Isaiah 66

Where God may be found

1 The LORD says: Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool. So where could you build a house for me, and where could my resting place be?

2 My hand made all these things and brought them into being, says the LORD. But here is where I will look: to the humble and contrite in spirit, who tremble at my word.

3 The one who slaughters an ox kills a person; the one who sacrifices a sheep breaks a dog's neck; the one who makes a grain offering offers swine's blood; the one who burns incense blesses an idol. All these have chosen their own ways, and prefer their detestable things.

4 So I too will choose to punish them, to bring horrors upon them, since I called and no one answered. I spoke and no one heard, but they did evil in my eyes. What I didn't want, they chose.

5 Listen to the LORD's word, you who tremble at his word: Your family members, those who hate and exclude you because of my name, have said, "Let the LORD be glorified; let's see your joy." But they will be ashamed.

6 The sound of an uproar from the city! A sound from the temple! The sound of the LORD repaying his enemies what they have earned.

Mother Zion

7 Before she was in labor, she gave birth. Before her pangs came upon her, she delivered a boy.

8 Whoever heard of such a thing? Whoever saw such things as these? Can a land come to birth in one day? Can a nation be born all at once? Yet as soon as birth pangs came, Zion bore her children.

9 Will I open the womb and not bring to birth? says the LORD. Will I, who create life, close the womb? says your God.

10 Celebrate with Jerusalem; be happy with her, all you who love her! Rejoice with her in joy, all you who mourn over her,

11 so that you may nurse and be satisfied from her comforting breasts, that you may drink and be refreshed from her full breasts.

12 The LORD says: Look, I'm extending prosperity to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like an overflowing stream. You will nurse and be carried on the hip and bounced upon the knee.

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

14 When you see this, your heart will rejoice; your entire being will flourish like grass. The LORD's power will be known among his servants, but his fury among his enemies.

15 The LORD will come with fire, God's chariots like a windstorm, to repay in hot anger, to rebuke with fiery flames.

16 With fire and with sword the LORD will judge all humanity; many will be slain by the LORD.

17 Those who became holy and purify themselves, following their leader into the gardens, who eat pork, detestable animals, and mice, will meet their end together, says the LORD.

Worshippers gathered from the nations

18 Because of their actions and thoughts, I'm coming to gather all nations and cultures. They will come to see my glory.

19 I will put a sign on them, by sending out some of the survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Libya, and Lydia, and to the archers of Cilicia and Greece—distant coastlands that haven't heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will declare my glory among the nations.

20 They will bring your family members from all nations as an offering to the LORD—on horses, in chariots, in wagons, on mules, and on camels—to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the LORD, like Israelites bringing an offering in purified containers to the LORD's house.

21 I will select some of them as priests and Levites, says the LORD.

22 As the new heavens and the new earth that I'm making will endure before me, says the LORD, so your descendants and your name will endure.

23 From month to month and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all humanity will come to worship me, says the LORD.

24 They will go out and see the corpses of the people who rebelled against me, where their worm never dies, where their fire is never extinguished. They will be a horror to everyone.

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]. Heb uncertain

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.