How does Isaiah 65:25 illustrate God's promise of peace in the new creation? Isaiah 65:25—The Text Itself “The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but the serpent’s food will be dust. They will neither harm nor destroy on all My holy mountain,” says the LORD. A Picture of Total, Tangible Peace • Predator and prey share the same pasture—hostility gone. • The fiercest carnivore subsists on straw—violence dismantled. • The serpent, symbol of the fall (Genesis 3:14–15), is reduced to dust—evil permanently defeated. • “They will neither harm nor destroy”—absolute safety permeates every corner of God’s mountain. Restored Harmony in Creation • Romans 8:19–22 points to creation longing to be set free; Isaiah 65:25 shows the longing fulfilled. • Echoes Eden’s original order (Genesis 1:29–30) where animals were not predators. • Ezekiel 34:25 speaks of a “covenant of peace” eliminating wild beasts—Isaiah offers the consummate fulfillment. Shattering Every Old Hostility • Wolf/lamb and lion/ox pairings symbolize natural enmity; their reconciliation reveals God’s power to mend the deepest divides. • Human hostilities are likewise ended: “Nation will no longer lift up sword against nation” (Isaiah 2:4). • Personal anxieties dissolve; perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). Comprehensive Scope—“All My Holy Mountain” • Not limited to Jerusalem alone but to God’s entire renewed earth (cf. Habakkuk 2:14). • No hidden pockets of violence remain; the promise is universal, unhindered, and everlasting. New-Creation Connections • Revelation 21:1–5: new heavens and new earth, every tear wiped away—Isaiah’s vision expanded. • Revelation 22:3: “No longer will there be any curse”—serpent’s dust-eating role highlights the curse’s removal. • 2 Peter 3:13: “We are looking for a new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” Assurance for Believers Today • God’s promise is not poetic exaggeration but a literal future reality. • The peace pictured is grounded in the finished work of Christ, the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). • Anticipating this destiny fuels present faithfulness: – We pursue peace now (Hebrews 12:14), reflecting the coming order. – We steward creation wisely, knowing its redemption is sure (Romans 8:21). – We rest in hope; the God who spoke through Isaiah will bring every detail to pass (Numbers 23:19). |
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