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2015 October 25



Prayer of the Penitent Monks (1st Half of the 18th Century)
Alessandro Magnasco (1667-1749)
Baroque Style
Private Collection
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art


     Explanation: In Isaiah 65 the LORD says that he was sought by a nation of strangers when he revealed himself to them (coming to him, by implication, in penitence, as in the painting above); but his own people rebelled and followed the abominable practices of idolatry (1-7). He says, nonetheless, that a blessing remains within Israel; and he will, therefore, not utterly destroy them; rather, his elect will inherit his blessings; but those who forsake the LORD will be given to the sword (8-12). He warns the rebels that his servants will eat; but they will be hungry; his servants will sing; but they will cry and howl; their name will be cursed; but he will give his servants a new name; and his servants will bless themselves in the LORD's name and swear by the God of truth, for the former things will be forgotten (13-16). "For, behold," the LORD says, "I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind;" and Jerusalem, and his people, will be a joy to him; life will be long; living will be secure; prayer will be answered before it is offered; peace will prevail even among the wolf and the lamb; but the serpent will still be cursed; and there will be no harm in the LORD's holy mountain (17-25).
     Today's painting depicts men earnestly seeking the LORD (as in verse 24), and in contrast (v. 14) to those who cry and howl in distress for forsaking the LORD.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Isaiah 65. Isaiah 66. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: GENERAL. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). VARIOUS ARTISTS: Micha'el Ben David. Sons of Korah. Fernando Ortega. Janet Isaac Morrison. Music of the Bible Revealed - Suzanne Haik-Vantoura. Dr. David Erb. Gregorian Chants. ]


Isaiah 65

2. Post-Exile: The Blessing & Judgment Cycles ( 40:1 - 66:24 ) - 701-681 B.C., Israel
(These 8 groups of prophecies alternate between blessings on Israel and judgment on God's enemies.)

H. Cycle 8 (63:7 - 66:24)

1. Blessing: On Israel (63:7 - 66:14)

a. Their Prayer of Repentance (63:7 - 64:12)

b. The Lord's Answer (65:1 - 66:14)
1). Part of Israel Will be Saved (65:1-16)
2). A New Heavens & a New Earth Will be Created (65:17-25)
3). The Nation Will be Reborn (66:1-14)

2. Judgment: On the Nations by Everlasting Destruction (66:15-24)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


1). Part of Israel Will be Saved (65:1-16)

     1 I am sought of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name. 2 I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts; 3 A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick; 4 Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels; 5 Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day. 6 Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom, 7 Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.
     8 Thus saith the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one saith, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all. 9 And I will bring forth a seed out of Jacob, and out of Judah an inheritor of my mountains: and mine elect shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there. 10 And Sharon shall be a fold of flocks, and the valley of Achor a place for the herds to lie down in, for my people that have sought me. 11 But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number. 12 Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.
     13 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed: 14 Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit. 15 And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name: 16 That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.

2). A New Heavens & a New Earth Will be Created (65:17-25)

     17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. 18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. 19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying. 20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. 21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. 22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. 23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them. 24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. 25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.




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