Isaiah 66 Devotional

Esteemed by the God of Heaven

“Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.”Isaiah 66:2 (BSB)

The last chapter of Isaiah opens with a question no one can answer. Heaven is God's throne and the earth his footstool, so what house could anyone build for him (66:1)? Yet the God who cannot be contained looks with favor on a particular kind of person: the humble and contrite, who tremble at his word (66:2). Sacrifices from people set on their own ways mean nothing to him (66:3).

The chapter holds comfort and terror. Zion gives birth to a nation in a day, and God promises to comfort his people with a mother's tenderness (66:8-13). He gathers the nations to see his glory and sends messengers to lands that have never heard of him (66:18-19). But the book ends with a picture of unending ruin for those who rebelled against him (66:24). Jesus took up these words when he warned about hell (Mark 9:47-48). The LORD is gentle with the humble and serious about rebellion, and that is reason to receive his word today with both reverence and trust.

To think about: What would it look like for you to receive God's word today with humility and reverence?