Isaiah 65:17

"so that he who blesses himself in the earth will bless himself in the God of truth; and he who swears in the earth will swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hidden from my eyes."

Key Reflection

Isaiah 65:17 speaks to a future time of restoration when the people of Israel will find true joy and contentment. In this verse, Isaiah contrasts the past troubles that were openly visible and troubling with a future where those same problems are no longer present in God's sight. This imagery of forgotten troubles highlights God’s ultimate redemptive power and his promise to provide a lasting peace and delight, ensuring that those who seek blessing and truth will find it in him rather than in the vain idols or false gods of their past.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

For behold -The idea in this verse is, that there should be a state of glory as great as if a new heaven and a new earth were to be made. I create new heavens -Calamity and punishment in the Bible are often represented by the heavens growing dark, and being rolled up like as a scroll, or passing away (see the notes atIsaiah 13:10;Isaiah 34:4). On the contrary, prosperity, happiness, and the divine favor, are represented by the clearing up of a cloudy sky; by the restoration of the serene and pure light of the sun; or, as here, by the creation of new heavens (compare the notes atIsaiah 51:16).

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