God's True Temple
Study note
God opens this final chapter by reminding the people that heaven is his throne and earth is his footstool. What kind of house could anyone build for such a God? His own hand made everything that exists. Yet despite his infinite greatness, God chooses to look with favor on a particular kind of person: the one who is humble, broken in spirit, and who trembles at God's word. In contrast, those who go through the motions of religious sacrifice without real devotion are actually committing acts as offensive as murder or idolatry. They have chosen their own ways, and God will choose their punishment.
1 Here is what the Lord says: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is the footstool under my feet. What kind of house could you possibly build for me? Where could you create a resting place for me?" 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 "My own hand made every one of these things. That is how they all came into being," says the Lord. "But here is the person I pay attention to: the one who is humble, who has a broken spirit, and who takes my word seriously." 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.
3 People who sacrifice an ox are no better than those who commit murder. People who offer a lamb are no better than those who snap a dog's neck. People who bring a grain offering are no better than those who present pig's blood. People who burn incense are no better than those who worship an idol. They have all picked their own path and enjoy their own disgusting practices. 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.
4 "So I will choose harsh punishment for them and bring on them the very things they dread. When I called, nobody answered. When I spoke, nobody listened. They did evil before me and chose the things that displease me." 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.
The Birth of a New Nation
Study note
God speaks to those who tremble at his word, encouraging them. Their own people who hated them and cast them out said mockingly, 'Let the Lord show his glory.' But God will appear and bring joy to his faithful ones and shame to the mockers. Then comes an amazing picture: before she even goes into labor, Zion gives birth. Before the pain comes, a baby boy is delivered. Who has ever heard of such a thing? A nation born in a single day! God asks if he would bring someone to the moment of birth and not deliver the baby. He calls everyone who loves Jerusalem to rejoice with her, to be comforted like a baby nursed at its mother's breast. God will extend peace to her like a river. When the people see this, their hearts will rejoice and their bodies will be renewed.
5 Listen to the Lord's word, all you who take his word to heart: "Your own people hate you and push you away because of my name. They have said, 'Let the Lord show his glory so we can see you happy!' But they are the ones who will be put to shame." 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 Listen! A roar from the city! A voice thundering from the temple! It is the Lord, paying his enemies back for what they deserve. A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompence to his enemies.
7 Before she even felt labor pains, she gave birth. Before the contractions hit, she delivered a son. Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.
8 Has anyone ever heard of such a thing? Has anyone ever seen anything like it? Can an entire country be born in a single day? Can a whole nation come to life all at once? Yet the moment Zion went into labor, she gave birth to her children. 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.
9 "Would I bring the baby to the point of delivery and then hold it back?" says the Lord. "Would I — the one who brings the birth — not follow through?" says your God. 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.
10 "Celebrate with Jerusalem! Be happy for her, all you who love her! Share deeply in her joy, all you who have mourned over her." 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 "You will nurse and be fully satisfied by her comforting care. You will drink deeply and be filled with delight by her overflowing abundance." 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 the Lord says, "I will extend peace to her like a wide river and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream. You will be nursed, carried on her hip, and bounced on her knees." 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 "The way a mother comforts her child — that is how I will comfort you. You will find your comfort in Jerusalem." As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
14 "When you see all this, your heart will leap with joy and your body will flourish like new grass. The Lord will show his power to his servants and his anger to his enemies." 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.
Final Judgment and Everlasting Worship
Study note
The book of Isaiah reaches its grand conclusion with scenes of both judgment and glory. God will come with fire and chariots like a whirlwind, judging all people. Those who practice pagan rituals and eat forbidden foods will be consumed. But God will set a sign among the nations and send survivors to distant lands that have never heard of him. They will declare his glory among all peoples. From every nation, people will bring Israel's scattered children back as an offering to the Lord. God will even take some of them as priests and Levites, a shocking promise since these roles were previously limited to certain Israelite families. Just as the new heavens and new earth will endure, so will the name and descendants of God's people. All people will come to worship before the Lord, from one Sabbath to the next and from one new moon to the next. The book closes with a solemn warning about those who rebelled against God, whose destruction serves as an eternal reminder.
15 For look! The Lord is arriving in fire, and his chariots are spinning like a whirlwind. He will unleash his anger with fury and his rebuke with blazing flames. 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 The Lord will judge all people with fire and with his sword. Those killed by the Lord will be many. For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.
17 "Those who get themselves ready and make themselves pure to go into the gardens will come to an end together. They follow the one leading the way. They eat pork, rats, and other disgusting things," says the Lord. 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 "I know their actions and their thoughts. The time is coming when I will gather every nation and every language together, and they will come and see my glory." 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.
19 "I will set a sign among them and send survivors to the nations — to Tarshish, Put, Lud, Tubal, Javan, and the distant coastlands that have never heard about me or seen my glory. They will announce my glory among the nations." 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 "They will bring all your people from every nation as a gift to the Lord. They will come on horses, in chariots, in wagons, on mules, and on camels. They will come to my holy mountain, Jerusalem," says the Lord. "They will bring them as Israel brings grain offerings in clean bowls to the Lord's temple." 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.
21 "And I will choose some of them to serve as priests and Levites," says the Lord. And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.
22 "Just as the new heavens and the new earth that I am making will last," says the Lord, "so your children and your name will last forever." 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.
23 "From one new moon to the next and from one Sabbath to the next, every person will come and worship before me," says the Lord. 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.
24 "And they will go out and look at the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me. The worms feeding on them will not die, and the fire burning them will not be put out. They will be an object of horror to everyone." 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.