By Eugene Garner

ISAIAH - CHAPTER 66

ZION RENEWED AND JUDGMENT EXECUTED

    This final chapter appears to be broad in scope - reviewing the principles so forcefully enunciated throughout, previewing both the first and second advents of Messiah, the judgments connected with the assumption of His kingly role and the establishment of His glorious reign of righteousness over all the earth. Though some things in this chapter, as in others before, are a bit difficult to comprehend, the prophet has effectively set forth the greatness of the coming King and Kingdom - urging upon all men the wisdom of bowing before Him with humble hearts and loving adoration.

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

    1. How utterly ridiculous do men make themselves in attempting to force the infinite and sovereign Lord of heaven and earth into a shabby mold of finite human concepts! (vs. 1).
      a. Heaven is His throne; the earth His footstool, (I Kings 8:27; Psalm 139:7-16; Jer. 23:23-24; Matt. 5:34-35; Acts 7:48-50).
      b. Since the "heaven of heavens" cannot contain the omnipresent God, it is surely presumptuous insanity for rebel sinners to imagine themselves building a house for His dwelling! (II Sam. 7:5-7).
      c. Magnificent, beautiful and impressive as was Herod's temple (of which the Jews were so proud), God would not be pleased to make it His dwelling, and it would soon be destroyed! (Matt. 24:1-2; comp. Jn. 2:20).
    2. The Creator of heaven, earth and all things therein (40:26), will be pleased, however, to dwell with anyone whose heart is humble and contrite toward Him, (vs. 2; 57:15; Psa. 34:18; 147:3; Luke 18:13-14); and who "trembleth at His word", (Psa. 119:120, 161; Matt. 5:3; Luke 6:20).
    3. But, the proffered worship of those who choose their own way - whose hearts are not bowed before Him - is ABOMINABLE! (Psalm 51:15-17); He views them as nothing more than a "sacrificial cult"! (vs. 3).
      a. An ox offered by such a person is as abominable as if he presented a human sacrifice!
      b. Nor is his offering of a sheep more acceptable than the offering of a dog, whose neck has been broken!
      c. Whoever so presents a meal offering (though he may be very meticulous to present it exactly according to the prescribed pattern), might as well offer the blood of a SOW!
      d. And whoever, with a stubborn, willful and rebellious heart, presents an offering of frankincense before the Lord, will be regarded as if he blessed an idol!
      e. Where there is no whole-hearted love and reverence for the Lord; wherever one's heart is not bowed in humble awe and adoration before the majesty of His throne, ANY WORSHIP OR SERVICE OFFERED TO HIM is regarded as AN ABOMINABLE SIN!! (Jn. 4:20-24; Phil. 3:3).
        1) Under Satanic deception and delusion, man has always been able to corrupt God's revelation and ordinances.
        2) So today, religious exercises which men see as beautiful, impressive, and spiritual, are most often ABOMINABLE TO GOD - being contrary to His word, and appealing to the flesh; they do not glorify Him!
    4. As a result of their willfulness, God will mock such rebels in the hour of their distress - bringing upon them the things they have most feared.
      a. Have they not refused to answer His call? (Matt. 11:28-30).
      b. Have they not refused to heed His voice? (Lk. 19:14).
      c. Have they not delighted themselves in that which was evil in God's sight?
      d. Should they, then, be surprised when He disregards their cries? (Proverbs 1:24-33).

   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: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompense to his enemies.

    1. The Lord addresses those who truly fear Him - who tremble before His sacred word, (vs. 5a; Deut. 10:12; Eccl. 12:13; I Sam. 12:14; Psa. 25:12; 31:19; Isa 50:10; Mal. 3:16; Acts 10:35).
    2. He is aware of the high-minded self-righteousness of those who have "cast out" His people - causing them to suffer for His sake, (Matt. 5:10-12; 24:9; Luke 21:12; Jn. 9:34-41).
      a. They have done it hatefully, (Matt. 10:22; Jn. 15:18-20).
      b. They have mocked, shamed, and ridiculed the expectation of the faithful, saying: "Let the Lord be glorified, that we may see your joy!" ASV.
      c. But the real shame belongs to those who so act, (comp. Lk. 13:10-17; Psa. 25:3; 119:78; Isa. 25:11).
    3. The Lord will array Himself for battle against those who so deal with His people; His voice sounds from the city and temple - rendering recompense to His enemies! (Isa. 59:16-18; 65:6-7).

   Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children. Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the LORD: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.

    1. I submit that this prophecy may NOT have been fulfilled in Israel's becoming a sovereign state on May 14, 1948!
    2. The earth (not Israel, or the church) is here seen "bringing forth" in connection with the Lord's coming, a time of vengeance and the ushering in of the millennial glory.
    3. Anyone who will carefully follow the scriptural usage of the figure here employed will find the "birth", "begetting", or "regeneration" here described as representative of: resurrection, quickening, renewal, ransom, and redemption from the grave, (Psa. 2:7; Acts 13:33; Heb. 1:5-6; Rom. 8:29; Col. 1:18; Matt. 19:28; Phil. 3:20-21; Eph. 1:13; comp. Lk. 22:53; Jn. 12:27; Col. 1:12-13; Hos. 13:14; Isa. 51:11; 35:10; Rom. 8:23; Psa. 111:9).
    4. Here is, indeed, a NEW NATION (a new race) - composed of resurrected saints from every age and people - that will truly walk in the light of the Lord and show forth His praise!

   Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her: That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees. As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the LORD shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.

    1. The new, Messianic Age will be characterized by abundant satisfaction, (vs. 10-11).
      a. Those who love Jerusalem (the City of the Great King) are called to rejoice with her, (vs. 10; Deut. 32:43; Isa. 65:18; Rom. 15:10; Psa. 26:8; 122:6; comp. Psa. 137:5-6).
      b. So abundant are her provisions that, as a mother, she delightfully shares her nourishment, consolation, and glory with her children, (vs. 11; 49:23; 60:16; Joel 3:18; Isa. 60:1-2; 62:2).
    2. The blessings of the Lord are upon His people, (vs. 12-14).
      a. He gives them PEACE, (Psa. 72:3-7; comp. Isa. 48:18; Jn. 14:27; 16:33).
      b. The glory (abundance) of the nations is presented to her - like an overflowing stream; they will serve her with the utmost devotion, (49:23; 60:4).
      c. The Lord Himself, like a loving mother, will comfort His people in Jerusalem, (vs. 13; 12:1; 40:1-2; 49:13; 51:3; comp. II Cor. 1:3-4).
      d. Under the gentle and tender hand of the Lord His people will be joyful (Zech. 10:7) and prosperous, (vs. 14a); a crown of glory, and a royal diadem, in the hand of the Lord, they will share His authority and rule, (62:3; 49:2; Psa. 149:9).
      e. But His indignation will be turned upon His enemies, (vs. 14b; comp. 13:5; 30:30; 34:1-5).

   For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many. They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD. For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory. And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD. And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.

    1. The Lord is pictured as coming with the majesty and power of a mighty Conqueror, (vs. 15-16; Rev. 19:11-16); by fire and sword He executes judgment, (Dan. 7:10-11; Rev. 19:20; Mal. 4:1-3; Isa. 30:27-30; Ezek. 38:21-24; Matt. 13:40-42; II Thess. 1:7-8).
    2. As One who judges "without respect of persons", He deals with those of His own people who have corrupted themselves with idols, (vs. 17; 1:28, 31; Psa. 73:27).
    3. In His unprecedented overthrow of the international military host sent to oppose Him, the nations will see His glory and power, (vs. 18; Rev. 19:17-20; 16:13-16; Zeph. 3:8-20; Joel 3:9-21).
    4. In His great mercy, God will spare some of the enemy hosts who, acknowledging the justice of His judgment, will bear the news of Jehovah's power and glory to the nations, (vs. 19; comp. 42:12; I Chron. 16:23-34).
    5. These, in turn, will bring His elect ones from every nation - presenting them, as an offering, to Jehovah in His holy mountain, (vs. 20; 49:22; 60:4).
    6. There having already been a necessary change of priestly order (Heb. 7:11-17), the Lord will take priestly servants from among the Gentiles - to offer up spiritual sacrifices in His kingdom, (comp. Rom. 12:1-2; 15:16; Phil. 4:18; Heb. 13:15; I Peter 2:5, 9).

   For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

    1. The resurrection of saints and restitution of a corrupted creation are closely associated with the restoration of the Theocratic rule under the Messiah of God, (vs. 22; Dan. 12:2; Isa. 25:8; I Cor. 15:54-57; Isa. 65:17; Heb. 12:26-29; II Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21:1); those exalted to share a position of blessedness and glory in the New Order will be forever secure therein, (56:5; 61:8-9; 65:23; comp. Jn. 10:27-29; I Pet. 1:3-5).
    2. In the coming New Age "all flesh" will come, joyfully, to worship before the Lord! (19:21.23; 27:13; 49:7; contr. 1:13-14).
    3. By way of contrast, with the blessedness of the faithful, the Gospel prophet sounds a final note of warning; the way of the transgressor is hard, (vs. 24; comp. Mk. 9:43-48; Dan. 12:2; Prov. 13:15).