Easter Sunday (OT)

Isaiah 65:17-25

¹⁷    “For behold, I create new heavens

and a new earth,

       and the former things shall not be remembered

or come into mind.

¹⁸    But be glad and rejoice forever

in that which I create;

       for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,

and her people to be a gladness.

¹⁹    I will rejoice in Jerusalem

and be glad in my people;

       no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping

and the cry of distress.

²⁰    No more shall there be in it

an infant who lives but a few days,

or an old man who does not fill out his days,

       for the young man shall die a hundred years old,

and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.

²¹    They shall build houses and inhabit them;

they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

²²    They shall not build and another inhabit;

they shall not plant and another eat;

      for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,

and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

²³    They shall not labor in vain

or bear children for calamity,

       for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord,

and their descendants with them.

²⁴    Before they call I will answer;

while they are yet speaking I will hear.

²⁵    The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;

the lion shall eat straw like the ox,

and dust shall be the serpent’s food.

       They shall not hurt or destroy

in all my holy mountain,”

says the Lord.

The wolf and the lamb shall graze together and not eat on another. It will be like the garden of Eden, when nothing died. It will be perfection. The lion and the ox will eat straw and not meat. Strangely enough the curse of the serpent to eat dust will still remain. This is not a removal of life and family and friends. It is a renewal of creation to what it was supposed to be.

God will make a New Heaven and a New Earth for the former things will pass away. They sinfulness of the world and the wickedness of man will be destroyed. All those who seek after violence and bloodshed will perish. For the people of Israel it was a concern over being dragged into exile. God promises to provided them with their own land forever, no longer cursed by the sins of men.

Isaiah does not just speak of the future for the people of Israel. He speaks of the future of all people. The Lord tells him about the future of believers. He talks about a place where you will not be removed. This place is not filled with death and bloodshed. It is filled with life. It is the hope of the resurrection and eternal life. This is the future for all believers in Christ Jesus our Lord. He died for the forgiveness of sins. He was raised for your eternal salvation.

OTA: Job 19:23-27