As we come to the end of Isaiah's vision of judgment and redemption as it's been laid out in virtually every chapter, it's fitting that it ends with the same contrast and a focus on the One who makes a difference.
Isaiah
66:1-2 (HCSB) 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? My hand made all these things, and so they all came into being. ⌊This is⌋ the
LORD’s declaration. I will look favorably on this kind of person: one who is
humble, submissive in spirit, and trembles at My word.
Make no
mistake, YHWH is speaking; the One who created all things and will judge all
flesh. He inhabits the entirety of His creation, using known celestial bodies
to represent His kingdom. "Throne" and "footstool"
represent royalty and power. Considering Who He is and what He is, He asks His
people two rhetorical questions, revealing that nothing man can do is fit for
Him to dwell in. This is what Paul alluded to when he told the Oprah Winfry
crowd of his day, "The God who made the world and everything in it—He is
Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in shrines made by hands. Neither is
He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives
everyone life and breath and all things (Acts 17:24-25). Nothing came into
existent apart from His will and word. The only think He will look favorably
upon is what He has made - humble, submissive people who revere His Word.
Look back
2 Samuel 7 and other place and see if God ever asked David or Solomon to build
Him the temple that was built. What God had promised David, and what David
misunderstood because of his fleshly outlook, was that YHWH Himself would make
a house for David! In 2 Sam 7:4-7, God reminds David of His faithfulness and
reminds him (verse 7) that He never asked for a house of cedar. The verse 11b
through 16 is what David got wrong, thinking Solomon would do this. The
beginning of this passage is clear: God would build the house through a Son,
descended (according to the flesh) from David. This Son would be charged with
the wrong-doing of others and take their punishment from God on their account -
but He would rule and that house will endure forever! Read Peter talk about the
spiritual stones being built up into a house; read John's description of
Jerusalem from heaven; and read Paul's allegory of the two Jerusalems, with the
note about our mother being the heavenly Jerusalem. Spiritual Jerusalem is the
city for spiritual Israel!
Isaiah
66:3-4 (HCSB) 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 pig’s blood; one
offers incense, one praises an idol— all these have chosen their ways and
delight in their detestable practices. So I will choose their punishment, 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 was evil in My sight and chose what I
didn’t delight in.
In verse
2 we read about those God approves; in these verses we see composites of those
who are evil. These wicked people see no difference between killing a beast and
killing a man. In our day, it's wore to kill a beast than a man, according to
the voices that dominate our society! But evil people will deal cruelly with
one for no reason; he will offer up pig's blood! A beast forbidden and the
blood - which was forbidden; a vivid picture for the Hebrew nation of the extreme
wickedness of these enemies of His - some of whom were their own kinsmen of the
flesh. These idol worshipers delight in their detestable practices - just as
people in our day parade for "gay rights" and celebrate the murder of
babies.
These
people, who have suppressed their knowledge of the truth by their
unrighteousness, will be punished by God, according to the evil they have done.
Dread beyond their ability to comprehend will come on them - this is what John
wrote about with the plagues where people asked for death but it would not
come; where they cried out for mountains to fall on them, but they could not
hide them from the wrath of the Lamb. The terrors of being naked before God on
that Day are beyond words; we ought to be filled with sorrow for those who are
perishing, witnessing to them and praying God would give them a new heart.
Isaiah
66:5-6 (HCSB) 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.” A sound
of uproar from the city! A voice from the temple— the voice of the LORD, paying
back His enemies what they deserve!
This
contrast continues as those who are His people are to hear Him, just as His
people were told, "This is my beloved Son, LISTEN to HIM!" (Luke
9:35). Jesus is the living Word of God - HEAR HIM! Those who are His people
have brothers in the flesh who hate them, as Peter taught: 1 Peter 4:1-5 (HCSB)
"Therefore, since Christ suffered in the flesh, equip yourselves also with
the same resolve—because the one who suffered in the flesh has finished with
sin—in order to live the remaining time in the flesh, no longer for human desires,
but for God’s will. For there has already been enough time spent in doing what
the pagans choose to do: carrying on in unrestrained behavior, evil desires,
drunkenness, orgies, carousing, and lawless idolatry. So they are surprised
that you don’t plunge with them into the same flood of wild living—and they
slander you. They will give an account to the One who stands ready to judge the
living and the dead."
Our joy
at being in Christ is not dependent on the approval of people who do not know
Him! The Creator of all things will resound from His temple - His people - as
He pays His enemies their wages.
Isaiah
66:7-11 (HCSB) Before Zion was in labor, she gave birth; before she was in
pain, she delivered a boy. 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. “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. Be glad for Jerusalem and rejoice over her, all
who love her. Rejoice greatly with her, all who mourn over her—so that you may
nurse and be satisfied from her comforting breast and drink deeply and delight
yourselves from her glorious breasts.
Zion gave
birth before labor, delivered before pain. Who has heard of or seen such
things? The next question shows us the line of thought - this is a nation He is
speaking of; alluded to in Gal 4:26; Acts 2:41; 21:20; and Rom 15:18-21. From
the beginning, God's plan for His people to come from every nation - Gen
15:4-5. Nothing can stop His people from being given new life - this ought to
be cause for us to rejoice as we are part of New Jerusalem! As new born babes
desire their mother's milk, we ought to be content with being found in Christ
as His people. Rom 15:9-12: "and so that Gentiles may glorify God for His
mercy. As it is written: Therefore I will praise You among the Gentiles, and I
will sing psalms to Your name. Again it says: Rejoice, you Gentiles, with His
people! And again: Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; all the peoples should
praise Him! And again, Isaiah says: The root of Jesse will appear, the One who
rises to rule the Gentiles; the Gentiles will hope in Him." As there is no
Jew or Gentile IN Christ, we who were such rejoice TOGETHER as ONE!
Isaiah
66:12-13 (HCSB) For this is what the LORD says: I will make peace flow to her
like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flood; you will nurse and be
carried on ⌊her⌋ hip and bounced on ⌊her⌋ lap. As
a mother comforts her son, so I will comfort you, and you will be comforted in
Jerusalem.
YHWH
gives peace like a river to our souls - hear the old hymn? As when Egypt gave
up her riches to the Hebrew people when God rescued them by His strong arm, He
will provide all we need in this life - though we be buffeted by trails. He
will carry us as a mother carries her infants, He will comfort us as a mother
comforts her infants; we will be comforted in New Jerusalem - the dwelling
place of the Lamb.
Isaiah
66:14-17 (HCSB) You will see, you will rejoice, and you will flourish like
grass; then the LORD’s power will be revealed to His servants, but He will show
His wrath against His enemies. 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. For the LORD will execute judgment on all flesh with His fiery
sword, and many will be slain by the LORD. “Those who dedicate and purify
themselves to ⌊enter⌋ the groves following their leader, eating
meat from pigs, vermin, and rats, will perish together.” ⌊This is⌋ the LORD’s declaration.
This
contrast between worlds continues, as YHWH declares He will reveal His power to
His people, as the means to cause them to flourish; this will be reason for
them to rejoice. TO His enemies, His power will be revealed as wrath, fire that
cannot be withstood; to bring His fury and rebuke upon them with flames that
will never die out. Again, YHWH declares He will execute judgment on all flesh
- those not born of the Spirit - and they will suffer the second death, which
does not end. And yet, YHWH declares that there will be false brothers who go
through religious rituals yet continue to show their disdain for His instructions
and covenant. All who do these things, following those wicked men who lead the
way, will all perish. This is YHWH's declaration, built upon what He said in
Isaiah 65:3 & 4.
Isaiah
66:18-21 (HCSB) “Knowing their works and their thoughts, I have come to gather
all nations and languages; they will come and see My glory. I will establish a
sign among them, and I will send survivors from them to the nations—to
Tarshish, Put, 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. 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. I will also take
some of them as priests and Levites,” says the LORD.
This
passage is devoted to the good news for those who are His people. The deeds and
thoughts of those indwelt by His Spirit are pleasing to God. He will call to
Himself people from every nation and tongue - they will come to Him, as none
called YHWH can refuse. They will be given eyes to behold His glory and be
amazed and rejoicing. He will give them a sign, as He gave the Sabbath to
national Israel - the sign of this New Covenant is the fulfillment of the
Jewish Passover and by it His death and victorious return will proclaimed to
all, near and far, as a means to bring them to the Great Shepherd; they will,
in return, proclaim His glory to the world. All the redeemed will be presented
as gifts, from the Father to the Son and from the Son to the Father. All the
trappings of worldly wealth can only hint at the glory of God's presence with His
people in New Jerusalem. In what I believe to be a preview of the apostles and
prophets of the inaugurated kingdom of the first century, YHWH declares He will
call some of His elect to serve as priests and Levites - offices of import in
Isaiah's day. Signs and shadows portrayed in familiar terms to partially reveal
the spiritual reality that would be made clear in the fullness of time.
Isaiah
66:22-24 (HCSB) “For just as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will
make, will endure before Me”— ⌊this is⌋ the LORD’s declaration— “so your offspring and your name will endure. All mankind will come
to worship Me from one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another,”
says the LORD. “As they leave, they will see the dead bodies of the men who
have rebelled against Me; for their worm will never die, their fire will never
go out, and they will be a horror to all mankind.”
The final
3 verses in Isaiah's vision bring us back to the contrast between those who are
His people and those who are not. When Jesus returns, He will judge the
nations, gather His people, and make all things new. That's what we see here,
but not in that order.
YHWH declares
that the new heavens and the new earth that He will make shall endure and so
will His people. All who are His will worship Him with faithful devotion
national Israel was unable to perform, even with a clear order to follow. Those
New Moons (monthly events) and weekly Sabbaths were a type and shadow of the
spiritual things (Col 2:16 & 17; Heb 8:1-6). We saw in Isaiah 1:13 & 14
that national Israel's religious performance was a stench in God's nose. That
covenant community was not given the Spirit to guide them in truth, to give
them spiritual understanding. They grew comfortable living in religion that demanded
outward compliance and gave false assurance to those who thought their birth
connection and appearance of godliness was sufficient. Those in the spiritual
covenant each have the Spirit and know the Lord, growing in the grace and
knowledge of Christ Jesus. They will grow in confidence in Him and His work,
seeing all their false goodness as rubbish. This is preparation for the saints
to worship God rightly - in spirit and in truth. The spiritual fulfillment of
the Jewish religion.
As these
people run to Christ, leaving this world and its system behind, they will see
the bodies of those who did not find peace. These people will not be annihilated
- their worm (inner man) never dies, the fire that burns them will never go
out; they will be a horror to everyone. This is seen in Rev 19:17-21 and 14:10-11.
These passages teach us that our joy at being secure in Christ is not held
hostage to being ignorant of His judgment on the wicked. If you cannot love the
Lord Jesus because you have loved ones who belong to the devil, you have a
seriously wrong view of justice and mercy. None of us deserve anything less
than the endless, unrelenting, terrifying wrath of God. Isaiah's gospel has
pointed out in many ways that natural man is an enemy of God; that God has
chosen a remnant that He will save for and to Himself. And that ALL who find
peace in Him will be filled with joy.
True
faith in Christ brings peace and joy that no amount of world news or sorrow
over departed family who died in their sins can take from us. Having an
accurate picture of Jesus, as the suffering Servant and the victorious Savior,
are essential for His people to having the joy He promises. This is the gospel Isaiah
proclaimed, this is the gospel Jesus gave to us to proclaim. You and I may not
get a vision from God as Isaiah and John did, but we have a more sure word and
faithful men who have gone before us. Let us encourage one another while it is
today and may none of us harden our hearts as they did in the wilderness. All
things were written for us, that we won't sin like they did. He has given Himself
to us and given us to one another - this is His plan, His work, to build His
people until He come the second time.
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