United Commentaries

Isa.65.1-66.24

Here the Lord responds to the prayer in 63:7–64:12.

Isa.66.1

my throne . . . my footstool: God’s kingdom extends over all creation (see 40:22; Matt 5:34-35).

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).

Stephen quoted Isa 66:1-2a in his last sermon (Acts 7:49-50).

Isa.66.2

God is pleased to dwell with those who have humble and contrite hearts (57:15; Ps 51:17).

who tremble at my word: The humble and contrite submit themselves to God’s will, whereas the arrogant resist it.

Isa.66.3

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).

Isa.66.6

terrible noise from the Temple: This parallels the situation described in Ezek 9 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.

Isa.66.7

birth pains . . . gives birth to a son: See 9:6-7; 54:1-3.

Isa.66.8

by the time . . . her children will be born: A miraculous repopulation of Zion would occur (see 49:19-20; 54:1-3; cp. 1:8-9).

Isa.66.9

The Lord promised that he would surely recreate his holy nation.

Isa.66.12

a river: The people, who lost peace and prosperity in the Exile, would receive it back abundantly (see 48:18).

Isa.66.13

I will comfort you: Cp. 40:1.

Isa.66.14

flourish like the grass: Contrast 40:7; 64:6.

God’s enemies included the disobedient from the foreign nations and from within Israel (see 61:2; 66:6).

Isa.66.15-16

the Lord is coming with fire: God will appear with furious judgment against his enemies (see Ps 7:13). By contrast, he will reveal his glory to his people (see Isa 40:5, 10).

God will judge all creation as a part of the process of renewing the earth (see 24:1-4; 65:17).

Isa.66.17

Apostates who ‘consecrate’ and ‘purify’ themselves through idolatrous practices are an abomination to God (cp. 1:28-31; 65:4).

Isa.66.18-23

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.

Isa.66.19

The sign is the proclamation of God’s glory among the nations (66:20). God will establish a righteous and faithful new people consisting of godly Gentiles together with faithful Israelites (Rev 15:3-4; see also Acts 2).

Isa.66.21

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; see also Gal 6:15; Eph 4:11-13).

Isa.66.22

always be my people: God’s promise to Abraham was secure (Gen 17:7; see also Gal 3:8, 14).

a name that will never disappear: The identity of this new people will last forever (see Isa 59:21).

Isa.66.24

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).

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; 25:41; Mark 9:47-48; Rev 20:11-15).