheba and Dedan). In Isa 23 — a prophecy concerning Tyre, there is plainly a strong link with “the daughter of Tarshish” and “the ships of Tarshish” (vv 1,6,10,14) — this leads to the reasonable conclusion that Tarshish is another name for Tyre. (The proposed identification of Tarshish with England merely on the basis that the latter is — or rather was — a significant sea power is extremely tenuous at best.) See Lesson, Tarshish.

Isa 66:23

FROM ONE NEW MOON TO ANOTHER: “There is an evident counterpart to the Mosaic monthly institution in the blessed age that is coming with the advent of the saints to power. It is ‘from one new moon to another’, as well as from Sabbath to Sabbath, that all flesh appears in the temple courts to worship. It is ‘every month’ or once a month, that the Apocalyptic wood of life (the saints) yields its fruit for the healing of the nations (Rev 22:2), and it is ‘according to his months’ that the literal tree on both sides of the temple river yields its fruit ‘whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed… the fruit thereof shall be for meat and the leaf thereof for medicine’ (Eze 47:12). There will be no monotony in a state of things in which the whole population is roused with the advent of every new moon in the heavens to a special service of worship and praise, and a special distribution of healing and blessing. The prospect of the Kingdom is a prospect of an endless succession of joyful activities” (LM 198).

Isa 66:24

“This v depicts a huge mass burial site where the seemingly endless pile of maggot-infested corpses are being burned” (NET notes).

“And apparently parts of the wreck of the Assyrian camp in the valley of Gehenna (Tophet: Isa 30:33) were preserved as a contemporary Belsen or Auschwitz — an awe-inspiring memorial to the indignation of the Lord when challenged by the puny power of a human dictator… It became a lasting assurance to the inhabitants of Jerusalem that they need fear no renewal of the horrors of war during this reign” (WIsa 548).

THE BODIES OF THOSE WHO REBELLED AGAINST ME: Cp Isa 48:22; 57:20,21. These two similar references to the wicked divide the last portion of Isaiah (40-66) into three equal divisions of 9 chapters each (40-48; 49-57; 58-66).

Contrast with Isa 66:24: “the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me”. Thus the three-fold division of this section of Isaiah: ending with wicked… wicked again… and finally, NO wicked! — for they have all perished.

Thus, there is no peace for the wicked (Isa 48:22), and still no peace for the wicked (Isa 57:20,21)… until, finally, they all perish. Then, at last, they find “peace”: the peace of death!

THEIR WORM WILL NOT DIE…: Cited by Jesus in Mar 9:43-48. In Jerusalem the deliberate preservation of some reminder of the fate of those who defy God (cp, perhaps, Isa 34:1-10). Cp Eze 39:11-22.