Isaiah 66:1

1 Thus saith the LORD, "The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Where is the house that ye build unto Me? And where is the place of My rest?

Isaiah 66:1 Meaning and Commentary

Isaiah 66:1

Thus saith the Lord, the heaven is my throne
The third heaven, the heaven of heavens, where angels and glorified saints are, and some in bodies, as Enoch and Elijah, and where now Christ is in human nature; this is the seat of the divine Majesty, where he in a most illustrious manner displays his glory; and therefore we are to look upwards to God in heaven, and direct all our devotion to him there, and not imagine that he dwells in temples made with hands; or is confined to any place, and much less to any on earth, as the temple at Jerusalem, the Jews boasted of, and trusted in; and which were the unworthy notions they had of God in the times of Christ and his disciples; to confute which these words are here said, and for this purpose are quoted and applied by Stephen, ( Acts 7:48-50 ) . (See Gill on Acts 7:48), (See Gill on Acts 7:49), (See Gill on Acts 7:50): and the earth is my footstool:
on which he treads, is below him, subject to him, and at his dispose; and therefore is not limited to any part of it, or included in any place in it; though he for a while condescended to make the cherubim his throne, and the ark his footstool, in the most holy place in the temple; which were all figurative of other and better things, and so no more used: where is the house that ye build unto me?
what house can be built for such an immense Being? and how needless as well as fruitless is it to attempt it? where can a place be found to build one in, since the heaven is his throne, and the earth his footstool? and therefore, if any place, it must be some that is without them both, and that can hold both; but what space can be conceived of that can contain such a throne and footstool, and much less him that sits thereon? see ( 1 Kings 8:27 ) : and where is the place of my rest?
for God to take up his rest and residence in, as a man does in his house? no such place can be found for him, nor does he need any; indeed the temple was built for an house of rest for the ark of the Lord, which before was moved from place to place; but then this was merely typical of the church, which God has chosen for his rest, and where he will dwell, as well as of heaven, the resting place of his people with him to all eternity; no place on earth is either his rest or theirs.

Isaiah 66:1 In-Context

1 Thus saith the LORD, "The heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Where is the house that ye build unto Me? And where is the place of My rest?

2 For all those things hath Mine hand made, and all those things have been," saith the LORD. "But to this man will I look: even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at My word.

3 "He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol-- yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.

4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them, because when I called, none did answer, when I spoke, they did not hear; but they did evil before Mine eyes and chose that in which I delighted not."

5 Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at His word: "Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for My name's sake, said, `Let the LORD be glorified, when He shall appear to your joy'; and they shall be ashamed."