21. of them—the Gentiles. priests . . . Levites—for spiritual worship: enjoying the direct access to God which was formerly enjoyed by the ministers of the temple alone (1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6). read more
Worship or destruction 66:15-24This pericope concludes the sections on the culmination of Israel’s future (Isaiah 65:17 to Isaiah 66:24), Israel’s future transformation (chs. 56-66), Israel’s hope (chs. 40-66), and the whole book-Yahweh’s salvation. Like Isaiah 56:1-8, it clarifies the difference between being a true servant of the Lord and one of His enemies, i.e., a rebel."God does not deliver his servants so that they can revel in the experience of sharing his glory (cf. chs. 60-62). Rather,... read more
2. The culmination of Israel’s future 65:17-66:24As the book opened with an emphasis on judgment (chs. 1-5), so it closes with an emphasis on hope (Isaiah 65:17 to Isaiah 66:24). Amid judgment, Israel could have hope. References to "new heavens" and a "new earth" form an inclusio for this final section of the book (Isaiah 65:17; Isaiah 66:22). read more
Evidently the Lord will "take" some of these converted Gentiles and make them leaders in His worship (cf. Isaiah 56:5-6). He would accept Gentile believers as freely as Israelite believers, and would bless them with equal privilege in His service.". . . all the nations will in fact be blessed through Israel (cf. Genesis 12:3)." [Note: J. Martin, p. 1121.] read more
1. Where, etc.] RV ’what manner of house.. what place shall be my rest.’ The v. is a strong rebuke of such as, without a really religious spirit, idly trusted in the inviolability of Zion, and the protection they thought the sanctuary would afford. A like fault is rebuked in Jeremiah 7:1-16. This passage is quoted by St. Stephen (Acts 7:49-50). 2. Those things] i.e. the universe. All.. have been] RV ’so all these things came to be.’3. They who offer the due sacrifices, yet without a proper... read more
(21) I will also take of them for priests . . .—We are left to determine whether the promise is that even Gentile converts should be enrolled among the priests and Levites of the new Jerusalem, or that Israelites of the non-priestly tribes should be so enrolled. Was the prophet breaking down in thought the middle wall of partition, or clinging to its maintenance? Isaiah 61:6 seems in favour of the latter view, and we are probably right in looking on this thought, that of all Israel being... read more
The Genesis of Delusions Isaiah 66:4 They will think it is the devil, but I am behind it all; they will ascribe it to some peculiar condition of the brain, and they will endeavour to trace that condition to indigestion, to the wrong food, to a mistake in choices and fancies; they will never suspect that I am in it. We are not worshippers of a limited Sovereign; the universe is not split up into sections, God presiding over, it may be, the larger section, and the devil presiding over the... read more
CHAPTER XXVA LAST INTERCESSION AND THE JUDGMENTIsaiah 63:7 through Isaiah 66:1-24WE might well have thought, that with the section we have been considering the prophecy of Israel’s Redemption had reached its summit and its end. The glory of Zion in sight, the full programme of prophecy owned, the arrival of the Divine Saviour hailed in the urgency of His feeling for His people, in the sufficiency of His might to save them, -what more, we ask, can the prophecy have to give us? Why does it not... read more
CHAPTER 66 The Finale: The Two Classes and the Prophecy of Isaiah in a Retrospect 1. The apostates and their wicked worship (Isaiah 66:1-4 ) 2. The remnant suffering and encouraged (Isaiah 66:5 ) 3. The sudden manifestation of the Lord (Isaiah 66:6 ) 4. The nation’s rebirth (Isaiah 66:7-9 ) 5. Jerusalem’s supremacy and glory (Isaiah 66:10-14 ) 6. The warning of judgment (Isaiah 66:15-18 ) 7. The regathering after judgment (Isaiah 66:19-21 ) 8. The blessings for the... read more
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E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Isaiah 66:21
them . i.e. Israel. priests and for Levites. Reference to Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 17:9 ). See notes on Ezekiel 43:19 ; Ezekiel 44:10 , Ezekiel 44:13 , Ezekiel 44:15 . App-92 . priests. Thus completing the fulfilment of Exodus 19:6 . and. Some codices, with Aramaean, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read this "and" in the text. read more