Isaiah 65:8-17

A Picture of what is Coming – The future of two groups per God as revealed in Isaiah 65:8-17

This passage is foremost about the re-establishment of the nation of Israel as the centerpiece of God’s doings, but we shall consider it further out and His dealings with those truly saved and those not saved (the only two groups that comprise all peoples) and what becomes of them.

Group #1 – those saved 

8 Thus says the Lord: “As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one says, ‘Do not destroy it, for a blessing is in it,’ So will I do for My servants’ sake, that I may 

not destroy them all.

I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah an heir of My mountains;

My elect shall inherit it, and 

My servants shall dwell there.  10 Sharon (the west slope of the land) shall be a fold of flocks, and the Valley of Achor (the east slope of the land) a place for herds to lie down,

For My people who have sought Me.

Group #1 are those who sought God and thus not destroyed but prospering and dwelling safely.

Group #2 – those not saved 

11 But you are those who 

forsake the Lord, who 

forget My holy mountain, who prepare a 

table for Gad, and who furnish a 

drink offering for Meni (a god).

12 Therefore I will number you for the sword, and you shall all bow down to the slaughter; Because, when 

I called, you did not answer; when 

I spoke, you did not hear, but

did evil before My eyes, and chose that in 

which I do not delight.”

Group #2 are those who did not look to God but did evil and worshiped other things.

The Destiny of the Two: 

13 Therefore thus says the Lord God:
Behold, My servants shall eat, But you shall be hungry;
Behold, My servants shall drink, But you shall be thirsty;
Behold, My servants shall rejoice, But you shall be ashamed;
Behold, My servants shall sing for joy of heart, But you shall cry for sorrow of heart, and wail for grief of spirit.

15  You shall leave your name as a curse to My chosen (as an example); for the Lord God will slay you,

And for the Saved Ones:
And call His servants by another name;  (a different character, bent, life)
16  So that he who blesses himself in the earth – Shall bless himself in the God of truth  (not swear by any other).
And he who swears in the earth – Shall swear by the God of truth; Because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hidden from My eyes. (former failures, sins, rebellions are not held against – not remembered)
17 “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.

So, which group are you in?  If in Group #1, your future is rich with blessings because it is rich with God.  For those who do not delight in God or answer God, their future is at best – terrible!