Condemnation of False Worship

Isaiah 66:1–9
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)

God is pictured figuratively as sitting on a throne (v. 1) with the earth as His footstool (Acts 7:49). Because of His majesty no one can build a house for Him to dwell in (1 Kings 8:27). He is the Creator (v. 2). Yet what He values above His inanimate Creation are people who are humble and contrite (Isa. 57:15) and who follow His word. In one way or another, this has been Isaiah’s message throughout this book. God wants His people to follow the truth He has revealed to them. For Israel that was primarily the Mosaic Covenant. Pointing the people back to the Word of God, Isaiah was indicating that they needed to obey it if they were to enjoy His blessings.

The strange comparisons indicate that the people’s religious sacrifices and offerings were only external ritual (vv. 3-6). In their hearts the people were murderers, perverts of God’s dietary laws (Lev. 11:7), and idolaters. In reality they were going their own ways (Isa. 53:6) rather than the Lord’s way. Therefore, harsh judgment would come. People in Israel who professed to know the Lord but who actually hated and discriminated against God’s people would be shamed by His discipline when the temple would be destroyed by the Babylonians.

Israel’s return to the land will be so remarkably quick that it will be like a woman giving birth to a son before or as soon as she has any labor ... pains (vv. 7-9)!  God does not start something and leave it unfinished. As surely as a woman’s womb opens, not closes, for delivery, so God will do for Jerusalem what He has set out to do. This then is cause for rejoicing.

Application

Lord, help me to not be so quick to condemn but to complement people for good qualities.