Jerusalem holds an important place in the book of Isaiah, second only to Jeremiah. It appears nearly 50 times in Isaiah and nearly double in Jeremiah. The Holy City is held dearly by the major prophets and the Jews. Of course, when we read the Bible, we should keep in mind both the good and the bad. Jerusalem was punished for her iniquities. She would also be the dwelling place of the Lord. The dwelling place of the Lord is not immune from desolation.
And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, every one who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem,
when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning (Isaiah 4:3-4).
God would clean up His dwelling place. That is for sure. Since God is dwelling among His people, He would clean up the earth. This is what He is going to do, according to Isaiah.
And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, every one who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem,
when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and cleansed the bloodstains of Jerusalem from its midst by a spirit of judgment and by a spirit of burning (Isaiah 4:3-4).
God would clean up His dwelling place. That is for sure. Since God is dwelling among His people, He would clean up the earth. This is what He is going to do, according to Isaiah.
For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.
But be glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy (Isaiah 65:17-18).
It seems that there will be a total break from the current universe. The former things shall not be remembered, its glories as well as its pains. But surely this new universe will be inhabited by God's people. God assures us that we shall rejoice in the new creation.
Due to the limited horizon of Isaiah, he could only express his vision in his vocabulary. Something more than his vision shall be in store.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress (Isaiah 65:19).
More than the Creation story in Genesis 1, God shall be not only satisfied but also happy with this new creation. He shall be glad in His people. In the Creation story, God made man to engage in dialogues with Him. In the new creation, God shall be happy with what His people do.
From the limited horizon of Isaiah, he hears no more pains and distress. It was already the best Isaiah could ever articulate.
No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the child shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed (Isaiah 65:20).
Longevity was the best Isaiah could ever think of. But wait a minute! There is still death! Moreover, in the book of Genesis, we find people living more than 900 years. This is understandable because the book of Genesis was completed after the Babylonian Exile. Still, the concept of eternal life was beyond the reach ofIsaiah. What is worst, we find sinners of a hundred years old in Isaiah! There are still sinners and death in his "new creation". His vision is flawed. We have to wait until the writing of the Apocalypses of John to have a full revelation of the new heavens and the new earth. We have to read the Bible with a critical mind.
Despite all these defects, the following oracle is extremely reassuring.
Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear (Isaiah 65:24).
Thank you, my Lord. Thank you, Isaiah.
But be glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy (Isaiah 65:17-18).
It seems that there will be a total break from the current universe. The former things shall not be remembered, its glories as well as its pains. But surely this new universe will be inhabited by God's people. God assures us that we shall rejoice in the new creation.
Due to the limited horizon of Isaiah, he could only express his vision in his vocabulary. Something more than his vision shall be in store.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress (Isaiah 65:19).
More than the Creation story in Genesis 1, God shall be not only satisfied but also happy with this new creation. He shall be glad in His people. In the Creation story, God made man to engage in dialogues with Him. In the new creation, God shall be happy with what His people do.
From the limited horizon of Isaiah, he hears no more pains and distress. It was already the best Isaiah could ever articulate.
No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the child shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed (Isaiah 65:20).
Longevity was the best Isaiah could ever think of. But wait a minute! There is still death! Moreover, in the book of Genesis, we find people living more than 900 years. This is understandable because the book of Genesis was completed after the Babylonian Exile. Still, the concept of eternal life was beyond the reach ofIsaiah. What is worst, we find sinners of a hundred years old in Isaiah! There are still sinners and death in his "new creation". His vision is flawed. We have to wait until the writing of the Apocalypses of John to have a full revelation of the new heavens and the new earth. We have to read the Bible with a critical mind.
Despite all these defects, the following oracle is extremely reassuring.
Before they call I will answer, while they are yet speaking I will hear (Isaiah 65:24).
Thank you, my Lord. Thank you, Isaiah.
Dear Lord, while we are journeying on earth, may our eyes be set towards the new creation so as to keep us from falling along the roadside. Amen.
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