CHAPTER 66
SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 66, VS 1-2
1 Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 66, VS 1-2
God says he made everything, but there are no cathedrals, temples, or anything we can build Him that would impress Him. He wants a place He can rest, and He found it in the saved man, who has a humble and contrite heart, and loves and fears God in a respectful way. That is what He says is the greatest thing He has made.
SCRIPTURE, CHAPTER 66, VS 3
He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.
APPLICATION, CHAPTER 66, VS 3
Again He speaks of those who are not of contrite heart, who go through the rituals of sacrifice, but their hearts are not right, so their sacrifices turn into abominations.
SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 66, VS 4
I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 66, VS 4
Even for their obvious religious actions, they are far from Him. Jesus said in Mark 7:13 that religious traditions make the Word of God of none effect. Religious people lose the realization of their part in the Body of Christ, and their part in God’s power. The voice of the Holy Spirit is dulled and even silenced in their spirits, as they seek God carnally instead of through the Holy Spirit and their spirits. So, these people are also dulled in the fears, not by God’s choice, but by their own, because they have chosen the carnal approach to God, which is easily infiltrated by satan via feelings, emotions and fears, which are not a part of the spirit. Satan cannot affect our spirits—only our bodily emotions and actions. That’s part of the reason why Jesus always said to walk in the spirit.
SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 66, VS 5-6
5 Hear the Word of the Lord, ye that tremble at His Word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for My Name’s sake, said, “Let the Lord be glorified:” but He shall appear to your joy and they shall be ashamed.
6 A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the Lord that rendereth recompence to his enemies.
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 66, VS 5-6
When “religious” people cast out the real Christians, shaming them for not taking part in empty rituals, the Lord says, He will appear to the real Christians, and the others will see and be ashamed. He says there will be those who live for worldly things, those who live to be someone important in the Church world, and they will all raise their voices. But the only one that counts is the Lord Himself, and His voice rings with power!
SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 66, VS 7-8
7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.
8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 66, VS 7-8
The Holy Spirit is our Mother in a sense. He travails in His desire to recreate our spirits and bring forth a new creation. The Lord brings forth nations one person at a time. The Holy Spirit is our Counselor, Comforter, Nourisher, all the things a mother is. Besides one person at a time, He nurtures entire nations.
SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 66, VS 9
9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 66, VS 9
He hovers over His people as He hovered over the universe as He created it. He doesn’t bring people through life and not give them every possible chance to be saved.
SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 66, VS 10-13
10 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:
11 That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.
12 For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.
13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 66, VS 10-13
Rejoice!!! AH!! How many times does the Lord tell us that?!! He tells us to rejoice in each other, to share the Lord’s Words and His Glory through songs, the Word, and each other. Our nourishment is from the Holy Spirit. He protects and cuddles us like a mother. (see vs. 7)
SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 66, VS 14
And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the Lord shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 66, VS 14
When we not only receive the Holy Spirit, but learn to see Him as our Comforter, Guide, Counselor, etc., then we will flourish and He will be able to guide every detail of our lives.
SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 66, VS 15-16
15 For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
16 For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many.
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 66, VS 15-16
He will purify the evil from His people.
SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 66, VS 17-18
17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord.
18 For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 66, VS 17-18
He will expose the evil in those churches and individuals who appear to be so devoted, but their hearts are not right with the Lord.
SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 66, VS 19-20
19 And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.
20 And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord.
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 66, VS 19-20
Those who see the error of their ways, and come to Him in true repentance, will escape the final punishment (lack of salvation) and they will speak to others, and declare His Glory, saving many from the hypocracy.
SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 66, VS 21
And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the Lord.
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 66, VS 21
He will make new “priests” out of the regular people—those who did not take part in the blasphemous hypocrisy and they will lead the people directly to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 66, VS 22
For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 66, VS 22
The True Church will forever be His, and we will live with Him on the New Earth, under the New Heavens, which will be back the way it was in the Garden of Eden, when God walked the Earth to converse with His people!!!! OH! What a glorious thing to wait for!!!
SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 66, VS 23
And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 66, VS 23
All flesh will worship Him on the New Earth. Evil will be purged out and we will gloriously worship Him continually, not bound by rules and times that were devised by man.
SCRIPTURE: CHAPTER 66, VS 24
And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
APPLICATION: CHAPTER 66, VS 24
God is righteous, and in the end all evil will be punished. Those who deliberately turn against Him when knowing all sides, must be punished, to rid His universe of evil once and for all.
By the magnificent Grace of God, may we cling to Him, and be a part of that great time!!!
END OF CHAPTER 66, AND THE END OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH