themselves by their freewill.St. Paul, the apostle, spoke of the invitation to the gentiles and of the denial to the unbelieving Jews, in his epistle to the Romans, quoting this same prophetical phrase (Romans 10: 20, 21). While we were enemies, He reconciled us with the Father. He loved all humanity before they love Him, and elected us before we know or seek Him. He drew our hearts to Him, as He loved us even before calling us by His name. Did Israel hear and did not understand? If the pagan nations have heard and believed, it was far more fitting for the Jews, whom God had given since the old days all the signs that were meant to remove every obscurity from their eyes1. Who are they who did not seek Him? Who are they who did not ask for Him? Definitely, they were not the Jews, but the Gentiles who did not know Him. Moses described these as, “not a nation.” And “a foolish nation,” on account of their extreme ignorance. It is a great shame that He was found by those who did not seek Him, and lost to those who looked for Him (for reason of their lack of faith)2. St. John Chrysostom Who is He who has been proclaimed (and found by the Gentiles) but the Word of the Father, when He was sent by the Father, with His power to the people?!3 St. Hippolytus 2. THE DENIAL OF HIS PEOPLE “I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in 1 In Rom. Hom 18. 2 Ibid. 3 Against the Heresy of One Noetus 12. 7 a way that is not good, according to their own thoughts.” (Is 65: 2) On the cross, the Lord stretched out His hands with love, to embrace all and to grant them a life of victory, in the way Moses stretched his hands during the battle against the Amalekites (Exodus 17), as a symbol of the work of salvation of Christ1. The Lord stretched His hands, expecting us to respond by seeking Him every day2. St. Paphnotius The causes of God’s rejection by His people are: a. Their rebellion (Is. 65: 2); they walked according to their own thoughts, and not according to that of God. b. Breaking the Law, and deviating to pagan worship (Is, 65: 3, 4). c. Leaning upon their self-righteousness (Is. 65: 5). St. Augustine states that denying faith in the Lord is death, as although they have seen the miracles done by the Savior with their own eyes, yet, they did not live through them, but remained in a state of death3. 3. HIS CARE FOR THE REMNANTS Although the people as a whole denied Him, yet there was a holy remnant in the Lord, like the disciples, the apostles, the Marys, Zacchaeus, and Levi the tax collector etc. This small remnant will not perish but will turn into a blessing: “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 servant’s sake, that I may not destroy them all” (Is. 65: 8) Among opponents, some elects were found for the Lord, His servants who seek Him (Is. 65: 10). 4. A COMPARISON BETWEEN BELIEVERS AND NONBELIEVERS a. Some of those who forsook the Lord thought that they would get away through lavishly “preparing a table... and furnishing a drink...” for pagan idols, and did not realize that they would “bow down to the slaughter.” (Is. 65: 11, 12) b. Those who deny the Lord mostly think that they are leading a life of luxury without deprivation. Yet, soon it will be, that believers shall eat, while they shall go hungry; believers shall rejoice, while they shall grieve; believers shall sing for joy of heart, while they shall cry for sorrow of heart (Is. 65: 13 - 15). c. Believers would face afflictions, yet they shall be granted the blessing of the true God, even though they are still on earth, to forget their troubles amid God’s comforts and blessings (Is. 65: 16). 5. THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH The prophet Isaiah presents us with a magnificent portrait of the work of the Lord Christ, the Creator, to establish the Church of the New Testament. He has set a new heavens and a new earth (Is. 65: 17). He has set a true renewal of the soul (the heavens), and of the body (the earth), for both the soul and the body to become together in harmony; 1 See Ep. of Barnabas 12; St. Justin Apol. 1:35. 2 St. Cassian Conf, 3:22. 3 On Ps. 88. 8 both submitting to His Holy Spirit. The old conflict between the desires of the soul and those of the body has come to an end. We have entered by the Holy Spirit into the life of spiritual joy and heavenly rejoicing. Our life being filled with the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, and peace (Galatians 5: 22); rejoicing like a holy bride, renewed by her Groom, who, in turn rejoices in us, saying, “I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people.” (Is. 65: 19) It is the joy of mutual love! In this new life that we attain in baptism, the wolf will be lamb-like; the wolf and lamb shall feed together; the beastly and violent nature will be abolished; the lion shall feed with the cow. As to the serpents, they shall not hurt or destroy anyone who knew his adoption to God, and lived according to the possibilities of life that became his1. The features of this new life are: a. We shall not remember anymore the former life or comes to our mind, as the flood of God’s blessing will absorb all our energies (Is. 65: 1). b. A life of everlasting joy and rejoice (Is. 65: 18, 19); where “the voice of weeping shall no longer be heard.” c. In it no man will suffer from weakness of infancy or old age, but all will enjoy spiritual maturation (Is. 65: 20). d. Filled with blessings; shall build spiritual houses and inhabit them with God; and shall plant vineyards to get fulfilled by the fruits of the Spirit (Is. 65: 21). e. The enemy (the Devil) will not find a place among them (Is. 65: 23). f. We will be filled with peace and not fear. g. Before they utter their prayers, God will hear and respond: “Before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.” (Is. 65: 24) h. A change in nature through uprooting the spirit of animosity, to enjoy that of love and union, even between wolf and lamb, lion and cow, man and serpent, etc. People from various nations, some of which are savages will come, to form one congregation under the leadership of the Holy Spirit of the Lord.
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