Isaiah 65:22, commentary and pictures

Isaiah 65:22 describes life in the earth made new, a real country on this earth entered after the holy City comes down and settles on a mighty plain, not life in the present mortal world. There God's people will build houses and inhabit them and plant vineyards and eat their fruit themselves, keeping what they make rather than building for another to inhabit or planting for another to eat. That future life is Eden life lived again when the blight of sin is removed, with the redeemed returning to the garden-and-field occupations of Adam and Eve in joyful, glorious activity without toil. As the days of a tree are the days of God's people, picturing a very long, enduring life in which the elect long enjoy their labor in lasting security and joy, settled permanently in peaceable habitations and sure dwellings with no dispossession, violence, wasting, or destruction. As part of Isaiah 60 through 65 the promise also speaks in a most decided manner to leaders and those in high positions as reproof from the Lord, calling them to put away evil, repent, and be converted, while giving practical labor now a purpose in preparing children and youth for that future work.

Secure Home in New Earth

The promise belongs to the earth made new, not to this present mortal life, for it pictures a real country on this very earth as the eternal home of the redeemed. It is entered after the holy City comes down from heaven and settles upon a mighty plain, with Jesus leading the saints down to dwell there. When the blight of sin is removed that life will be Eden life lived again, the redeemed returning to the garden-and-field occupations of Adam and Eve. It will by no means be inactive, for God's people will plant and build and enjoy the work of their hands.

There they will build houses and inhabit them themselves, and plant vineyards and eat their own fruit, keeping the homes and crops they make. They shall not build for another to inhabit, nor plant for another to eat, but will never lose house or harvest to another. After long wandering as pilgrims and wanderers, the saved will settle permanently in a country prepared for them. It lies on peaceful plains beside living streams, a peaceable habitation of sure dwellings and quiet resting-places, with secure possession and no dispossession. There is no more violence, wasting, or destruction, for walls are Salvation and gates are Praise.

Outside the City the saints have their own most glorious houses, with the appearance of silver supported by four pillars set with pearls. Each house contains a golden shelf, where they lay their glittering crowns upon entering before going out to the fields by their houses. They go out to work the earth by their houses, not with toil as now, but in joyful, glorious activity. A glorious light shines about them while they continually shout and offer praises to God. To themselves long enjoy the work of their hands in this way is part of their promised inheritance, a reward of the righteous which no human language can fully describe and which will be known only to those who behold it.

As the days of a tree are the days of God's people, picturing a very long, enduring life. In that lasting security and joy the elect long enjoy their labor, keeping what they build and plant for a long life rather than losing it to others. The same promise describes the government of the kingdom Christ establishes, which is like no earthly government but represents the character of those who compose it. It is a court where holy love presides and whose offices and appointments are graced by charity, where pity and lovingkindness and happiness are brought into all work in reflecting the love and tender compassion of the divine nature to others.

Reproof and Preparation Now

As part of Isaiah 60 through 65, and especially chapters 62 through 65, the verse speaks in a most decided manner to leaders in the cause, to those connected with institutions, and to those in high positions carrying great responsibilities. It comes to those who have disregarded reproof and neglected to warn the people what is truth. Those addressed are to study, heed, and accept these chapters as reproof from the Lord instead of disregarding them and choosing only what they will accept without thorough consecration. With Isaiah 60 and 61 understood and Isaiah 62 through 65 received, the call is to stop all complaining and every evil work, to put away the evil of their works, to repent and be converted, and then the Lord's power will appear for the conviction and conversion of souls.

The promise that in the renewed earth God's people will plant and build without losing the fruits of their work and will long enjoy that work gives practical agricultural education and labor now a purpose in preparing for that future. The earth made new is the Lord's farm, where people will enjoy the work of their hands. Agricultural education and practical labor now prepare children, youth, and students for work there.