Isaiah 65:1

1 They sought me, that asked not (for me) before; they that sought not me, found me. I said, Lo! I, lo! I, to heathen men that knew not me, and that called not my name to help. (The Lord said, I was there to be sought, but the people did not ask for me; I was there to be found, but they did not seek me. I said, Lo! I, lo! I, to a nation who did not know me, and who did not call on my name for help.)

Isaiah 65:1 Meaning and Commentary

Ver. 1. I am sought of them that asked not for me
That this is aIsaiah 65:2

I have spread out mine hands all the day unto a rebellious
people
Meaning Israel, as the apostle explains it, ( Romans 10:21 ) , whom he calls a "disobedient and gainsaying people"; who believed not in Christ, obeyed not his Gospel, but contradicted and blasphemed it; and were rebellious against him, would not have him to reign over them, nor submit to his ordinances; though he most affectionately invited them, earnestly pressed and urged them, and that daily and frequently, to attend his ministry; and used all human methods to gain audience of them, and acceptance with them, but all to no purpose; see ( Matthew 23:37 ) , they remained obstinate and inflexible, and so they did under the ministry of his apostles; for, notwithstanding their ill usage of him, he ordered the Gospel to be first preached to them, as it was, till they treated it with such indignity and contempt, that the apostles turned away from them to the Gentiles, as they were bid; see ( Acts 13:46 Acts 13:47 ) . The Targum is,

``I sent my prophets every day''

which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;
in their own way, of their own devising, choosing, and approving, and which was a wicked one; and after their own imaginations and inventions; after the traditions of the elders the doctrines and commandments of men; and after a righteousness of their own, which they sought by the works of the law, and so submitted not to, but rejected the righteousness of Christ.

Isaiah 65:1 In-Context

1 They sought me, that asked not (for me) before; they that sought not me, found me. I said, Lo! I, lo! I, to heathen men that knew not me, and that called not my name to help. (The Lord said, I was there to be sought, but the people did not ask for me; I was there to be found, but they did not seek me. I said, Lo! I, lo! I, to a nation who did not know me, and who did not call on my name for help.)

2 I stretched forth mine hands all day to a people unbelieveful, that goeth in a way not good, after their thoughts. (I have stretched forth my hands all day long to an unbelieving people, who goeth on a way not good, after their own thoughts.)

3 It is a people that stirreth me to wrathfulness, ever before my face; which offer in gardens, and make sacrifice on tilestones; (They be a people who stirreth me to anger, ever before my face; who offer in gardens dedicated to idols, and make sacrifice on clay, or brick, altars;)

4 which dwell in sepulchres, and sleep in the temples of idols; which eat swine's flesh, and unholy juice, either broth, is in the vessels of them; (who live in tombs, and sleep in the temples of idols; who eat swine's flesh, and unholy juice, or defiled broth, is in their cups and bowls;)

5 which say to an heathen man, Go thou away from me, nigh thou not to me, for thou art unclean; these shall be smoke in my strong vengeance, fire burning all day (yet who say to the heathen, Go thou away from me, come thou not near to me, for thou art unclean; they be but smoke in my nose, a fire burning all day long!)