As so often happened with the nation of Israel, God found her to be a rebellious people; a people who had forsaken the Lord. In the mean while, the Lord is found of those who sought Him not. And, though the rebellious people will be judged for their iniquities, a remnant—a seed—shall come forth to seek the Lord and they will receive His blessings.

What Does It Say?

1. Israel is a people that sacrifices in ___________ and burns incense on altars of ________.
2. The children of Israel have become to the Lord a ________ in His nose and a _______ that burns all the day.
3. Because of their continued iniquities, the Lord will measure their former _______ into their bosom.
4. Yet, the Lord will bring forth a seed out of _________, and out of Judah an __________ of His mountains.
5. __________ shall be a fold of flocks and the valley of __________ a place for the herds to lie down.

What Does It Mean?

1. Carefully read verses 2, 3, 11, and 12. Make a list of the characteristics of rebellious people.
2. Jesus cast the devils out of the maniac of Gadara (see Mark 5:1-17 [1] And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes. [2] And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, [3] Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains: [4] Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him. [5] And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones. [6] But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, [7] And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. [8] For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. [9] And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. [10] And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. [11] Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. [12] And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them. [13] And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea. [14] And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done. [15] And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. [16] And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. [17] And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.
   See All...). Compare that story with Isaiah 65:4Which remain among the graves, and lodge in the monuments, which eat swine's flesh, and broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
   See All... and see how many similarities you can find.
3. The phrase, “new wine,” is mentioned 22 times in the Bible. Compare Isaiah 65:8Thus 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.
   See All... with Proverbs 3:10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
   See All... and try to come up with a definition for new wine.

What Does It Mean to Me?

1. Compare Isaiah 65:1I 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.
   See All... with Isaiah 65:12Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.
   See All.... Who is the Lord speaking of in each of these verses? What application can be made to today of this pattern?
2. The Lord is still describing a rebellious people in Isaiah 65:5Which 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.
   See All... when he reports that they say, “Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou.” How can a rebellious people have a “holier than thou” attitude? What does this mean? Where does this spirit come from? What are some examples of this attitude today? What is the cure for this spirit?  

Suggested Memory Verses

Isaiah 65:1I 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.
See All..., 8