Dei Break
Isaiah 64:1 - 66:24
Chapter 64 continues Isaiah's prayer. How often do we echo his sentiments? If only God would come and make Himself known in our world, not as He does now, but as He will when Christ comes in the clouds. Isaiah, however, also acknowledges the sin of his people and himself and adds a plea for God's mercy.
Paul says in Romans that Isaiah's prophecy in chapter 65 (1-16) refers to Jews and Gentiles. To Isaiah's contemporaries the proclamation could have represented the faithful remnant and the stubbornly rebellious. Most of Israel had rejected God for centuries. They rejected His wisdom (65:2); worshipped in pagan gardens (verse 3); practiced sorcery and tried to consult the dead (verse 4); rejected the dietary laws (verse 4); and yet considered themselves more "holy" than anyone else (verse 5).
Isaiah makes it clear that the people are to blame for the coming destruction. Sooner or later rejecting God brings destruction to any nation. Even the nations that God used to punish His own people were ultimately destroyed, and God made it clear that their denial of Him was the root cause.
Beginning in verse 8, Isaiah again separates the faithful from the unrepentant rebels. One will survive and thrive. The other is doomed. Chapter 65 ends with the promise of a new heaven and a new earth; a time without war and rebellion; when the Lord will be known throughout the earth.
The chapter closes (vs.17ff) with God's promise that He will "create new heavens and a new earth."
Chapter 66 begins with God's statement of His almighty power. He continues that sacrifices without heart are worthless. Verse 5 tells the faithful that though their own people reject and taunt them, they will be vindicated. Restoration will come and Jerusalem will be glorious. The world will come to know the God of Israel.
Next time: Jeremiah and Isaiah
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