This chapter continues God’s response begun in
65:1 with similar themes. But note also
the connection of this chapter with Isa. 58, the beginning of the 3rd
and final section of Isa. 40-66. In Ch. 58 the
people had come, wondering why God wasn’t responding to their wonderful acts of
worship, especially in fasting. They
thought God owed them a response. Isa.
66 begins with a chiding that seems to indicate the people were wondering why
God was not blessing them since they had built Him such a large and wonderful
temple. Stephen, in Acts 7:48-50, quoted
this to the Jews of his day who had the same proud attitude.
God’s answer is to reject the idea that He
needs anything, such as a temple, for a place where He can rest. God calls men to worship Him, and in Israel this
included the command to build a place of worship. But God Himself needs nothing. And what He looks for in true worshipers is
not their amazing accomplishments but their poor and contrite hearts.
What believers can count on from God is faithfulness, as
seen through this entire study. In this
passage we have some great illustrations of faithfulness.
·
v5-13: God is faithful as a loving,
compassionate mother with her newborn.
The seemingly speedy birth in vs.7-9 refers to the re-birth of the
nation and might relate to Rev. 12. In
that context the nation in the great tribulation is protected in the desert by
God and then brought back to the restored land in safety and glory. “As one whom his mother comforts, so I will
comfort you; and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem” (66:13).
·
v22-24: The other picture of God’s faithfulness
is seen in His words to Israel. He says their descendants and name will
remain even as the new heavens and new earth remain. Likewise, in that same time, we see the
faithfulness of God’s word of judgment on those who reject Him (v24). We cannot make those words pretty nor can we take out the sting.
It is clear what they say and we can only urge the reader to take
warning.
Consider the last line of v19: And they shall declare My glory among the
Gentiles. This has always been the
highest calling of Israel,
a calling she has seldom embraced in the way God desired. But this is also the high calling of all of
God’s creation. It is the struggle of
mankind, as it was with Israel,
to bow in humility and declare Him Who alone must receive the glory. It is not required that we have all the
issues figured out, for after all, My ways are higher than your ways
(Isa. 55:8-9). But we must have the primary
issue of the heart settled.
Seek the
LORD while He
may be found, call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the LORD,
and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.
(Isa. 55:6-7)
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