Isaiah 66

Final Judgment and Joyous Restoration

1 This is what the Lord says: Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What house could you possibly build for Me? And what place could be My home?

2 My hand made all these things, and so they all came into being. [This is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord's declaration. I will look favorably on this kind of person: one who is humble, submissive^[a] in spirit, and who trembles at My word.

3 One slaughters an ox, one kills a man; one sacrifices a lamb, one breaks a dog's neck; one offers a grain offering, one offers swine's blood; one offers incense, one praises an idol- all these have chosen their ways and delight in their abominations.

4 So I will choose their punishment,^[b] and I will bring on them what they dread, because I called and no one answered; I spoke and they didn't hear; they did what is evil in My sight and chose what I didn't delight in.^[c]

5 You who tremble at His word, hear the word of the Lord: "Your brothers who hate and exclude you because of Me have said: Let the Lord be glorified, so that we can see your joy! But they will be put to shame."^[d]

6 A sound of uproar from the city! A voice from the temple- the voice of the Lord, paying back His enemies what they deserve!

7 Before Zion was in labor, she gave birth; before she was in pain, she delivered a boy.

8 Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Can a land be born in one day, or a nation be delivered in an instant? Yet as soon as Zion was in labor, she gave birth to her sons.

9 "Will I bring a baby to the point of birth and not deliver [it]?" says the Lord; "or will I who deliver, close [the womb]?" says your God.

10 Be glad for Jerusalem and rejoice over her, all who love her. Rejoice greatly with her, all who mourn over her-

11 so that you may nurse and be satisfied from her comforting breast and drink deeply and delight yourselves from her glorious breasts.

12 For this is what the Lord says: I will make peace flow to her like a river, and the wealth^[e] of nations like a flood; you will nurse and be carried on [her] hip, and bounced on [her] lap.

13 As a mother comforts her son, so I will comfort you, and you will be comforted in Jerusalem.

14 You will see, you will rejoice, and you^[f] will flourish like grass;^[g] then the Lord's power will be revealed to His servants, but He will show His wrath against His enemies.

15 Look, the Lord will come with fire- His chariots are like the whirlwind- to execute His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire.^[h]

16 For the Lord will execute judgment on all flesh with His fiery sword, and many will be slain by the Lord.

17 "Those who dedicate and purify themselves to [enter] the groves following their leader,^[i] eating meat from pigs, vermin, and rats, will perish together." [This is]^[j] the Lord's declaration.

18 "Knowing^[k] their works and their thoughts, I have come to gather all nations and languages; they will come and see My glory.

19 I will establish a sign among them, and I will send survivors from them to the nations-to Tarshish, Put,^[l] Lud (who are archers), Tubal, Javan, and the islands far away-who have not heard of My fame or seen My glory. And they will proclaim My glory among the nations.^[m]

20 They will bring all your brothers from all the nations as a gift to the Lord on horses and chariots, in litters, and on mules and camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem, says the Lord, just as the Israelites bring an offering in a clean vessel to the house of the Lord.

21 I will also take some of them as priests and Levites," says the Lord.

22 "For just as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, will endure before Me"- the Lord's declaration- "so will your offspring and your name endure.

23 All mankind will come to worship Me, from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another," says the Lord.

24 "As they leave, they will see the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against Me; for their maggots will never die, their fire will never go out, and they will be a horror to all mankind."

Isaiah 66 Commentary

Chapter 66

God looks at the heart, and vengeance is threatened for guilt. (1-4) The increase of the church, when Jew and Gentile shall be gathered to the Redeemer. (5-14) Every enemy of the church shall be destroyed, and the final ruin of ungodly men shall be seen. (15-24)

Verses 1-4 The Jews gloried much in their temple. But what satisfaction can the Eternal Mind take in a house made with men's hands? God has a heaven and an earth of his own making, and temples of man's making; but he overlooks them, that he may look with favour to him who is poor in spirit and serious, self-abasing and self-denying; whose heart truly sorrows for sin: such a heart is a living temple for God. The sacrifice of the wicked is not only unacceptable, but a great offence to God. And he that now offers a sacrifice after the law, does in effect set aside Christ's sacrifice. He that burns incense, puts contempt upon the incense of Christ's intercession, and is as if he blessed an idol. Men shall be deceived by the vain confidences with which they deceive themselves. Unbelieving hearts, and unpurified consciences, need no more to make them miserable, than to have their own fears brought upon them. Whatever men put in the place of the priesthood, atonement, and intercession of Christ, will be found hateful to God.

Verses 5-14 The prophet turns to those that trembled at God's word, to comfort and encourage them. The Lord will appear, to the joy of the humble believer, and to the confusion of hypocrites and persecutors. When the Spirit was poured out, and the gospel went forth from Zion, multitudes were converted in a little time. The word of God, especially his promises, and ordinances, are the consolations of the church. The true happiness of all Christians is increased by every convert brought to Christ. The gospel brings with it, wherever it is received in its power, such a river of peace, as will carry us to the ocean of boundless and endless bliss. Divine comforts reach the inward man; the joy of the Lord will be the strength of the believer. Both God's mercy and justice shall be manifested, and for ever magnified.

Verses 15-24 A prophetic declaration is given of the Lord's vengeance on all enemies of his church, especially that of all antichristian opposers of the gospel in the latter days. Ver. ( isaiah 66:19-20 ) sinners. These expressions are figurative, and express the plentiful and gracious helps for bringing God's elect home to Christ. All shall be welcome; and nothing shall be wanting for their assistance and encouragement. A gospel ministry shall be set up in the church; they would have solemn worship before the Lord. In the last verse the nature of the punishment of sinners in the world to come is represented. Then shall the righteous and wicked be separated. Our Saviour applies this to the everlasting misery and torment of impenitent sinners in the future state. To the honour of that free grace which thus distinguishes them, let the redeemed of the Lord, with humility, and not without holy trembling, sing triumphant songs. With this affecting representation of the opposite states of the righteous and wicked, characters which include the whole human race, Isaiah concludes his prophecies. May God grant, for Christ's sake, that our portion may be with those who fear and love his name, who cleave to his truths, and persevere in every good work, looking to receive from the Lord Jesus Christ the gracious invitation, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit broken
• [b]. Isa 3:4
• [c]. Isa 65:12,24
• [d]. Isa 65:13
• [e]. Or glory
• [f]. Lit your bones
• [g]. Isa 58:11
• [h]. 2 Th 1:8
• [i]. Hb obscure
• [j]. The bracketed text has been added for clarity.
• [k]. LXX, Syr; MT omits Knowing
• [l]. LXX; MT reads Pul; Jr 46:9
• [m]. Ps 96:3

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO ISAIAH 66

This chapter treats of the same things as the former, the rejection of the unbelieving Jews, and the regard had to them that did believe; the conversion of that people in the latter day; the calling of the Gentiles, and the happy state of the church in the last times. The causes of the rejection of the Jews were their unworthy notions of God, as if he was confined to the temple of Jerusalem, and to be pleased with external sacrifices, now both at an end under the Gospel dispensation; a better sacrifice being offered, and a more spiritual worship set up everywhere; which notions are considered, Isa 66:1-3, and because they were set upon their ways and works, and rejected the Gospel of Christ, they are threatened with ruin, Isa 66:3,4 and the disciples of Christ, whom they excommunicated and persecuted, have a promise of divine appearance for them, while vengeance shall be taken on their enemies, their city and temple, Isa 66:5,6, nevertheless, in the latter day, there will be a large and sudden conversion of this nation of the Jews, which is signified by the birth of them, which will be matter of great joy to all the true lovers of the interest of Christ, Isa 66:7-11 and what will add to the prosperity, joy, and comfort of the church of Christ at this time, will be the bringing in of the fulness of the Gentiles, Isa 66:12-14 at which time the vials of God's wrath will be poured out upon antichrist and his followers, Isa 66:15-17 and the chapter is concluded with a fresh account of large conversions of men of all nations, and of the union of Jews and Gentiles in one church state, which shall long remain, and be undisturbed by enemies, who will be all slain, and their carcasses looked upon with contempt, Isa 66:18-24.