Isaiah 66

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).

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.

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).

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.

66:7 birth pains . . . gives birth to a son: See 9:6-7; 54:1-3.

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).

66:9 The Lord promised that he would surely recreate his holy nation.

66:12 a river: The people, who lost peace and prosperity in the Exile, would receive it back abundantly (see 48:18).

66:13 I will comfort you: Cp. 40:1.

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).

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).

66:17 Apostates who ‘consecrate’ and ‘purify’ themselves through idolatrous practices are an abomination to God (cp. 1:28-31; 65:4).

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.

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).

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).

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).

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).