Isaiah 65:10

10 The lush valley of Sharon in the west will be a pasture for flocks, And in the east, the valley of Achor, a place for herds to graze. These will be for the people who bothered to reach out to me, who wanted me in their lives, who actually bothered to look for me.

Isaiah 65:10 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 65:10

And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks
This was a champaign country about Joppa and Lydda, in which were rich pastures for herds and flocks, ( 1 Chronicles 27:29 ) , it seems to be a prophecy of the conversion of some in those parts, which had its accomplishment in the times of the apostles, ( Acts 9:35 ) , here Christ had his sheep, and here was a fold for them; or, however, this may be expressive of the word and ordinances, which are like Sharon, green and fat pastures, for the flocks of Christ to be folded and fed in: and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in;
which, Aben Ezra says, was round about Jerusalem; but it was the valley in which Achan was stoned, and because of the trouble he gave to Israel, and had himself, it was called the valley of Achor, ( Joshua 7:26 ) , this the Lord promises shall be given for a door of hope, ( Hosea 2:15 ) and such the word and ordinances are, where Christ causes his church and people to lie down and rest, ( Song of Solomon 1:7 Song of Solomon 1:8 ) ( Psalms 23:2 ) and which are an earnest and pledge of future glory and happiness, and give hope thereof; are the firstfruits of it, as the valley of Achor is said to be the first place the children of Israel set footing on, when they had passed over Jordan; it lay to the north of Jericho, over against Ai: for my people that have sought me;
with their whole hearts, being first sought and found by him; (See Gill on Isaiah 65:1).

Isaiah 65:10 In-Context

8 God's Message: "But just as one bad apple doesn't ruin the whole bushel, there are still plenty of good apples left. So I'll preserve those in Israel who obey me. I won't destroy the whole nation.
9 I'll bring out my true children from Jacob and the heirs of my mountains from Judah. My chosen will inherit the land, my servants will move in.
10 The lush valley of Sharon in the west will be a pasture for flocks, And in the east, the valley of Achor, a place for herds to graze. These will be for the people who bothered to reach out to me, who wanted me in their lives, who actually bothered to look for me.
11 "But you who abandon me, your God, who forget the holy mountains, Who hold dinners for Lady Luck and throw cocktail parties for Sir Fate,
12 Well, you asked for it. Fate it will be: your destiny, Death. For when I invited you, you ignored me; when I spoke to you, you brushed me off. You did the very things I exposed as evil; you chose what I hate."
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.