Context No. 3360 of 4322 · Isaiah

Isaiah 66:1-16: in context

1The LORD says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build to me? Where will I rest? 2For my hand has made all these things, and so all these things came to be,” says the LORD: “but I will look to this man, even to he who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word. 3He who kills an ox is as he who kills a man; he who sacrifices a lamb, as he who breaks a dog’s neck; he who offers an offering, as he who offers pig’s blood; he who burns frankincense, as he who blesses an idol. Yes, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations. 4I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears on them, because when I called, no one answered; when I spoke, they didn’t listen, but they did that which was evil in my eyes, and chose that in which I didn’t delight.” 5Hear the LORD’s word, you who tremble at his word: “Your brothers who hate you, who cast you out for my name’s sake, have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see your joy;’ but it is those who shall be disappointed. 6A voice of tumult from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that repays his enemies what they deserve. 7“Before she travailed, she gave birth. Before her pain came, she delivered a son. 8Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall a land be born in one day? Shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion travailed, she gave birth to her children. 9Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to be delivered?” says the LORD. “Shall I who cause to give birth shut the womb?” says your God. 10“Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her. Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn over her; 11that you may nurse and be satisfied at the comforting breasts; that you may drink deeply, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.” 12For the LORD says, “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream, and you will nurse. You will be carried on her side, and will be dandled on her knees. 13As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you. You will be comforted in Jerusalem.” 14You will see it, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones will flourish like the tender grass. The LORD’s hand will be known among his servants; and he will have indignation against his enemies. 15For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and his chariots will be like the whirlwind; to give his anger with fierceness, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16For the LORD will execute judgment by fire and by his sword on all flesh; and those slain by the LORD will be many.

God asks a humbling question: heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what house could you possibly build for me, or where could I rest? He needs nothing we can construct. And then comes the surprise: the God whom no temple can contain says, this is the one to whom I will look, the one who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

The infinite God bends his gaze not to grand buildings or impressive offerings but to the lowly, trembling heart. And later he speaks a tender image: as one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. The God of heaven and earth stoops to the humble and comforts his people the way a mother comforts a child. Greatness and gentleness meet in him: he is too vast for any house we could raise, and yet attentive to the contrite heart and tender as a mother. What draws the notice of the Most High is not our grandeur but our humble trembling at his word.

Am I the humble and contrite one to whom God says he will look, and do I let the God whom no house can contain comfort me like a mother?

Sources

Isaiah 66:1: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build to me?"
Isaiah 66:2: "But I will look to this man, even to he who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word."
Isaiah 66:13: "As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you."