17 For, lo, I am creating new heavens, and a new earth, And the former things are not remembered, Nor do they ascend on the heart. 18 But joy ye, and rejoice for ever, that I 'am' Creator, For, lo, I am creating Jerusalem a rejoicing, And her people a joy. 19 And I have rejoiced in Jerusalem, And have joyed in My people, And not heard in her any more Is the voice of weeping, and the voice of crying. 20 There is not thence any more a suckling of days, And an aged man who doth not complete his days, For the youth a hundred years old dieth, And the sinner, a hundred years old, is lightly esteemed. 21 And they have built houses, and inhabited, And planted vineyards, and eaten their fruit. 22 They do not build, and another inhabit, They do not plant, and another eat, For as the days of a tree 'are' the days of My people, And the work of their hands wear out do My chosen ones. 23 They labour not for a vain thing, Nor do they bring forth for trouble, For the seed of the blessed of Jehovah 'are' they, And their offspring with them. 24 And it hath come to pass, They do not yet call, and I answer, They are yet speaking, and I hear. 25 Wolf and lamb do feed as one, And a lion as an ox eateth straw, As to the serpent—dust 'is' its food, They do no evil, nor destroy, In all My holy mountain, said Jehovah!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Isaiah 65:17-25
Commentary on Isaiah 65:17-25
(Read Isaiah 65:17-25)
In the grace and comfort believers have in and from Christ, we are to look for this new heaven and new earth. The former confusions, sins and miseries of the human race, shall be no more remembered or renewed. The approaching happy state of the church is described under a variety of images. He shall be thought to die in his youth, and for his sins, who only lives to the age of a hundred years. The event alone can determine what is meant; but it is plain that Christianity, if universal, would so do away violence and evil, as greatly to lengthen life. In those happy days, all God's people shall enjoy the fruit of their labours. Nor will children then be the trouble of their parents, or suffer trouble themselves. The evil dispositions of sinners shall be completely moritified; all shall live in harmony. Thus the church on earth shall be full of happiness, like heaven. This prophecy assures the servants of Christ, that the time approaches, wherein they shall be blessed with the undisturbed enjoyment of all that is needful for their happiness. As workers together with God, let us attend his ordinances, and obey his commands.