isaiah 65 17 25 study questions
## Isaiah 65:17-25 - A Promise of Restoration and Renewal The book of Isaiah contains a wealth of prophetic insights and promises of Gods future plans for his people. In chapter 65, verses 17-25, we find a particularly stirring passage that offers hope and encouragement for those who are longing for a better world. ### Subheading 1: A New Heavens and a New Earth (Isaiah 65:17) "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind." - The prophet Isaiah begins by declaring that God is going to create a completely new world, replacing the old heavens and earth. - This new world will be so glorious and perfect that the past will fade into insignificance. ### Subheading 2: A Time of Joy and Gladness (Isaiah 65:18) "But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and its people to be a gladness." - God promises that the new world will be a place of joy and gladness. - Jerusalem, the city of Gods people, will be a shining beacon of happiness and celebration. ### Subheading 3: A World of Harmony and Peace (Isaiah 65:25) "The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them." - In the new world, violence and hostility will be replaced by harmony and peace. - Even the most unlikely creatures will live together in peace, symbolizing the complete transformation that is to come. ### Subheading 4: A Place of Long Life and Freedom from Disease (Isaiah 65:20) "No more shall an infant live but a few days, or an old man not live out his days; for the child shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed." - God promises that in the new world, life will be long and disease will be eliminated. - The youngest and the oldest will be able to enjoy full and healthy lives. ### Subheading 5: A World of Abundance and Prosperity (Isaiah 65:21-23) "They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit... They shall not labor in vain." - The new world will be a place of abundance and prosperity. - People will be able to build their own homes and enjoy the fruits of their labor. ### Subheading 6: A Relationship of Intimacy with God (Isaiah 65:24) "Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear." - In the new world, God will be intimately involved in the lives of his people. - He will hear and answer their prayers before they are even uttered. ### Subheading 7: A World Without Sorrow and Pain (Isaiah 65:19) "I will rejoice over Jerusalem, and I will joy in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress." - The new world will be a place free from sorrow and pain. - The voices of crying and distress will be replaced by sounds of joy and celebration. ### Subheading 8: A Contrast with the Past (Isaiah 65:17) "The former things shall not be remembered or come to mind." - The new world will be so different from the past that the old ways of doing things will seem like a distant memory. ### Subheading 9: A Call to Faith and Hope (Isaiah 65:25) "Trust in me, and I will do it." - God ends the passage by calling his people to trust in him and to believe in his promises. - He will faithfully bring about the new world that he has promised. ## Conclusion The passage from Isaiah 65:17-25 is a powerful reminder of Gods faithfulness and his desire to restore his people. It offers a glimpse of a future world that is free from pain, sorrow, and violence, and filled with joy, peace, and abundance. As we read these verses, may we be filled with hope and anticipation for the day when Gods promises are fully realized. ### Isaiah 65:17-25 Study Questions: 1. What does Isaiah say God will create? 2. Why will the former things not be remembered? 3. What will Jerusalem and its people be known for? 4. How will life be different for the youngest and oldest? 5. What will people be able to enjoy without labor? 6. How will Gods relationship with his people change? 7. What will be eliminated from the new world? 8. How does God contrast the new world with the past? 9. What does God call his people to do? 10. What does this passage reveal about Gods character?