To Worship and Glorify God: Isaiah 66 (7)

Pray Psalm 98.1.
Oh, sing to the LORD a new song!
For He has done marvelous things;
His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.

Review Isaiah chapter 66.

Reflect.
1. Of what does God disapprove in this chapter, and throughout the book of Isaiah?

2. To whom does He hold out the promise of salvation and life?

Meditate.
Our study of the book of Isaiah comes to an end. God, we have seen, has precious and very great promises of salvation, life, and eternal blessedness for His faithful people. Even though they must undergo a time of discipline and testing, yet, by hoping in His Word, and remaining faithful to Him, they may know a measure of His joy even now.

Greater joy and salvation are yet to come, however. In the last days, and even beyond the last days, into the new heavens and new earth, those who tremble at God’s Word, and are of a poor and contrite spirit, will live before Him in righteousness, peace, and joy. They will glorify Him, and, in so doing, will realize their reason for being, and know full and abundant life.

But those who are merely going through the motions of religion, mouthing their belief in God, without true repentance and a commitment to holiness, will be turned away by God in the last day. These will have no part in His Kingdom, but will be separated unto everlasting torment and misery.

God is birthing a new thing in the world. A new people, comprised of all the nations of the earth, who come before Him in worship, and go to their world to declare God’s praises – they shall be the true people and servants of God, Who will abide with and glorify Him forever.

The words of Isaiah’s prophecy, together with those of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, would have brought comfort, hope, and strength to the people who experienced captivity in Babylon for 70 years. They would have taught those faithful people to look back – at the faithfulness of God and the reliability of His Word – and forward – to the promises of last days glory, and a new heavens and new earth – and around at their lives – to live as His servants and City in the present, whatever may have been their circumstances.

God was sending His Servant to save and deliver His people, and they must hope in Him, and live toward the promise of His coming at all times. It’s the same message that comes to us in this age in flight from God. The Servant, King Jesus, Who has redeemed and saved us, is coming to take us to be with Him forever, for the glory of God and our eternal blessing. Let us live each day toward that hope, rejoicing in the promises of our God.

Prepare.
1. What does it mean to “tremble” at God’s Word (vv. 2, 5)? Why is this necessarily coupled with having a “poor and contrite spirit”?

2. We must practice the outward forms of religion – worshiping God, praying, reading His Word, and so forth. But why are these not enough, by themselves, to bring us into the joy and pleasure of the Lord?

3. What’s your primary takeaway from Isaiah 66?

Isaiah teaches that Jerusalem will not be destroyed root, branch and all. For when he foretold the complete captivity of Jerusalem, he mentioned those chosen to survive. For a not insignificant number will be saved, obviously through faith in Christ—and he wants to make this clear. Cyril of Alexandria (375-444 AD), Commentary on Isaiah 5.6.66.7-9

Thank You, Lord, for the promise of salvation and life through Jesus. Help me to live more fully in, and more completely toward that promise today, as I…

Pray Psalm 98.
Rejoice in the great salvation of the Lord, and praise Him for His grace and truth.

Sing to the Lord.
Psalm 98 (Duke Street: Come, Let Us Sing unto the Lord)
Come, let us sing unto the Lord new songs of praise with one accord!
Wonderful things our God has done: Jesus has our salvation won!

Now is God’s saving mercy known; His glory to the world is shown.  
Faithful and kind is God our Lord; earth has the Name of Jesus heard.

Raise to the Lord your loudest voice! Break forth and sing! Rejoice! Rejoice!
Praise, praise to You our God and King, with all our hearts and strength we bring!

Now let the whole creation ‘round burst into song with joyous sound!
Jesus will come to judge the earth; let all proclaim His matchless worth!

T. M. Moore

Where do the prophets fit with the rest of Scripture? How can I be a better student of God’s Word? Our course, Introduction to Biblical Theology, can help you gain a better approach to and understanding of the Scriptures. Watch this brief preview video, then register at The Ailbe Seminary and enroll in this free online course.

Each week’s lesson in our study of Isaiah is available as a free PDF download at the end of the week (click here). Get a copy for yourself and send the link for the download to your friends. Plan to meet weekly to study Isaiah’s important message.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).