Taking One Last Look at Isaiah

“Everyone will see the Lord’s hand of blessing on his servants – and his anger against his enemies. See, the Lord is coming with fire, and his swift chariots roar like a whirlwind. He will bring punishment with the fury of his anger and the flaming fire of his hot rebuke. The Lord will punish the world by fire and by his sword. He will judge the earth, and many will be killed by him.” – Isaiah 66:14-16

            The Lord starts out the final chapter of Isaiah by pointing out that any temple made by men would never be sufficient to contain his great glory. That’s because God cannot be confined to any human structure (2 Chronicles 6:18; Acts 7:49-50).  He says the humble will be lifted up and the wicked will be destroyed. The Lord (and only the Lord) will judge all people. I mention specifically that God alone will judge because so many of us are determined to pass judgment of others without considering our own shortcomings. God is the only one capable of meting out justice without allowing emotion or favoritism to be involved. 

            Verses 2-3 summarize Isaiah’s message to the people of Israel. “My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine.  I, the Lord, have spoken. I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word. But those who choose their own ways – delighting in their detestable sins – will not have their offerings accepted.” Those who love the Lord will apply his word to their hearts and lives. God shows mercy to those who are humble, yet curses the proud and self-sufficient. We mustn’t let our free will to do as we please lead us away from the pathway of God, for our own path eventually leads to our own destruction, while the path of the Lord leads to eternal life.

               The verses at the top of the post give us a crystal clear picture of the great judgment that will occur at the 2^nd Coming of Christ. The first worldwide judgment in Noah’s day was done by water. This next time will be by fire as told to us in 2 Peter 3:5-8. From what Isaiah reveals I think mankind may have a wrong view of the judgment side of Almighty God. The consequences that come from an ungodly life are not pretty. Has your belief in God become nothing more than a Sunday morning ritual or has it blossomed into the intimate relationship God wishes to have with all his children. Seek the depths of God’s never-ending love while he may be found. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller

Resource: The Life Application Study Bible.