Isaiah 65

Isaiah 65:1-25 . GOD'S REPLY IN JUSTIFICATION OF HIS DEALINGS WITH ISRAEL.

In Isaiah 64:9 , their plea was, "we are all Thy people." In answer, God declares that others (Gentiles) would be taken into covenant with Him, while His ancient people would be rejected. The Jews were slow to believe this; hence Paul says ( Romans 10:20 ) that Isaiah was "very bold" in advancing so unpopular a sentiment; he implies what Paul states ( Romans 2:28 , Romans 9:6 Romans 9:7 , 11:1-31 ), that "they are not all (in opposition to the Jews' plea, Isaiah 64:9 ) Israel which are of Israel." God's reason for so severely dealing with Israel is not changeableness in Him, but sin in them ( Isaiah 65:2-7 ). Yet the whole nation shall not be destroyed, but only the wicked; a remnant shall be saved ( Isaiah 65:8-10 Isaiah 65:11-16 ). There shall be, finally, universal blessedness to Israel, such as they had prayed for ( Isaiah 65:17-25 ).

1. I am sought--Hebrew, "I have granted access unto Me to them," &c. (so Ezekiel 14:3 , "Should I be inquired of"; Ephesians 2:18 ).
found-- Romans 10:20 renders this, "I was made manifest." As an instance of the sentiment in the clause, "I am sought," &c., see John 12:21 ; of the sentiment in this clause, Acts 9:5 . Compare as to the Gentile converts, Ephesians 2:12 Ephesians 2:13 .
Behold me--( Isaiah 45:22 ).
nation . . . not called by my name--that is, the Gentiles. God retorts in their own words ( Isaiah 63:19 ) that their plea as being exclusively "called by His name" will not avail, for God's gospel invitation is not so exclusive ( Romans 9:25 , 1:16 ).

2. spread out . . . hands--inviting them earnestly ( Proverbs 1:24 ).
all . . . day--continually, late and early ( Jeremiah 7:13 ).
rebellious people--Israel, whose rebellion was the occasion of God's turning to the Gentiles ( Romans 11:11 Romans 11:12 Romans 11:15 ).
way . . . not good--that is, the very reverse of good, very bad ( Ezekiel 36:31 ).

3. continually--answering to "all the day" ( Isaiah 65:2 ). God was continually inviting them, and they continually offending Him ( Deuteronomy 32:21 ).
to my face--They made no attempt to hide their sin ( Isaiah 3:9 ). Compare "before Me" ( Exodus 20:3 ). Isaiah 66:17 , Leviticus 17:5 ).
altars of brick--Hebrew, "bricks." God had commanded His altars to be of unhewn stone ( Exodus 20:25 ). This was in order to separate them, even in external respects, from idolaters; also, as all chiselling was forbidden, they could not inscribe superstitious symbols on them as the heathen did. Bricks were more easily so inscribed than stone; hence their use for the cuneiform inscriptions at Babylon, and also for idolatrous altars. Some, not so well, have supposed that the "bricks" here mean the flat brick-paved roofs of houses on which they sacrificed to the sun, &c. ( 2 Kings 23:12 , Jeremiah 19:13 ).