The Joy of New Creation: Embracing God's Promises
"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." - Isaiah 65:18
Isaiah 65:18 (KJV) tells us, "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." At first glance, this verse might seem like a distant promise, rooted in the prophetic visions of the Old Testament, but it actually speaks volumes to us today.
The context of Isaiah’s prophecy is crucial; the people of Israel were experiencing the despair of exile and longing for redemption. They had witnessed the destruction of their beloved Jerusalem, their heartland, and their identity as God’s chosen people was in crisis. In this bleak landscape, God, through Isaiah, offers not merely hope but a profound transformation: a new Jerusalem, a place of joy and rejoicing.
God’s command to "be ye glad and rejoice" is a divine imperative. It is not merely a suggestion but a calling to understand and embrace the heart of God for His people. In a world where darkness often seems overwhelming—where despair and fear can cloud our minds—God invites us to look beyond our circumstances and rejoice in what He is creating. Paul echoes this sentiment in Philippians 4:4 when he states, "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice!" The joy we are urged to embrace does not depend on our circumstances but on God’s unchanging nature and His promises.
The phrase "I create" in Isaiah 65:18 highlights God's active role in shaping our reality. He is the Creator—the one who brings forth life, renewal, and transformation. In this verse, He is specifically referring to Jerusalem, a representation of His people and His presence amongst them. However, when we look at the full revelation of Scripture, we see that God’s creative work continues beyond ancient Jerusalem. Through Jesus, we see the culmination of God's creative act, where He redeems all of humanity from sin and invites us into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).
This new creation is not limited to a geographical location but extends into the hearts and lives of all believers. The joy that God promises is not simply a change in temperature, from cold to warm; it’s a complete transformation of our spiritual existence. As we live in Christ, we are called to be ambassadors of this joy, embodying it in our daily lives, sharing it with those around us.
Imagine the joy that filled the hearts of the Israelites when they received this message from Isaiah! They understood that God was not finished with them; He was still at work. This message resonates with us today, as we often find ourselves in a culture laden with anxiety, stress, and division. God’s promise of joy is still alive! He is actively creating a place of rejoicing in the hearts of His people wherever they may be. A heart transformed by God’s presence becomes a source of joy that spills over into the community.
As we meditate on Isaiah 65:18, let us consider the call to "rejoice forever in that which I create." What does it look like for us to rejoice in God today? How can we be conduits of His joy in our families, workplaces, and communities? This rejoicing is not solely for ourselves; it is an invitation to extend God's joy to others. Let us pursue joy in prayer, in worship, and in acts of kindness. Let’s encourage one another in faith, reminding ourselves of God’s promises and His ongoing work in our lives.
In conclusion, as we reflect on the hope found in Isaiah 65:18, let us be assured that God’s promise remains true. He is creating joy and a reason for rejoicing among His people. In seasons of difficulty, let us cling to this promise, knowing that as we rejoice in God’s creation, we become a living testament to His glory. Keep your eyes fixed on the joyful work He is doing within you and around you, and let that joy radiate outwards into a world that so desperately needs it.
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Isaiah 65:18 - "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."
"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." - Isaiah 65:18
Isaiah 65:8 A new wine
Isaiah 65:21 - "And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them."
Isaiah 65:6 - "Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom,"
Isaiah 65:17 - "¶ For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind."
Isaiah 65:23 - "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."
Isaiah 65:24 - "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."
Isaiah 65:3 - "A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face; that sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick;"
Isaiah 65:11 - "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."
Isaiah 65:4 - "Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;"
Isaiah 65:19 - "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."
Isaiah 65:10 - "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."
Isaiah 65:14 - "Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit."
Isaiah 65:2 - "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;"
Isaiah 65:9 - "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."
Isaiah 65:15 - "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:"
"For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind." - Isaiah 65:17
Isaiah 65:5 - "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."
"And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." - Isaiah 65:24
Isaiah 65:22 - "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."
Isaiah 65:1 - "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."
Isaiah 65:8 - "¶ 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."
Isaiah 65:7 - "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."
Isaiah 65:25 - "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."
"And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them." - Isaiah 65:21
"Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even recompense into their bosom," - Isaiah 65:6
Isaiah 65:20 - "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."
"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." - Isaiah 65:23
"And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." - Isaiah 65:24