Isaiah 66
66:1 a my throne ... my footstool: God’s kingdom extends over all creation (see 40:22 b; Matt 5:34-35 c).• a temple ... a resting place: Because the entire universe is God’s dwelling place, humans cannot limit him to a building (see 1 Kgs 8:27 d).
• Stephen quoted Isa 66:1-2a e in his last sermon (Acts 7:49-50 f).
66:2 g God is pleased to dwell with those who have humble and contrite hearts (57:15 h; Ps 51:17 i).
• who tremble at my word: The humble and contrite submit themselves to God’s will, whereas the arrogant resist it.
66:3 j delighting in their detestable sins: Literally delighting in abominations, which refers to pagan worship practices.
• sacrifice a bull ... blessed an idol: Wicked people brought sacrifices as prescribed by the law, but their sin rendered those sacrifices equivalent to pagan offerings (see 1:11-17 k).
66:6 l terrible noise from the Temple: This parallels the situation described in Ezek 9 m when God’s executioner began to destroy the wicked people of Jerusalem.
• vengeance against his enemies: God would deal out retribution to the disobedient members of his own people. They were his enemies because of their persistent sin and rejection of God.
66:7 n birth pains ... gives birth to a son: See 9:6-7 o; 54:1-3 p.
66:8 q by the time ... her children will be born: A miraculous repopulation of Zion would occur (see 49:19-20 r; 54:1-3 s; cp. 1:8-9 t).
66:9 u The Lord promised that he would surely recreate his holy nation.
66:12 v a river: The people, who lost peace and prosperity in the Exile, would receive it back abundantly (see 48:18 w).
66:13 x I will comfort you: Cp. 40:1 y.
66:14 z flourish like the grass: Contrast 40:7 aa; 64:6 ab.
• God’s enemies included the disobedient from the foreign nations and from within Israel (see 61:2 ac; 66:6 ad).
Summary for Isa 66:15-16: 66:15-16 ae the Lord is coming with fire: God will appear with furious judgment against his enemies (see Ps 7:13 af). By contrast, he will reveal his glory to his people (see Isa 40:5 ag, 10 ah).
• God will judge all creation as a part of the process of renewing the earth (see 24:1-4 ai; 65:17 aj).
66:17 ak Apostates who ‘consecrate’ and ‘purify’ themselves through idolatrous practices are an abomination to God (cp. 1:28-31 al; 65:4 am).
Summary for Isa 66:18-23: 66:18-23 an When God reveals his glory to all people, the nations join in God’s plan of redemption; they can even serve as priests and Levites before him. The godly from all nations last from generation to generation as they serve the living God.
66:19 ao The sign is the proclamation of God’s glory among the nations (66:20 ap). God will establish a righteous and faithful new people consisting of godly Gentiles together with faithful Israelites (Rev 15:3-4 aq; see also Acts 2 ar).
66:21 as That some of the Gentiles would serve as priests and Levites signifies the removal of God’s distinction between Hebrews and Gentiles (see 56:7 at; see also Gal 6:15 au; Eph 4:11-13 av).
66:22 aw always be my people: God’s promise to Abraham was secure (Gen 17:7 ax; see also Gal 3:8 ay, 14 az).
• a name that will never disappear: The identity of this new people will last forever (see Isa 59:21 ba).
66:24 bb Isaiah gives a final warning of the severity of God’s judgment. The book begins and ends with the condemnation of those who have rebelled (see 1:2-4 bc).
• The judgment of God on wicked humans will generate utter horror because such people will have no hope and no relief from suffering (see also Matt 5:22 bd; 25:41 be; Mark 9:47-48 bf; Rev 20:11-15 bg).
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