People Gathered by the River at the Golden Cityby davidwooten
65:24Isaiah 65:24
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
Before they even call God already answers them, and while they are still speaking He hears them. He knows the longing of the soul before it is put into words, and meets every sincere desire however weak, every faltering prayer and every tear of contrition with grace, with Christ as Intercessor presenting His righteousness with the prayers of His people. When a soul is discouraged He sends help before it is asked, commissioning His angels to minister to those who shall inherit salvation, and He is present to give needed words, encouragement, faith and hope even while prayer is being offered. This promise belongs to the restored Jerusalem and the new earth, where the curse is removed and nothing harms or destroys, picturing the kingdom of Christ where holy love presides and pity, lovingkindness and tender compassion mark all service. He fulfills it also by already guiding sincere seekers into all truth, breaking down prejudice and superstition through His word and publications, sending angels to impress minds, opening the Scriptures with new interest and making dark subjects plain, so that when with tears and humble earnest prayer they ask to be led, they receive the harmonious chain of truth with grateful joy.
Prophetic Setting and Warning
The promise belongs to the prophecy of the restored Jerusalem, where God will answer His people before they call and hear them while they are still speaking. It belongs to the prophecy of the new earth, where creation is restored from the effects of the curse. There God's answering and hearing are placed within the promised kingdom, where His people live in peace and nothing harms or destroys, showing His immediate care for them.
It describes the kingdom of Christ and belongs to the prophet's picture of God's government, which is like no earthly government. That government represents the characters of those who compose the kingdom, a court where holy love presides. There pity, lovingkindness, charity, and tender compassion are exercised in all service.
In its original setting the chapter is a reproof the Lord gives to leaders in His cause and to those connected with His institutions for disregarding His reproofs. That reproof is for accepting only the word they choose, for failing in thorough consecration to God, and for neglecting the duty to warn the people what is truth. The chapter must be studied, heeded and accepted, and it speaks in a most decided manner to those in high positions carrying great responsibilities. Then Isaiah 60 and Isaiah 61 will be understood, and Isaiah 62 to Isaiah 65 will speak in a most decided manner.
When its words are taken, all complaining and every evil work are stopped and put away. There is coming nigh, repentance and conversion, with the evil of works put away. Then the Lord will manifest His power and appear for the conviction and conversion of souls. This is part of a reformation that must go through the congregation of Israel.
God Answers Before Asked
God knows and supplies human needs, answering even before they call, and His readiness to help is seen in Christ turning toward those who turn to Him. He answers the soul's longing before it is put into words and hears while the prayer is still being spoken, and the moment a person firmly purposes to pray He respects that yearning of the heart. His ear is open to every soul poor in spirit, and before prayer is offered or yearning made known His Spirit goes out to meet the need. This assurance that He answers before they call and hears while they are yet speaking is to be received by faith and comes from God, who gladly hears and answers prayer from a contrite heart.
He answers those who turn to Him even before they finish asking, for Christ is ready to help and as Intercessor presents His own righteousness with His disciples' prayers, so the Father hears every sincere contrite prayer joined with the prayers of the Intercessor whose voice He always hears. Every genuine desire however weak, every weak good desire and faltering prayer, and every tear of contrition is met by grace from Christ working in the heart.
When a soul is discouraged He knows the need and sends help before it is asked, commissioning His angels to bring divine aid even before the prayer is spoken, for His angels minister to those who are heirs of salvation. He is present and actively helps while a person is still speaking, bringing needed words clearly to mind, as seen in prompt help in finding the right words when writing when help is asked for and He responds with His presence. He hears a prayer before it was even spoken to give needed encouragement, faith and hope, responding with the assurance of His presence.
Guiding Seekers Into Truth
God begins answering seekers before they call by already guiding them into all truth as they pray for guidance. In other countries sincere men and women read papers and tracts on present truth with intense interest and open their Bibles with new interest. Angels hover over them and impress their minds, breaking down prejudice and superstition and making dark subjects plain. When with tears and humble earnest prayer they ask to be guided into all truth, God is already doing that very thing for them.
He answers in advance by using publications and tracts to break down prejudice and superstition, by sending angels to impress readers' minds, by opening their Bibles with deep new interest and making dark subjects plain, especially the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. New light shines on their understanding as they search the Scriptures to see if these things are so. When they bow with tears in earnest humble prayer to be guided, they are led to receive the harmonious chain of truth so the Bible becomes a new book bringing grateful joy and happiness. That reception leads them to work and sacrifice for others.
Before they even call God already answers them, and while they are still speaking He hears them. He knows the longing of the soul before it is put into words, and meets every sincere desire however weak, every faltering prayer and every tear of contrition with grace, with Christ as Intercessor presenting His righteousness with the prayers of His people. When a soul is discouraged He sends help before it is asked, commissioning His angels to minister to those who shall inherit salvation, and He is present to give needed words, encouragement, faith and hope even while prayer is being offered. This promise belongs to the restored Jerusalem and the new earth, where the curse is removed and nothing harms or destroys, picturing the kingdom of Christ where holy love presides and pity, lovingkindness and tender compassion mark all service. He fulfills it also by already guiding sincere seekers into all truth, breaking down prejudice and superstition through His word and publications, sending angels to impress minds, opening the Scriptures with new interest and making dark subjects plain, so that when with tears and humble earnest prayer they ask to be led, they receive the harmonious chain of truth with grateful joy.
Prophetic Setting and Warning
The promise belongs to the prophecy of the restored Jerusalem, where God will answer His people before they call and hear them while they are still speaking. It belongs to the prophecy of the new earth, where creation is restored from the effects of the curse. There God's answering and hearing are placed within the promised kingdom, where His people live in peace and nothing harms or destroys, showing His immediate care for them.
It describes the kingdom of Christ and belongs to the prophet's picture of God's government, which is like no earthly government. That government represents the characters of those who compose the kingdom, a court where holy love presides. There pity, lovingkindness, charity, and tender compassion are exercised in all service.
In its original setting the chapter is a reproof the Lord gives to leaders in His cause and to those connected with His institutions for disregarding His reproofs. That reproof is for accepting only the word they choose, for failing in thorough consecration to God, and for neglecting the duty to warn the people what is truth. The chapter must be studied, heeded and accepted, and it speaks in a most decided manner to those in high positions carrying great responsibilities. Then Isaiah 60 and Isaiah 61 will be understood, and Isaiah 62 to Isaiah 65 will speak in a most decided manner.
When its words are taken, all complaining and every evil work are stopped and put away. There is coming nigh, repentance and conversion, with the evil of works put away. Then the Lord will manifest His power and appear for the conviction and conversion of souls. This is part of a reformation that must go through the congregation of Israel.
God Answers Before Asked
God knows and supplies human needs, answering even before they call, and His readiness to help is seen in Christ turning toward those who turn to Him. He answers the soul's longing before it is put into words and hears while the prayer is still being spoken, and the moment a person firmly purposes to pray He respects that yearning of the heart. His ear is open to every soul poor in spirit, and before prayer is offered or yearning made known His Spirit goes out to meet the need. This assurance that He answers before they call and hears while they are yet speaking is to be received by faith and comes from God, who gladly hears and answers prayer from a contrite heart.
He answers those who turn to Him even before they finish asking, for Christ is ready to help and as Intercessor presents His own righteousness with His disciples' prayers, so the Father hears every sincere contrite prayer joined with the prayers of the Intercessor whose voice He always hears. Every genuine desire however weak, every weak good desire and faltering prayer, and every tear of contrition is met by grace from Christ working in the heart.
When a soul is discouraged He knows the need and sends help before it is asked, commissioning His angels to bring divine aid even before the prayer is spoken, for His angels minister to those who are heirs of salvation. He is present and actively helps while a person is still speaking, bringing needed words clearly to mind, as seen in prompt help in finding the right words when writing when help is asked for and He responds with His presence. He hears a prayer before it was even spoken to give needed encouragement, faith and hope, responding with the assurance of His presence.
Guiding Seekers Into Truth
God begins answering seekers before they call by already guiding them into all truth as they pray for guidance. In other countries sincere men and women read papers and tracts on present truth with intense interest and open their Bibles with new interest. Angels hover over them and impress their minds, breaking down prejudice and superstition and making dark subjects plain. When with tears and humble earnest prayer they ask to be guided into all truth, God is already doing that very thing for them.
He answers in advance by using publications and tracts to break down prejudice and superstition, by sending angels to impress readers' minds, by opening their Bibles with deep new interest and making dark subjects plain, especially the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. New light shines on their understanding as they search the Scriptures to see if these things are so. When they bow with tears in earnest humble prayer to be guided, they are led to receive the harmonious chain of truth so the Bible becomes a new book bringing grateful joy and happiness. That reception leads them to work and sacrifice for others.