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Isaiah 66:1-24
Last week we were considering how we can know God because he has told us about himself in the “God-breathed” words of the Bible. This week, as we look at Isaiah chapter 66, we learn 3 important truths about the God of the Bible…
#1 – God has made, and promises to remake, the heavens and the earth
Verses 1-2 illustrate for us just how big our creator God is. We are told that He uses the whole earth (which He made) as His footstool! But we must not make the mistake of thinking that His work is finished. For in vv22-23 we are promised that He will remake the heavens and the earth, and His people will worship Him there forever! (Cf Revelation 21:1-4)
However, this chapter also carries a warning (v24), because the nation of Israel is in danger of missing out. Why? Because they are making the mistake of trying to do what God says, whilst ignoring God. And their failure to relate rightly to God, is a warning to us too…
#2 – God is not interested in religious ritual
Verses 3-4 show us the problem. Whilst from the outside, it looked like the people were carrying out temple activities as commanded in the Bible (e.g. lamb sacrifice), these things were actually evil in God’s sight (v4), because they are doing these things their own way, rather than God’s way (v3b). So it seems they were busy doing things in the temple, but ignoring the God of the temple, and foolishly thinking that God would never notice. They had forgotten how awesome God is (vv1-2)!
#3 – God is interested in humble hearts
The second half of verse 2 shows us the right response to our creator God. Remembering how awesome God is gives us a right perspective on ourselves, and leads to a “humble and contrite heart” before Him. This describes the Christian believer who knows that God is the awesome, holy, powerful creator of the universe, and they are one of his imperfect creatures. This leads to a dependance on God, and a desire to listen and obey His Word (“trembles at my word”), rather than ignoring it and going their own way.
The person who is humble before God can look forward to enjoying God’s new creation for all eternity, because they know their future depends on the salvation God provides through Jesus, rather than on their own religious activity.