Isaiah 65:1

“I am sought of them that asked not for me, &c.] That this is a prophecy of the calling and conversion of the Gentiles is not to be doubted, since the Apostle Paul has quoted it, and applied it to that case, (<451020>Romans 10:20) and is here mentioned as an aggravation of the sin of the Jews, in rejecting Christ, when the Gentiles received him; and was the reason of their being rejected of God, and the Gospel being taken away from them, and given to another people, and of the Lord’s removing his presence from the one to the other. The Gentiles are described as those that “asked not for” Christ, or after him, as the apostle supplies it; they had not asked for him, nor after him, nor anything…”

“GOD'S REPLY IN JUSTIFICATION OF HIS DEALINGS WITH ISRAEL. (Isa. 65:1-25) I am sought--Hebrew, "I have granted access unto Me to them," &c. (so Eze 14:3, "Should I be inquired of"; Eph 2:18). found--Rom 10:20 renders this, "I was made manifest." As an instance of the sentiment in the clause, "I am sought," &c., see Joh 12:21; of the sentiment in this clause, Act 9:5. Compare as to the Gentile converts, Eph 2:12-13. Behold me-- (Isa 45:22). nation . . . not called by my name--that is, the Gentiles. God retorts in their own words (Isa 63:19) that their plea as being exclusively "called by His name" will not avail, for God's gospel invitation is not so exclusive (Rom 9:25; Rom 1:16).”

“I am sought of them that asked not for me - That is, by the Gentiles. So Paul applies it in Romans 10:20. Lowth translates the word which is rendered, ‘I am sought,’ by ‘I am made known.’ Noyes, ‘I have heard.’ The Septuagint renders it, Ἐμφανὴς ἐγενήθην Emphanēs egenēthēn - ‘I became manifest.’ Jerome, ‘They sought me who had not before inquired for me.’ The Chaldee, ‘I am sought in my word by those who had not asked me before my face.’ The Hebrew word דרשׁ dârash means properly “to frequent a place, to search or seek”; and in the Niphal - the form used here - “to be sought unto, to grant access to anyone; hence, to hear and answer prayer” Ezekiel 14:3; Ezekiel 20:3-31. Here there…”

“I am, &c. - This in the primary sense of this text, is a prophecy of the conversion of the Gentiles, upon the rejection of the Jews; for their contempt and crucifying of Christ, cannot be doubted by any, who will not arrogate to themselves a greater ability to interpret the prophesies of the Old Testament, than St. Paul had, who, Rom 10:20, expressly so interprets it, and applies it, which shews the vanity of the Jews in their other interpretations of it. Sought - The word signifies properly a diligent enquiry in things relating to God. Asked not - That in times past made no enquiry after me; l am now found by them that formerly sought me not. I said - I invited whole nations by the…”

“65:1–66:24 Here the Lord responds to the prayer in 63:7–64:12. 65:1-2 The Lord opened up every opportunity for the people of Israel to seek him (55:6; 58:2), but they did not do so.”

“I am sought: Isa 2:2, Isa 2:3, Isa 11:10, Isa 55:5; Psa 22:27; Rom 9:24-26, Rom 9:30, Rom 10:20; Eph 2:12, Eph 2:13 Behold: Isa 40:9, Isa 41:27, Isa 45:22; Joh 1:29 unto: Isa 43:1, Isa 63:19; Hos 1:10; Zac 2:11, Zac 8:22, Zac 8:23; Pe1 2:10 Isaiah 65:2”

“After the people have poured out their heart before Jehovah, He announces what they may expect from Him. But instead of commencing with a promise, as we might anticipate after the foregoing prayer, He begins with reproach and threatening; for although the penitential portion of the community had included the whole nation in their prayer, it was destruction, and not deliverance, which awaited one portion of the nation, and that portion was the greater one. The great mass were in that state of "sin unto death" which defies all intercession ( Jo1 5:16), because they had so scornfully and obstinately resisted the grace which had been so long and so incessantly offered to them. "I was discernible…”