Isaiah

Isaiah 66: God comforts hearers and judges rebels

Begin in prayer

Before we hear Isaiah’s final promises and warnings, let us ask God for humble hearts. Pray that our family would tremble at His Word, seek Jesus for mercy and receive His comfort without dismissing the judgment He declares.

Let my heart be blameless toward your decrees, that I may not be disappointed.

Psalm 119:80

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Give us humble hearts that receive Your Word with reverence. Bring us to Jesus for mercy and teach us to heed Your warnings. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Heaven is God’s throne and earth His footstool, yet He looks to the humble person who trembles at His Word. Sacrifices joined to chosen evil are hateful to Him, and He will choose their delusions and bring their fears upon them. He promises joy to those their brothers hate and expel, while a voice from the temple announces repayment to His enemies. Zion will give birth to a people through God’s power, and those who mourned for Jerusalem will rejoice in His abundant comfort. God will come with fire and sword against rebels, including those who purify themselves for garden worship while eating forbidden things. He will gather nations to see His glory, send survivors to declare it and bring His scattered people home for holy service. The new heavens and earth will endure with His people worshipping before Him, while the final scene displays the rebels’ judgment in unquenched fire.

As you read Isaiah 66, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God receives the humble who tremble at His Word, and He judges those who rebel.

No house can contain the Maker of heaven and earth, as Stephen later declares from this passage (Acts 7 verses 48 to 50). He receives the humble and contrite, those broken over sin who take His Word seriously. Sacrifices joined to chosen evil are compared with murder and forbidden offerings, exposing worship that refuses His authority. Those expelled for His name wait for His vindication, and He will put their mockers to shame (verse 5). Zion’s surprising birth pictures God bringing His people into being, and the nursing and motherly comfort pictures show His tender care. His coming fire and sword also consume people whose outward purification hides garden idolatry and the eating of pigs, mice and other forbidden things. People gathered from the nations are brought like a clean offering, and God appoints some as priests and Levites. The closing view of dead rebels includes a worm that does not die and fire that is not quenched, making rebellion’s dreadful end plain. The promised worship and enduring name must never be used to erase that final warning.

How does Isaiah 66 show us that God receives the humble who tremble at His Word, and He judges those who rebel?

God looks to people who receive His Word humbly.

He made heaven and earth and cannot be contained in a house. He receives those broken over sin who tremble at His Word. Religious offerings cannot make chosen evil pleasing to Him.

God’s power gives His people life and comfort.

He promises to finish His work and bring Zion’s children to birth. Jerusalem’s joy replaces mourning, and His peace flows like a river. He compares His comfort to a mother caring for her child.

God gathers worshippers and brings judgment against rebellion.

His glory will be declared among distant nations. Those He gathers will worship and serve Him as He appoints. His judgment upon people who refuse Him endures, so His promises must never make us careless about sin.

Memorise

But to this man will I look, even to he who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word.

Isaiah 66:2

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, how am I receiving the warnings and comfort Jesus gives through His Word?

Isaiah ends with worship before God and a dreadful view of judgment on rebels. Jesus later uses the warning of the undying worm and unquenched fire when speaking about hell (Mark 9 verses 43 to 48). We need mercy from the God whose Word we have refused.

Jesus took the death that His people deserved, and the Father raised Him from death. His sacrifice is enough for the forgiveness of everyone who believes in Him. The Savior who gathers people from the nations also judges those who reject Him. His tender comfort never makes rebellion harmless.

Turn from sin and trust Jesus while you hear His call. Come with a humble confession, taking both His promises and warnings seriously. Everyone who believes in Him receives pardon and a place among His people. The One who looks to the humble still receives everyone who trembles at His word and comes to Him.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the last warning includes dead rebels, an undying worm and unquenched fire, without adding graphic detail for children. God’s comfort belongs with humble hearing, not indifference to His Word. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He receives humble hearers and gathers a people to worship Him, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;

Matthew 25:41

Holy and merciful God, thank You for the comfort and warnings of Your Word. Please make us humble hearers and bring us to trust Jesus for forgiveness. Turn us from chosen evil and empty religious actions. Gather people from every nation to know Your glory, and teach our family to worship and obey You. Amen.