--- title: "Isaiah 65 - Study King James Bible with the biblical illustrator" description: "Read Isaiah 65 with the biblical illustrator commentary. 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" image: "/_app/immutable/assets/missing.C7wGMEZ6.jpg" url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/study/the-biblical-illustrator/isaiah/65" --- [ Read](/kjv/isaiah/65)[ Commentary](/study/isaiah/65)[ Interlinear](/interlinear/isaiah/65) Audio 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. 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. [Isaiah 64](/study/isaiah/64) [Isaiah 66](/study/isaiah/66) ## Commentary To verse 1 [Isaiah 65:1](/kjv/isaiah/65/1) *I am sought of them that asked not for Me* **Jehovah’s answer to the prayer of the Church** The supplication is ended; and chap. 65. appears to be intended as the answer--an answer, however, in which a distinction is drawn between worthy and unworthy members of Israel, and a different prospect is held out to each. God has ever, He says, been accessible to His people, He has ever been ready to renew intercourse with them: it was they who would not respond, but provoked Him with their idolatries. (*Prof. S. R. Driver, D. D.*) **A nation that was not called by My name** “A nation that called not on My name.” The reference is to those among the people who, after the Restoration, still practised the idolatries of their pre-exilic forefathers. (*A. B.Davidson, D. D.*) **The very bold prophecy** We learn on inspired authority that this is a very bold passage ([Romans 10:20](/kjv/romans/10/20)); it required much courage to utter it at the first, and in Paul’s day it needed still more to quote it and press it home upon the Jews around him. He who protests against a self-righteous people, and angers them by showing that others whom they despised are saved while they themselves are being lost, will have need of a dauntless spirit. This text has the clear ring of free grace about it; and for this reason it may be called bold. ** I.**THE PERSONALITY OF GOD IN THE WORK OF HIS GRACE. This is remarkably prominent in the work before us. **1.**The personality of God comes forth in that He Himself is observant of all that is done. Do any seek him? He saith, “I am sought. De any find him? He saith, “I am found. Is there any preaching of the Gospel? The Lord declares, “Behold Me, behold Me.” **2.**He Himself in the great object of desire where grace is in operation. When men are savingly aroused, they seek--what? Religion? By no means. They seek God, if they seek aright. The Lord saith, “I am found.” If men do not find God they have found nothing. God Himself fills the vision of faith; observe the words, “Behold Me, behold Me.” We look to God in Christ, and find all that our soul needs. **3.**He Himself is the Speaker of that call by which men are saved. Here are the words: “I said, Behold Me, behold Me.” The Lord Himself speaks the effectual word. **4.**He Himself is the director of the message., “I said, Behold Me, behold Me, unto a nation that was not called by My name. ‘ Not only does God speak the Gospel, but He speaks it home to those whom He appoints to hear it. This surrounds the Gospel with a strange solemnity: if the Gospel blesses us, it is not it, but God that blesses: God Himself has come unto us. This fact has another aspect to it; for if the Gospel be rejected, it is God that is rejected. Read the next verse: “I have spread out My hands all the day unto a rebellious people. ** II.**THE DELIGHT WHICH GOD TAKES IN THE WORK OF GRACE. God is glad to be sought and found by those who once were negligent of Him. **1.**It is evident that He rejoices in contrast to the complaint of the next verse. **2.**The Lord rejoices in each step of the process. There is a poor soul beginning to cry,, “Oh that I knew where I might find Him!” and lo the Lord says, “I am sought. A man has only just begun to attend the House of Prayer; he has only lately commenced the earnest study of the Bible; the Lord sees it, and He says, *“I*am sought. As when a fisherman smiles because a fish has begun to nibble at the bait, so the Lord notes the first movings of the heart towards Himself, and He says, “I am sought.” The very next sentence is, “I am found.” **3.**The Lord also rejoices in the persons who seek Him. He says, “I am sought of them that asked not for Me. He will be glad for any heart to keep on seeking that has begun to seek; but He is best pleased when non-seekers become seekers. **4.**The Lord rejoices in the numbers who seek and find Him. “I said, Behold Me, behold Me, unto a nation.” When shall the day come that nations shall be born at once? ** III.**THE DESCRIPTION WHICH GOD HIMSELF GIVES OF THE WORK OF GRACE. **1.**The Lord tells us where He finds the objects of His grace. He says, “They asked not for Me; they sought Me not; they were not called by My name.” What a mercy it is that He comes to us in our sin and misery; for assuredly we should not else come to Him. **2.**He next describes that Gospel which comes to them as the power of God. Here are His own words: “I said, Behold Me, behold Me.” The way of salvation is, “Look unto Me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.” **3.**Then the Lord goes on to mention the converts which the Gospel makes. The careless become seekers, the ungodly finders, the prayerless behold their God and live. **4.**The Lord also describes the experience of the saved. God comes to us that we may come to Him. ** IV.**THE USE WHICH GOD MAKES OF ALL THIS. The Lord here took care that when He said, “I am sought of them that asked not for Me,” His words should be written down, and that they should be made known to us. It is not everything that God may say to Himself that He will afterwards repeat to us; but here these private utterances of the Divine heart are spoken out to us by Isaiah, and left on record in this inspired Book. To what end d-o you think it is so? **1.**That he may excite in us wonder and admiration. **2.**To destroy pride and self-esteem. **3.**To encourage you who are seeking Him: for if those who do *not*seek Him often find Him, why, you that do seek Him are sure to find Him. **4.**To encourage workers. Go to work among the worst of the worst; for since God is found of those who seek Him not, there is hope for the vilest. **5.**That he may convict those who do not come to Him of the greatness of their sin. Look, saith He, those who never heard of Me before have found salvation, while you who have been instructed, and invited, and impressed, have still held out and resisted My Spirit. (*C. H. 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