Isaiah 66 - Which Way Do You Choose?

LINK: Isaiah 66

BACKGROUND

In this chapter we get a picture of our glorious God on His throne with the earth as His footstool (Acts 7:49). He is the Creator, and what He desires from His created people is humility, contrition, and worship rather than just outward conformity to rules. This is the gist of the whole book of Isaiah!

As the chapter continues, there is a promise of the future when Israel will return to the land. In that time, peace and prosperity will come to Jerusalem, but God will come down in judgment on His and Israel's enemies. 

When the Messiah returns, His judgment will be on all nations (Zechariah 14:3; Revelation 19:17-18), and the world will see His glory. Then, the remnant will go out to "proclaim His glory among the nations" (66:19) and fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant that through Abraham's seed "all the nations" would be blessed (Genesis 12:3)! By the way, Tarshish was in southwestern Spain. Lydia in western Asia Minor, and Tubal in northeastern Asia Minor.

The book concludes with Isaiah's prophecy of the Lord establishing a new heaven and new earth where all mankind (meaning people from all nations) will worship the Lord and bow down before Him (Revelation 21:1). The final verses serve as a sobering reminder that judgment will come for those who rebel against the Lord and that unrepentant people need to turn to Him!

The Scarlet Thread of Redemption

Isaiah is embedded with the message that, someday, God would come to earth and dwell among us. 

Jesus came about 700 years later fulfilling Isaiah's prophecies and announcing that He was Emmanuel, "God in the flesh." He came to pay for the sins of the whole world.

As a review of Isaiah, The Anointed One would be:

• a descendant of Jesse (11:1)
• miraculously born of a virgin (7:14)
• a worker of miracles (35:5)
• pierced and crushed for our sins (53:5)
• the bearer of our sins (53:12)
• buried in a rich man's tomb (53:9)
• a great light (Isaiah 9:2)
• A righteous ruler (Isaiah 9:6)
• A wonderful counselor (Isaiah 9:6)
• A mighty God (Isaiah 9:6)
• Source of eternity (Isaiah 9:6) 

Hallelujah!

REFLECTION

The summation of the whole book of Isaiah is held in these key verses:

But to this one I will look,

To him who is humble and contrite of spirit,

and who trembles at My word.

But he who kills an ox is like one who slays a man;

He who sacrifices a lamb is like the one who breaks a dog’s neck;

He who offers a grain offering is like one who offers swine’s blood;

He who burns incense is like the one who blesses an idol.

As they have chosen their own ways,

And their soul delights in their abominations. 

(Isaiah 66:2b-3)

There have been two roads since Genesis: 

The way of Abel (devotion) or 

The way of Cain (rebellion).

May we choose the way of devotion straight to the heart of our glorious God.

APPLICATION

There have been times over the last week when I have not wanted to post anything about the chapter because I have been completely overwhelmed by God's glorious presence. The ending of Isaiah is a picture of God's glory filling the earth. So, the only application I can suggest is pure and unadulterated worship.

PRAYER

Thank You for the beautiful picture of YOU we have seen in Isaiah. Lord, teach us to be humble and contrite and to tremble at Your Word. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.