◄ Isaiah 65:13 ►
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says: "My servants will eat, but you will go hungry; My servants will drink, but you will go thirsty; My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame.
Study Bible
Therefore this is what the Lord GOD says:

This phrase introduces a divine declaration, emphasizing the authority and sovereignty of God. It reflects the prophetic tradition where God communicates directly through His prophets. The use of "Lord GOD" underscores His supreme power and covenant relationship with Israel. This is a common formula in prophetic literature, indicating a message of significant importance.

Ezk 36:22 Therefore tell the house of Israel that this is…
Amo 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan…
Num 23:19 God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man,…

“My servants will eat, but you will go hungry;

The contrast between "My servants" and "you" highlights a division between the faithful and the unfaithful. "My servants" refers to those who are obedient to God, often seen as the remnant of Israel who remain faithful. Eating symbolizes satisfaction and blessing, often associated with God's provision (Psalm 23:5). In contrast, hunger represents judgment and lack, reminiscent of the curses for disobedience in Deuteronomy 28:48.

Pro 13:25 A righteous man eats to his heart’s content,…
Psa 37:19 In the time of evil they will not be ashamed…
Psa 22:26 The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD…

My servants will drink, but you will go thirsty;

Drinking, like eating, signifies abundance and divine blessing. Water is a recurring symbol of life and spiritual sustenance in the Bible (John 4:14). Thirst, on the other hand, indicates spiritual and physical deprivation, a consequence of turning away from God. This imagery is consistent with the blessings and curses outlined in the Mosaic Covenant.

Isa 55:1 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters;…
Isa 49:10 They will not hunger or thirst, nor will scorching heat…
Jhn 7:37-38 On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up…

My servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame.

Rejoicing is a response to God's salvation and favor, often associated with worship and celebration (Philippians 4:4). Shame, in biblical terms, is linked to defeat and disgrace, often a result of sin and rebellion against God. This contrast underscores the ultimate vindication of the righteous and the humiliation of the wicked, a theme prevalent in prophetic literature and eschatological expectations.

Isa 61:7 Instead of shame, My people will have a double portion…
Psa 25:3 Surely none who wait for You will be put to shame;…
1Pe 2:6 For it stands in Scripture: “See, I lay in Zion a stone,…

Persons / Places / Events
1. The Lord GOD
The sovereign and covenant-keeping God of Israel, who speaks with authority and promises blessings and judgments.

2. My Servants
Refers to the faithful followers of God who obey His commands and live according to His will.

3. The Unfaithful
Those who reject God and His ways, leading to their spiritual and physical deprivation.

4. Israel
The primary audience of Isaiah's prophecy, representing both the faithful remnant and the rebellious majority.

5. Judgment and Blessing
The event of divine retribution and reward, where God distinguishes between the faithful and the unfaithful.
Teaching Points
Divine Provision
God promises to meet the needs of His faithful servants. Trust in His provision even when circumstances seem dire.

Spiritual Satisfaction
True fulfillment comes from a relationship with God. Pursue spiritual nourishment through prayer, scripture, and obedience.

Contrast of Outcomes
The fate of the faithful and unfaithful is starkly different. Choose to be among those who serve God wholeheartedly.

Joy in Obedience
Rejoicing is a natural outcome of living in alignment with God's will. Seek joy through faithful service and worship.

Warning Against Rebellion
The consequences of rejecting God are severe. Reflect on areas of life that need realignment with God's commands.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the promise of provision for God's servants in Isaiah 65:13 encourage you in your current circumstances?

2. In what ways can you ensure that you are spiritually nourished and not spiritually hungry or thirsty?

3. Reflect on a time when you experienced joy as a result of obedience to God. How can this motivate you to continue serving Him?

4. How do the blessings and judgments in Isaiah 65:13 compare to those found in Deuteronomy 28, and what can we learn from this comparison?

5. Considering the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises in Revelation 7:16-17, how does this future hope impact your daily walk with God?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Deuteronomy 28
This chapter outlines the blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, similar to the contrast in Isaiah 65:13.

Matthew 5:6
Jesus speaks of those who hunger and thirst for righteousness being filled, echoing the promise of satisfaction for God's servants.

Revelation 7:16-17
Describes the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise where His people will neither hunger nor thirst anymore.

Psalm 37:19
The righteous are assured provision even in times of famine, aligning with the promise to God's servants in Isaiah.

John 4:13-14
Jesus offers living water, symbolizing the spiritual satisfaction promised to God's faithful servants.
Sermons
The Doom of the IdolatersE. Johnson Isaiah 65:11-16
God's Call DespisedJ. Lyth, D. D.Isaiah 65:12-14
The Declaration of God Against the Disobedience of IsraelR. G. Buddicomb, M. A.Isaiah 65:12-14
Incentives to Religious DecisionS. Thodey.Isaiah 65:13-14
The Better FeastW. Mudge.Isaiah 65:13-14
Contrasted Lots of Those Who Serve God and Those Who Forsake HimR. Tuck Isaiah 65:13-15
People
Gad, Isaiah, Jacob
Places
Jerusalem, Sharon, Valley of Achor
Topics
Ashamed, Behold, Cause, Disappointed, Drink, Dry, Eat, Hunger, Hungry, Joy, Rejoice, Says, Servants, Shame, Shamed, Thirst, Thirsty, Thus
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Isaiah 65:13

     4438   eating
     5580   thirst

Isaiah 65:12-15

     8707   apostasy, personal

Isaiah 65:13-15

     7160   servants of the Lord

Library
'The God of the Amen'
'He who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth.'--ISAIAH lxv. 16. The full beauty and significance of these remarkable words are only reached when we attend to the literal rendering of a part of them which is obscured in our version. As they stand in the original they have, in both cases, instead of the vague expression, 'The God of truth,' the singularly picturesque one, 'The God of the Amen.' I. Note …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

God Rejoicing in the New Creation
THIS PASSAGE, like the rest of Isaiah's closing chapters, will have completest fulfillment in the latter days when Christ shall come, when the whole company of his elect ones shall have been gathered out from the world, when the whole creation shall have been renewed, when new heavens and a new earth shall be the product of the Savior's power, when, for ever and for ever, perfected saints of God shall behold his face, and joy and rejoice in him. I hope and believe that the following verses will actually …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

Early Lessons in the Life of Faith
"I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications."--Psalm 116:1. WHEN a very little child, so young I can remember nothing earlier, a severe thunderstorm passed over our home. Terrified, I ran to my mother, who placed my hands together, and pointing upward repeated over and over again the one word "Jesus." More than fifty years have passed since that day, but the impression left upon my child-mind, of a Being invisible but able to hear and help, has never been effaced. * …
Rosalind Goforth—How I Know God Answers Prayer

Baptism of Kallihirua
We now come to an important event in the history of Kallihirua; his Baptism, which took place on Advent Sunday, Nov. 27th, 1853, in St. Martin's Church, near Canterbury. "The visitors present on the occasion," said an eye-witness[6], "were, the Rev. John Philip Gell (late Warden of Christ's College, Tasmania), accompanied by Mrs. Gell, daughter of the late Sir John Franklin; Captain Erasmus Ommanney, R.N. (who brought Kallihirua to England), and Mrs. Ommanney, Captain Washington, R.N., of the Admiralty, …
Thomas Boyles Murray—Kalli, the Esquimaux Christian,

Why Has Only one Apocalypse Been Able to Keep Its Place in the New Testament? Why not Several --Or None at All?
In answering this question [104] we may suitably take the Muratorian Fragment as our starting-point. At the close of its positive section occurs a paragraph which may be paraphrased as follows: "We also accept Apocalypses, but only two, those of John and Peter; yet the latter is rejected by a minority among us. The Shepherd of Hermas ought not to be spoken of as a part of the Canon either now or at any future time; for it was written only lately in our own times in Rome under the Bishop Pius, the …
Adolf Harnack—The Origin of the New Testament

The Sun Rising Upon a Dark World
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon then hath the light shined. C ontrasts are suited to illustrate and strengthen the impression of each other. The happiness of those, who by faith in MESSIAH, are brought into a state of peace, liberty, and comfort, is greatly enhanced and heightened by the consideration of that previous state of misery in which they once lived, and of the greater misery to which they were justly exposed. …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

Parable of the Pharisee and Publican.
^C Luke XVIII. 9-14. ^c 9 And he spake also this parable unto certain who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and set all others at nought [It is commonly said that this parable teaches humility in prayer, but the preface and conclusion (see verse 14) show that it is indeed to set forth generally the difference between self-righteousness and humility, and that an occasion of prayer is chosen because it best illustrates the point which the Lord desired to teach. The parable shows that …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Book ix. Epistle i. To Januarius, Bishop of Caralis (Cagliari).
To Januarius, Bishop of Caralis (Cagliari). Gregory to Januarius, &c. The preacher of Almighty God, Paul the apostle, says, Rebuke not an elder (1 Tim. v. 1). But this rule of his is to be observed in cases where the fault of an elder does not draw through his example the hearts of the younger into ruin. But, when an elder sets an example to the young for their ruin, he is to be smitten with severe rebuke. For it is written, Ye are all a snare to the young (Isai. xlii. 22). And again the prophet …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

Another Wonderful Record of 25.
A Christian minister, living in Northern Indiana, was in want, and knelt in prayer again and again before his Father in heaven. His quarterly allowance had been withheld, and want stared him in the face. Constrained by urgent need, and shut up to God for help, he pleaded repeatedly for a supply of his temporal wants. Now see how extraordinary was the plan of the Lord to send relief. "In one of the lovely homes of Massachusetts, while the snow was falling and the winds were howling without, a lady …
Various—The Wonders of Prayer

The Scriptures
Q-II: WHAT RULE HAS GOD GIVEN TO DIRECT US HOW WE MAY GLORIFY AND ENJOY HIM? A: The Word of God, which is contained in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. 2 Tim 3:16. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,' By Scripture is understood the sacred Book of God. It is given by divine inspiration; that is, the Scripture is not the contrivance of man's brain, but is divine in its origin. The image of Diana was had in veneration …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Election Confirmed by the Calling of God. The Reprobate Bring Upon Themselves the Righteous Destruction to which they are Doomed.
1. The election of God is secret, but is manifested by effectual calling. The nature of this effectual calling. How election and effectual calling are founded on the free mercy of God. A cavil of certain expositors refuted by the words of Augustine. An exception disposed of. 2. Calling proved to be free, 1. By its nature and the mode in which it is dispensed. 2. By the word of God. 3. By the calling of Abraham, the father of the faithful. 4. By the testimony of John. 5. By the example of those who …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

Exposition of the Moral Law.
1. The Law was committed to writing, in order that it might teach more fully and perfectly that knowledge, both of God and of ourselves, which the law of nature teaches meagrely and obscurely. Proof of this, from an enumeration of the principal parts of the Moral Law; and also from the dictate of natural law, written on the hearts of all, and, in a manner, effaced by sin. 2. Certain general maxims. 1. From the knowledge of God, furnished by the Law, we learn that God is our Father and Ruler. Righteousness …
John Calvin—The Institutes of the Christian Religion

Divine Support and Protection
[What shall we say then to these things?] If God be for us, who can be against us? T he passions of joy or grief, of admiration or gratitude, are moderate when we are able to find words which fully describe their emotions. When they rise very high, language is too faint to express them; and the person is either lost in silence, or feels something which, after his most laboured efforts, is too big for utterance. We may often observe the Apostle Paul under this difficulty, when attempting to excite …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

Question Lxxxiii of Prayer
I. Is Prayer an Act of the Appetitive Powers? Cardinal Cajetan, On Prayer based on Friendship II. Is it Fitting to Pray? Cardinal Cajetan, On Prayer as a True Cause S. Augustine, On the Sermon on the Mount, II. iii. 14 " On the Gift of Perseverance, vii. 15 III. Is Prayer an Act of the Virtue of Religion? Cardinal Cajetan, On the Humility of Prayer S. Augustine, On Psalm cii. 10 " Of the Gift of Perseverance, xvi. 39 IV. Ought We to Pray to God Alone? S. Augustine, Sermon, cxxvii. 2 V. …
St. Thomas Aquinas—On Prayer and The Contemplative Life

How Christ is Made Use of for Justification as a Way.
What Christ hath done to purchase, procure, and bring about our justification before God, is mentioned already, viz. That he stood in the room of sinners, engaging for them as their cautioner, undertaking, and at length paying down the ransom; becoming sin, or a sacrifice for sin, and a curse for them, and so laying down his life a ransom to satisfy divine justice; and this he hath made known in the gospel, calling sinners to an accepting of him as their only Mediator, and to a resting upon him for …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Covenanting Predicted in Prophecy.
The fact of Covenanting, under the Old Testament dispensations, being approved of God, gives a proof that it was proper then, which is accompanied by the voice of prophecy, affording evidence that even in periods then future it should no less be proper. The argument for the service that is afforded by prophecy is peculiar, and, though corresponding with evidence from other sources, is independent. Because that God willed to make known truth through his servants the prophets, we should receive it …
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

Difficulties and Objections
"Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not My way equal? are not your ways unequal?" (Ezek. 18:25). A convenient point has been reached when we may now examine, more definitely, some of the difficulties encountered and the objections which might be advanced against what we have written in previous pages. The author deemed it better to reserve these for a separate consideration rather than deal with them as he went along, requiring as that would have done the …
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God

Jesus' Feet Anointed in the House of a Pharisee.
(Galilee.) ^C Luke VII. 36-50. ^c 36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. [We learn from verse 40 that the Pharisee's name was Simon. Because the feast at Bethany was given in the house of Simon the leper, and because Jesus was anointed there also, some have been led to think that Luke is here describing this supper. See Matt. xxvi. 6-13; Mark xiv. 3-9; John xii. 1-8. But Simon the leper was not Simon the Pharisee. The name Simon was one of the most common among the Jewish …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

In Judaea
If Galilee could boast of the beauty of its scenery and the fruitfulness of its soil; of being the mart of a busy life, and the highway of intercourse with the great world outside Palestine, Judaea would neither covet nor envy such advantages. Hers was quite another and a peculiar claim. Galilee might be the outer court, but Judaea was like the inner sanctuary of Israel. True, its landscapes were comparatively barren, its hills bare and rocky, its wilderness lonely; but around those grey limestone …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Meditations of the True Manner of Practising Piety on the Sabbath-Day.
Almighty God will have himself worshipped, not only in a private manner by private persons and families, but also in a more public sort, of all the godly joined together in a visible church; that by this means he may be known not only to be the God and Lord of every Singular person, but also of the creatures of the whole universal world. Question--But why do not we Christians under the New, keep the Sabbath on the same seventh day on which it was kept under the Old Testament? I answer--Because our …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

Meditations against Despair, or Doubting of God's Mercy.
It is found by continual experience, that near the time of death, when the children of God are weakest, then Satan makes the greatest nourish of his strength, and assails them with his strongest temptations. For he knows that either he must now or never prevail; for if their souls once go to heaven, he shall never vex nor trouble them any more. And therefore he will now bestir himself as much as he can, and labour to set before their eyes all the gross sins which ever they committed, and the judgments …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety

The Creation
Q-7: WHAT ARE THE DECREES OF GOD? A: The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he has foreordained whatsoever shall come to pass. I have already spoken something concerning the decrees of God under the attribute of his immutability. God is unchangeable in his essence, and he-is unchangeable in his decrees; his counsel shall stand. He decrees the issue of all things, and carries them on to their accomplishment by his providence; I …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

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