Isaiah 66

Judgment and Hope

1 This is what the LORD says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be?

2 Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the LORD. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.

3 But whoever sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a person, and whoever offers a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever makes a grain offering is like one who presents pig’s blood, and whoever burns memorial incense is like one who worships an idol. They have chosen their own ways, and they delight in their abominations;

4 so I also will choose harsh treatment for them and will bring on them what they dread. For when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, no one listened. They did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me.”

5 Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at his word: “Your own people who hate you, and exclude you because of my name, have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy!’ Yet they will be put to shame.

6 Hear that uproar from the city, hear that noise from the temple! It is the sound of the LORDrepaying his enemies all they deserve.

7 “Before she goes into labor, she gives birth; before the pains come upon her, she delivers a son.

8 Who has ever heard of such things? Who has ever seen things like this? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children.

9 Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?” says the LORD. “Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?” says your God.

10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her.

11 For you will nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you will drink deeply and delight in her overflowing abundance.”

12 For this is what the LORD says: “I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees.

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

14 When you see this, your heart will rejoice and you will flourish like grass; the hand of the LORD will be made known to his servants, but his fury will be shown to his foes.

15 See, the LORD is coming with fire, and his chariots are like a whirlwind; he will bring down his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.

16 For with fire and with his sword the LORD will execute judgment on all people, and many will be those slain by the LORD.

17 “Those who consecrate and purify themselves to go into the gardens, following one who is among those who eat the flesh of pigs, rats and other unclean things—they will meet their end together with the one they follow,” declares the LORD.

18 “And I, because of what they have planned and done, am about to come^[a] and gather the people of all nations and languages, and they will come and see my glory.

19 “I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations—to Tarshish, to the Libyans^[b] and Lydians (famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations.

20 And they will bring all your people, from all the nations, to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the LORD—on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels,” says the LORD. “They will bring them, as the Israelites bring their grain offerings, to the temple of the LORD in ceremonially clean vessels.

21 And I will select some of them also to be priests and Levites,” says the LORD.

22 “As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me,” declares the LORD, “so will your name and descendants endure.

23 From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me,” says the LORD.

24 “And they will go out and look on the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; the worms that eat them will not die, the fire that burns them will not be quenched, and they will be loathsome 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.

Cross References

• 1. S 2 Chronicles 6:18; S Psalms 2:4; S Psalms 9:7; Matthew 23:22
• 2. S 1 Kings 8:27; Matthew 5:34-35
• 3. S 2 Samuel 7:7; John 4:20-21; Acts 7:49*; Acts 17:24
• 4. S Isaiah 40:26; Acts 7:50*; Acts 17:24
• 5. S Isaiah 57:15; Matthew 5:3-4; Luke 18:13-14
• 6. S Ezra 9:4
• 7. S Isaiah 1:11
• 8. S Leviticus 11:7
• 9. S Leviticus 2:2
• 10. S Isaiah 57:17
• 11. ver 17; S Deuteronomy 27:15; Ezekiel 8:9-13
• 12. S Proverbs 10:24; S Isaiah 10:12
• 13. S 1 Samuel 8:19; S Isaiah 41:28; Proverbs 1:24; Jeremiah 7:13
• 14. 2Ki 21:2,4,6; Isaiah 59:12
• 15. S Isaiah 65:12
• 16. S Ezra 9:4
• 17. Psalms 38:20; Isaiah 60:15; John 15:21
• 18. S Isaiah 44:9; Luke 13:17
• 19. S 1 Samuel 2:10; S Psalms 68:33
• 20. S Leviticus 26:28; Isaiah 65:6; Joel 3:7
• 21. S Isaiah 54:1
• 22. Revelation 12:5
• 23. Isaiah 64:4; Jeremiah 18:13
• 24. S Isaiah 49:20
• 25. S Isaiah 49:21
• 26. S Isaiah 37:3
• 27. S Deuteronomy 32:43; S Isaiah 25:9; Romans 15:10
• 28. S Psalms 26:8
• 29. Isaiah 57:19; Isaiah 61:2
• 30. S Numbers 11:12; S Isaiah 60:16
• 31. Genesis 49:25
• 32. S Numbers 25:1; S Isaiah 25:6
• 33. S Psalms 119:165; S Isaiah 9:6
• 34. S Isaiah 33:21; Isaiah 48:18
• 35. Psalms 72:3; Isaiah 60:5; Isaiah 61:6
• 36. S Numbers 11:12; Isaiah 60:4
• 37. S Isaiah 49:15; 1 Thessalonians 2:7
• 38. S Isaiah 40:1; S 2 Corinthians 1:4
• 39. S Isaiah 25:9; S Isaiah 60:5; S Joel 2:23
• 40. S Psalms 72:16
• 41. S Ezra 5:5; S Isaiah 41:20
• 42. S Isaiah 54:17
• 43. S Isaiah 10:5; S Isaiah 30:27
• 44. S Isaiah 1:31; S Isaiah 42:25
• 45. S 2 Kings 2:11; S Psalms 68:17
• 46. S 2 Kings 2:1
• 47. S Deuteronomy 28:20; S Psalms 9:5; S Psalms 39:11
• 48. Isaiah 30:30; Amos 7:4; Malachi 4:1
• 49. S Isaiah 1:20; S Isaiah 27:1; S Ezekiel 14:21
• 50. S Isaiah 13:9,11; S Jeremiah 2:35; S Ezekiel 36:5
• 51. S Isaiah 10:4
• 52. S Isaiah 1:29
• 53. S Leviticus 11:7
• 54. Leviticus 11:29
• 55. Psalms 37:20; Isaiah 1:28
• 56. S Proverbs 24:2; S Isaiah 65:2
• 57. S Isaiah 2:3; S Zechariah 12:3
• 58. S Exodus 16:7; S Isaiah 59:19
• 59. Isaiah 11:10; Isaiah 49:22; Matthew 24:30
• 60. S 2 Kings 19:31
• 61. S Isaiah 2:16
• 62. Jeremiah 46:9; Ezekiel 27:10
• 63. S Genesis 10:2
• 64. Jeremiah 31:10; Daniel 11:18
• 65. Isaiah 11:11
• 66. S 1 Chronicles 16:24; S Isaiah 24:15
• 67. S Isaiah 11:12; S Jeremiah 25:22; Ezekiel 34:13
• 68. S Deuteronomy 33:19; S Isaiah 2:2; Jeremiah 31:23
• 69. S Ezra 2:66
• 70. Isaiah 52:11
• 71. S Exodus 19:6; Isaiah 61:6; 1 Peter 2:5,9
• 72. S Isaiah 65:17; Hebrews 12:26-27; S 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1
• 73. S Isaiah 48:19; John 10:27-29; 1 Peter 1:4-5
• 74. Ezekiel 46:1-3
• 75. S Psalms 22:29; S Isaiah 19:21; S Isaiah 44:5; Revelation 15:4
• 76. S Psalms 110:6
• 77. S Isaiah 1:2
• 78. S Isaiah 14:11
• 79. S Isaiah 1:31; S Matthew 25:41; Mark 9:48*

Footnotes

• [a]. The meaning of the Hebrew for this clause is uncertain.
• [b]. Some Septuagint manuscripts "Put" (Libyans); Hebrew "Pul"

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.