In Isaiah, chapter sixty-five, verse twelve, “Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.” Those among God’s people who refuse to listen to God and persist in sinning were destined for slaughter and famine, as in verse thirteen, “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty: behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be ashamed.”
Here, the different states of the godly and wicked, of God’s people who believed, and of those who persisted in unbelief, are set against one another. They prepared a table for that troop of deities, which the heathen worship, and poured out drink-offerings to that countless number. Their worshippers spared no cost to honour them, which should shame the worshippers of the true God. See the malignity of sin; it is doing by choice what we know will displease God. In every age and nation, the Lord leaves those who persist in doing evil and despise the call of the gospel.
God’s servants shall have the bread of life, and shall want nothing good for them. But those who forsake the Lord shall be ashamed of vain confidence in their own righteousness, and the hopes they built thereon. Worldly people bless themselves in the abundance of this world’s goods.
However, God’s servants bless themselves in him. He is their strength and portion. They shall honour him as the God of truth. And it was promised that in him should all the families of the earth be blessed. They shall think themselves happy in having him for their God, who made them forget their troubles.