What is the meaning of Isaiah 65:18? But be glad • The Lord opens with a call to immediate, heartfelt gladness. • This gladness is not tentative; it rests on God’s unfailing promises (Psalm 118:24; Philippians 4:4). • Because the command comes from the Creator, joy is an act of obedient trust, not mere emotion. and rejoice forever • “Forever” points to an unending horizon—joy that survives time and circumstance (John 16:22; Revelation 19:6-7). • God ties our rejoicing to His eternal nature; what He secures can never fade (Isaiah 51:11). in what I create • The focus shifts from the people’s feelings to God’s handiwork. • Creation here is both present and future: God is already at work, yet greater wonders are coming (Isaiah 43:19; 2 Corinthians 5:17). • Joy springs from recognizing His sovereign craftsmanship in every season. for I will create Jerusalem • “I will” underscores certainty; the rebuild is God-initiated, not human-engineered (Nehemiah 2:8; Zechariah 8:3). • Jerusalem represents the center of God’s earthly kingdom purposes, foreshadowing the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2). • This promise assures Israel—and all who trust in Christ—of a real, restored city. to be a joy • God’s design for Jerusalem is delight, not desolation (Isaiah 62:4-5). • The city once marked by sorrow will radiate gladness, embodying fulfilled covenant blessings (Jeremiah 33:9-11). • When God calls something “joy,” that identity is permanent. and its people • God never separates a place from its inhabitants; covenant community matters (Leviticus 26:11-12; 1 Peter 2:9-10). • The promise extends to every redeemed individual, inviting inclusion rather than mere spectatorship. to be a delight • Delight speaks of deep pleasure from God’s own perspective (Zephaniah 3:17). • The redeemed reflect their Creator’s joy, becoming living testimonies of His grace (Ephesians 2:7). • This culminates in face-to-face fellowship, where God’s delight and ours perfectly align (Revelation 21:3-4). summary Isaiah 65:18 calls believers to present and eternal joy rooted in God’s guaranteed future creation. He pledges to remake Jerusalem and its people into a source of His own delight, transforming former sorrow into everlasting gladness. As we anchor our hope in His unbreakable word, present rejoicing becomes both obedience and foretaste of the glory to come. |
    |