Read Isaiah 66:14–17
Questions from the Scripture text: How will the tremblers at God’s Word respond to the glory of Jerusalem (Isaiah 66:14a–b, cf. Revelation 21)? What will they know (Isaiah 66:14c)? But who will know what else (verse 14d)? How will they come to know themselves as His enemies (Isaiah 66:15a–b)? And what will He do (Isaiah 66:15-16)? What had these enemies done (Isaiah 66:17a)? For what place (verse 17b)? And what person (verse 17c)? To do what (verse 17d)? What will happen to all of them, and at what times (verse 17e)?
What is the last day like? Isaiah 66:14–17 looks forward to the first serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the last day is joy for those who have loved the Lord and anguish for those hateful enemies who worshiped their own way.
The last day will be one of both great rejoicing on the part of the tremblers at God Word (Isaiah 66:14a, cf. Isaiah 66:2f, Isaiah 66:5b, Isaiah 66:10-13) and anguish for His enemies (Isaiah 66:14d). The language of Isaiah 66:15-16 is literally full of fire, with five different fire-related words. The joy and rest of Zion and her children in the last day (cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 2 Thessalonians 1:10; Revelation 21:1–7, Revelation 21:9–27) is conjoined to their deliverance and the vindication of God’s honor in His flaming fury (cf. 2 Thessalonians 1:8–9; Revelation 21:8).
This fury is expressed upon those who have consecrated themselves (Isaiah 66:17a)—not unto Him in the worship that He has appointed, but unto their own ideas of what is worship (and therefore an idea in their own mind that is not actually God). They worshiped where they liked (verse 17b), one in their own midst (verse 17c), and in the way they wished (verse 17d). And now they will be consumed together (verse 17e). God is jealous for His own holiness. Either we know Him now, as He is; and worship Him now, as He says; or He will express Himself upon us in fury forever. But if we know Him as He has given Himself to us, especially so now in Christ, we will rest and rejoice in Him, forever!
How does your joy over the Lord Himself appear in your rejoicing over the good of the church? How will it do so on the last day? How does love for His holiness appear in your approval and anticipation of His wrath?
Sample prayer: Lord, gladden us in Your redeeming favor, and comfort us in Your righteous fury. Give us to rejoice and flourish now, in the last day, and forever, in Jesus Christ, we ask, AMEN!
Suggested songs: ARP98 “O Sing a New Song to the LORD” or TPH76 “God the Lord Is Known in Judah”
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