"Look! My Own Servants Will Rejoice"

In reproving those who have abandoned Jehovah, the prophecy describes the contrasting portions awaiting those who sincerely worship God and those who do so hypocritically:  "This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah has said:  Look! My own servants will eat, but you yourselves  will go hungry. Look!  My own servants will drink, but you yourselves will go thirsty.  Look! My own servants will rejoice, but you yourselves will suffer shame.  Look! My own servants will cry out joyfully because of the good condition of the heart, but you yourselves will make outcries because of the pain of heart and you will howl because of sheer breakdown of spirit.' " (Isaiah 64:13, 14)  Jehovah will bless his faithful servants. With hearts overflowing with joy, they will break out in shouting. Eating, drinking, and rejoicing are terms signifying that Jehovah will abundantly satisfy the needs of his worshipers.  In contrast, those who have chosen to forsake  Jehovah will hunger and thirst spiritually.  Their needs will not be satisfied.  They will cry out and howl because of the anguish and distress that will come upon them.

Jehovah's words well describe the spiritual condition today of those who merely claim to serve God.  While Christendom's millions suffer breakdown of spirit, however, Jehovah's worshipers cry out joyfully. And they have good reason to rejoice. They are well fed spiritually.  Jehovah provides them with an abundant supply  of spiritual food through Bible-based publications and Christian gatherings.  Truly, the upbuilding truths and the comforting promises of God's Word give us a "good condition of the heart!"

Jehovah continues to address those who have forsaken him: "You men will certainly  lay up your name for an oath by my chosen ones, and the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will actually put you individually to death but his own servants he will call by another name; so that anyone blessing himself in the earth will bless himself by the God of faith, and anyone  making a sworn statement in the earth will swear by the God of faith; because the former distresses will actually be forgotten and because they will actually be concealed from my eyes." (Isaiah 65:15, 16)  All that will remain of those who have forsaken Jehovah is their name, which will be used only in an oath, or a curse.  This may mean that those  who wish to bind themselves in a solemn manner by an oath will, in effect, say: 'If I do not fulfill this promise, let me experience the punishment that those apostates received.'  It may even mean that their name will be used illustratively, like Sodom and Gomorrah, as a symbol of God's punishment of the wicked. 

How different the lot of God's own servants will be!  They will be called by another name. That signifies the blessed condition and honor they will enjoy back in their homeland. The will not seek a blessing from any false god or swear  by any lifeless idol. Instead, when they bless themselves or swear an oath, they will do so by the God of faithfulness.  (Isaiah 65:16)  The inhabitants of the land will have reason for complete confidence in God, for he will have proved   himself to be true to his promises.  Safe in their homeland, the Jews will soon forget the former distresses. 

Next time: "I Am Creating New Heavens and a New Earth"

From the Book Isaiah's Prophecy Light for all Mankind, Volume II, 2001