True Worship, Judgment, and Final Hope

66:1 This is what the Lord says: “The heavens are my throne and the earth is my footstool. Where then is the house you will build for me? Where is the place where I will rest? 66:2 My hand made them; that is how they came to be,” says the Lord. I show special favor to the humble and contrite, who respect what I have to say. 66:3 The one who slaughters a bull also strikes down a man; the one who sacrifices a lamb also breaks a dog’s neck; the one who presents an offering includes pig’s blood with it; the one who offers incense also praises an idol. They have decided to behave this way; they enjoy these disgusting practices. 66:4 So I will choose severe punishment for them; I will bring on them what they dread, because I called, and no one responded, I spoke and they did not listen. They did evil before me; they chose to do what displeases me.” 66:5 Hear the word of the Lord, you who respect what he has to say! Your countrymen, who hate you and exclude you, supposedly for the sake of my name, say, “May the Lord be glorified, then we will witness your joy.” But they will be put to shame. 66:6 The sound of battle comes from the city; the sound comes from the temple! It is the sound of the Lord paying back his enemies. 66:7 Before she goes into labor, she gives birth! Before her contractions begin, she delivers a boy! 66:8 Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen this? Can a country be brought forth in one day? Can a nation be born in a single moment? Yet as soon as Zion goes into labor she gives birth to sons! 66:9 “Do I bring a baby to the birth opening and then not deliver it?” asks the Lord. “Or do I bring a baby to the point of delivery and then hold it back?” asks your God. 66:10 Be happy for Jerusalem and rejoice with her, all you who love her! Share in her great joy, all you who have mourned over her! 66:11 For you will nurse from her satisfying breasts and be nourished; you will feed with joy from her milk-filled breasts. 66:12 For this is what the Lord says: “Look, I am ready to extend to her prosperity that will flow like a river, the riches of nations will flow into her like a stream that floods its banks. You will nurse from her breast and be carried at her side; you will play on her knees. 66:13 As a mother consoles a child, so I will console you, and you will be consoled over Jerusalem.” 66:14 When you see this, you will be happy, and you will be revived. The Lord will reveal his power to his servants and his anger to his enemies. 66:15 For look, the Lord comes with fire, his chariots come like a windstorm, to reveal his raging anger, his battle cry, and his flaming arrows. 66:16 For the Lord judges all humanity with fire and his sword; the Lord will kill many. 66:17 “As for those who consecrate and ritually purify themselves so they can follow their leader and worship in the sacred orchards, those who eat the flesh of pigs and other disgusting creatures, like mice – they will all be destroyed together,” says the Lord. 66:18 “I hate their deeds and thoughts! So I am coming to gather all the nations and ethnic groups; they will come and witness my splendor. 66:19 I will perform a mighty act among them and then send some of those who remain to the nations – to Tarshish, Pul, Lud (known for its archers), Tubal, Javan, and to the distant coastlands that have not heard about me or seen my splendor. They will tell the nations of my splendor. 66:20 They will bring back all your countrymen from all the nations as an offering to the Lord. They will bring them on horses, in chariots, in wagons, on mules, and on camels to my holy hill Jerusalem,” says the Lord, “just as the Israelites bring offerings to the Lord’s temple in ritually pure containers. 66:21 And I will choose some of them as priests and Levites,” says the Lord. 66:22 “For just as the new heavens and the new earth I am about to make will remain standing before me,” says the Lord, “so your descendants and your name will remain. 66:23 From one month to the next and from one Sabbath to the next, all people will come to worship me,” says the Lord. 66:24 “They will go out and observe the corpses of those who rebelled against me, for the maggots that eat them will not die, and the fire that consumes them will not die out. All people will find the sight abhorrent.”

Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible®, copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.

The Lord is greater than any temple. He looks to the humble and obedient, not to empty religion. He warns the proud and the false worshiper, comforts Zion, gathers the nations, and promises final judgment and a new creation.

This chapter ends Isaiah with a strong contrast. God is not limited by a building. The heavens are his throne and the earth is his footstool. He favors the humble, contrite person who trembles at his word.

The Lord also rebukes false worship. People may bring sacrifices, but if they live in violence, idolatry, and rebellion, their worship is hateful to him. He will answer stubborn refusal with judgment.

At the same time, God will vindicate the faithful. Those who honor his word may be mocked or excluded by others, but the Lord will not forget them. He promises sudden restoration for Zion, pictured like a child born quickly and a mother who comforts her children.

The chapter then turns back to judgment. The Lord comes in fire against his enemies. He will gather the nations and show his glory. He will also bring his people home and, in his sovereign choice, even include some among the nations in priestly service.

The ending looks ahead to the new heavens and new earth. God’s people will endure, and true worship will continue. But rebellion will end in shame and judgment. The final picture is not vague hope, but the Lord’s holy rule over all things.

• God cannot be contained by any human temple or structure.
• The Lord looks with favor on the humble, contrite, and reverent person.
• Empty worship is unacceptable when joined to sin, idolatry, or violence.
• God hears the faithful even when they are mocked or excluded by others.
• The Lord will judge rebellion and repay his enemies.
• Zion’s restoration will be sudden and sure, because God himself will do it.
• The nations will see God’s glory, and his saving purpose will reach far beyond Israel.
• The chapter ends with a real promise of new creation and a real warning of final judgment.

• Warning: God will punish those who refuse his word and persist in evil.
• Warning: religious acts do not cover over rebellion and idolatry.
• Promise: the Lord will comfort Zion and restore his people.
• Promise: the nations will witness God’s glory.
• Promise: the new heavens and new earth will endure.
• Command: listen to the word of the Lord.
• Command: rejoice with Jerusalem and honor what God is doing.

Isaiah ends by showing that the Lord’s plan is bigger than temple ritual, bigger than one nation, and bigger than present suffering. He will judge evil, comfort the humble, restore Zion, make his glory known to the nations, and establish a lasting new creation where true worship continues.

Do not trust religious form without obedience. God cares about the heart that humbles itself before his word. Be ready to stand with the faithful even if others mock you. And place your hope in the Lord’s final justice and in the future he has promised.

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