Isaiah 66

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:2

All these things — i.e. heaven and earth hath mine hand made ; i.e. have I, Jehovah, brought into existence. How, then, can I need that men should build me a house? All these things have been , saith the Lord. The sentence seems incomplete. Mr. Cheyne supplies, "I spoke." The sentence will then run, "I spoke, and all these things crone into being, saith Jehovah;" i.e. heaven and earth, and all things that are therein, came into being at my word (comp. Genesis 1:1 ; Genesis 2:1 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:3

He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man ; literally, is a manslayer. The full meaning seems to be, "He that, not being of a poor and contrite spirit, would offer me an ox in sacrifice, is as little pleasing to me as a murderer." Sacrifice, without the true spirit of sacrifice, is an abomination (comp. Isaiah 1:11 , "To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord," etc.). There, however, the sacrifices are actually offered; here they are hypothetical. The... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:3-4

The rebuke of unrighteousness. We have— I. FOUR OFFENCES SPECIALLY HATEFUL TO THE HOLY ONE . 1 . Insincerity. These worshippers who brought their bullocks, their lambs, their prescribed oblations, were as guilty in the judgment of God as if they brought to his altar that which was an abomination in his sight. Their guilt lay in their insincerity; their heart was far from God when their feet were nigh his house. 2 . Heedlessness. When God calls and we pay no... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:4

Their delusions ; or, their childish follies ( LXX ; ἐμπαίγματα ) . As God sends on some men "strong delusion that they should believe a lie" ( 2 Thessalonians 2:11 ), so on others he sends a spirit of childish folly, which makes their conduct silly and headstrong. Persons whose characters are of this stamp are especially liable to vain and groundless "fears." When I called, none did answer (comp. Isaiah 65:12 , and see the comment on that passage). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:5

Hear … ye that tremble . The godly are addressed—those that have a reverent fear of God's word (comp. Isaiah 66:2 , ad fin. ; and see also Ezra 9:4 ; Ezra 10:3 ). Your brethren that … cast you out ; rather. that put you away (Cheyne), or thrust you from them (Delitzsch). The verb used came in later times to designate formal excommunication; but here it points merely to a practical renunciation of fellowship. Said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:5

Spiritual and unspiritual worship. I. THE ORACLE OF JEHOVAH . "The heavens are my throne." What majestic poetry in that word! How sacred, then, the heaven! How profane, if once we rightly think of the force of what we say, to use the adjuration, "By heaven"! So Jesus teaches ( Matthew 5:34 ; Matthew 23:22 ). It is natural to "look up" when we think of God; and then to "look down" on the "things of earth," which is but his footstool. "What manner of house would ye build for me?"... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:5-14

THE GODLY EXILES ENCOURAGED . The scoffs which have long greeted those who believed God's promises and expected the restoration of Zion, will be put to shame. The silence in which Zion has lain will be broken; she will be once more a city "full of stirs, a tumultuous city" ( Isaiah 22:2 ). Suddenly, without any pains of travail, she will bring forth; and her offspring will be "a nation born at once" ( Isaiah 66:8 ). The godly exiles are called upon to rejoice at the prospect ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:6

A voice of noise from the city … from the temple. The "city" and "temple" are suddenly in existence—they have sprung into being. The prophet sees Jerusalem rebuilt, restored, and hears sounds go forth from it—partly, perhaps, the sounds of ordinary city life; but amid these, there is a voice of the Lord, rendering recompense to his enemies. The Jewish state, restored by Zerubbabel, did, after a time, bring under subjection several of its ancient adversaries. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:6-9

The enemies of Jehovah and his people. I. HE IS HEARD FROM HIS TEMPLE . With "a sound of uproar, a sound from the temple." He is issuing forth to render their deserts to his foes. "He will render to every man according to his deserts" is a great leading word in religion. God must be feared as well as loved—nay, cannot be truly loved unless feared. From that same seat whence go forth the sweet sounds of reconciliation, the sound of the gospel's silver trumpet, go forth the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:7-8

Before she travailed , etc. Without any long delay, without any labour pains, Zion will bring forth a man-child—a whole nation, which wilt be born at once, and not grow up by slow degrees. The occupation of Jerusalem by the great body of the returned exiles ( Ezra 2:1 ; Ezra 3:1 ) is intended. Such a second birth of a nation was strange, and without precedent (comp. Isaiah 42:9 ; Isaiah 43:19 ). Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? rather, can a land be brought... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:3-4

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:5-14

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:6-9

The Pulpit Commentary - Isaiah 66:7-8

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