Worship Our Great God (Isaiah 66:1-24)
The sermon outline can be found in the ministry guide.
Over the past few weeks, I did something I never thought I’ll do. I joined a choir.
You see, when I was little, the church I grew up in wanted to put on a large-scale musical. The musical director visited Sunday school to recruit kids. And after being asked to sing, the director looked at my mum and said “this kid is special, he can’t sing.”
So you can understand why I have never since considered joining a choir.
But this time round, I encountered a totally different experience. The organizers of our Reformation concert were not looking to put on a spectacle for people, but to help us as a church bask in God’s glory and grow in congregational singing. They did not just welcome those who are not musically trained, but encouraged those of us who are less gifted and self-conscious to join in this act of worship.
And although the coaches worked us hard, there was not an overemphasis on technical training. Rather, we were often encouraged to meditate more on the words of the songs. We were encouraged to think more of what God has done. To consider who Jesus is. To ponder the grace and life that God offers, to visualize what heaven is like. This is because a right understanding of God should lead to a heartfelt response. It should lead us to sing praises to God, to join the angels in worshipping our great God.
Similarly, it is my prayer that our study of Isaiah has enriched your understanding of God and encouraged you to grow in worshipping Him with your voices and with your lives.
Over the past few months, we have studied 65 chapters that communicate God’s greatness and majesty. Isaiah describes God’s immeasurable power over kings and earthly nations. He emphasizes God’s holiness, righteousness, and hatred of sin. He communicates God’s tender affections for His people and plan to end suffering and judge evil. He points us to His Servant who will redeem us from sin. He exhorts us to find hope in the new earth He is creating and to yearn for the day when people from every nation will go to His Mountain to worship Him. These wonderful truths about God and what He has done for us and what He promises to do should fuel our worship of Him. It should encourage weary hearts and give us comfort, hope and joy amidst the trials we face.
Today we shall study the final chapter of Isaiah. Here in chapter 66, the Lord revisits the issues that He first raised with Israel in the opening address.
In Isaiah 1, the Lord tells Israel he has no pleasure in their offerings and sacrifices (Isa 1:10-15). In Isaiah 66:1-4, God clarifies the worship He desires
In Isaiah 1, we learn that Israel’s sins had led to the desolation of their country (Isa 1:2-9). In Isaiah 66:5-14, God promises comfort and joy in a new Jerusalem.
In Isaiah 1, God warns Israel of the consequences if they persist in rebellion (Isa 1:27-31). In Isaiah 66:15-24 God promises certain judgment for rebels and salvation for His people.
Friends, God is most gracious in correcting errors and offering comfort from trials. Although God’s holiness demands that He punish those who persist in rebellion, He lovingly offers salvation to every one regardless of nationality.
We ought to worship our great God who offers us comfort, joy, and salvation from eternal judgment.
So let us open our Bibles to Isaiah 66 to learn how we ought to worship our great God who offers us comfort, joy, and salvation from eternal judgment.
The worship God desires (Isa 66:1-4)
What kind of god do you worship? Is your god delighted when you give him a thousand dollars? Is your god thrilled when you perform an act of service?
In Isaiah 66:1-2, the Lord cautions us from having too small a view of Him. God is not waiting for people to donate their time and money. God is not waiting to be entertained by people performing rituals. Unlike earthly kings or false deities, God is not dependent on people for anything. He is all sufficient. He exists and flourishes without the need for any other creature. He is not even lonely. God has everything He needs and can unilaterally make whatever He wants.
Whilst there are many magnificent homes in Singapore, and grand palaces in the world like Versailles and the Forbidden City, God reminds us that He has built a far grander home for Himself. He has made heaven His throne and earth His footstool. Our entire universe was made by God. He spoke and all things came to be. He spread out the sky like a blanket, and placed the sun, moon and stars in their place. He formed our globe and covered it with majestic mountains, vast plains and deep blue oceans. He filled our planet with beautiful flowers, towering trees and all sorts of living creatures. God took dust and formed the first man, and took a rib from Adam to form the first woman.
God made us and has given us the breath of life. Everything we have is from Him. He is the greatest being in the entire galaxy. Heaven is His throne and our world, in all its splendour, is merely His footstool.
Therefore, our Great God asks, what kind of house can you build for Him?
During Solomon’s time, God had given the Israelites the privilege of building Him a temple. It was a magnificent building that the Israelites were very proud of. But it was really God who had enabled the construction of the temple. It was God who gave the design, supplied the craftsmen with the special skills, and provided the materials. Apart from God, the Israelites would not have been able to construct the temple.
Since none of us can build something pleasing to God on our own, and since none of us have the capability to wow God with our talents, what kind of offering can we possibly give God? God teaches us in Isaiah 66:2b what would truly please Him — “But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word”.
God is more interested in having a right relationship with His people than He is about real estate, receiving gifts or acts of service. God delights in those who have a right relationship with Him. God is pleased when people are humble, contrite in spirit and tremble at His word.
Those who are humble think less of themselves and more of God. They are less focused on getting what they want, and more focused on waiting on God. Worship is not about singing songs to catchy tunes, but about ascribing to God the glory that is due to His name. The humble do not presume to make demands, but are simply thankful to be in God’s presence.
The humble know that they are undeserving and are overwhelmed by God’s grace and mercy. Those who are contrite display an awareness of their own sins. They have a high view of God’s holiness and painfully aware of how sinful they are. They are convicted by their inability to live according to God’s holy standards. They are repentant of the wrongs they have committed against the Lord.
Those who tremble at God’s Word are those who have a genuine desire to please Him. They want to know God’s will. They intently listen to every Word that proceeds from God’s mouth. They are careful to discover the authorial intent when studying Scripture.
They are zealous to do whatever the Lord commands, even if it requires sacrifice and a dying to self. They love God’s truths and treasure His wisdom more than their own experiences. God’s Word is a lamp to their feet and a light to their path.
God cares more about the condition of our heart and our attitude towards Him then about the outward signs of religiosity.
Friends, God does not keep us in the dark about the kind of worship that He desires. He tells us that He is delighted when his people humbly respond to His love and grace. God looks favourably upon those who share His righteousness and hate sin. God is pleased with those who seek to do His will. God cares more about the condition of our heart and our attitude towards Him then about the outward signs of religiosity.
This is why He had rejected the false worship described in Isaiah 66:3. The sacrifices and rituals that people perform with a wrong attitude is an abomination. Although outwardly they may be performing the right actions like sacrificing a prized animal or presenting expensive offerings like frankincense, God views it as sacrilegious.
He likens false worship to killing a man, breaking a dog’s neck, offering pig’s blood and blessing an idol. Every Israelite knew that God forbade murder, touching unclean animals like the dog and pig, and worshipping idols. Hence associating Israel’s worship with grave images of sin and blasphemy strongly communicate God’s point that false worship is even worse than doing nothing. False worship and religious hypocrisy are abominations.
God’s anger is especially kindled when sinners try to put on a façade that they are god-fearing when their hearts are actually far from Him. He says in Isaiah 66:4, “when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, they did not listen; but they did what was evil in my eyes and chose that in which I did not delight.”
In contrast to true worshippers, those who practice false worship do not have a genuine relationship with God. They are unable to recognise God’s voice because they do not know God. And even when God reveals Himself to them, they do not care. They not only ignore God but wilfully do what is evil in His eyes. They choose to do the things that anger God. They care only about their own pleasures.
God desires us to have a right relationship with Him. He values our hearts more than any other gift or sacrifice we can bring.
Friends, God desires us to have a right relationship with Him. He values our hearts more than any other gift or sacrifice we can bring.
Consider the worship that you have brought to God today. What is your attitude like as you sing? What went through your mind when we were led in confessing our sins? What is your disposition towards the preaching of God’s Word? Do you come with a humble heart, knowing you are joining a room full of sinners saved by grace alone? Are you seeking to ascribe to our great God the glory that is due to His name or do you view everything as some kind of performance put up for your pleasure or criticism?
God is delighted when we humbly respond to His love and grace. He looks favourably upon us when we share His righteousness and hate sin. God is pleased when we study His Word and seek to do His will.
So what keeps you from living according to God’s truths?
One of the reasons the Israelites failed to do what God desires is because of the challenges they faced. Pleasing God is the right thing to do, but oftentimes, it is the harder path to walk. Sometimes following God feels like having a target on our back. Sometimes upholding God’s truths invites scorn and ridicule. Sometimes, being faithful results in persecution and death. Thus, God graciously promises comfort and joy to those who press on in true worship no matter the cost.
Promise of Comfort and Joy (Isa 66:5-14)
In a social setting, most of us desire to be accepted. When we learn what the majority view is, we try to espouse that as much as possible. When we learn what the majority wants to eat, we go with that unless we do not want Mala.
We know from personal experience that it is awkward, and sometimes even painful, when we hold to a different view from the majority. You got to be careful about speaking up against someone who is held in high regard. You got to tread carefully when about talking about something taboo.
This is why we try to go with the flow as much as possible. But when it comes to our faith, we must not let our fear of upsetting man or being put out of our social circle deter us from pleasing God. We must be prepared to bear the cost of living for God.
We learn in Isaiah 66:5 that those who tremble at God’s word faced persecution from their own brothers. Their fellow countryman who did not share their love for God hated them. They cast them out of their social circles. Perhaps the faithful were shunned by unbelieving family or lost job opportunities or had relationships severed because of their love for God.
Thus God graciously offers them promises of comfort and joy. God says in Isaiah 66:5b, it is those who ridicule God’s people who shall be put to shame. Isaiah 66:6 assures us that God will not keep silent as His faithful are mocked and persecuted. God’s righteous anger will be kindled. From His resting place, He will rise to render recompense. He will address the injustice and punish the ungodly scoffers. There will be great vindication for God’s people.
Although we may experience scorn and ridicule for wanting to please a God who may seem to be imaginary to others, God promises that a day is coming when the mockers will experience great regret over their actions. They will experience His just fury and realise that they are the ones who had gotten it all wrong.
Besides setting the record straight, God promises to give His people great joy by incorporating them into a new and glorious nation that overflows with peace and comfort. Using the imagery of a woman giving birth before she even experiences the pain from contractions, God tells us in Isaiah 66:7-9 that He has the power to do the impossible. He can cause a land to be born in one day. He can bring forth a new nation in one moment.
Last year the Straits Times reported that our Total Fertility Rate had dropped to 0.97, way lower than the replacement rate of 2.1. Even with the addition of many family-friendly policies, our population is struggling to replace itself from one generation to the next.
Thus it is indeed remarkable that God can give rise to a new nation in an instant. God promises in Isaiah 66:9 that whatever he brings to the point of birth, He will cause to bring forth. Whatever He starts, He will see through to fulfilment.
Therefore, God exhorts all who tremble at His Word to rejoice. A day is coming when He will establish a new nation that is only filled with true worshippers. God will be at the centre of His city and He will satisfy His people.
One of the most special moments mothers have is when their baby has drunk so much milk that they fall asleep with a grin on their face. That is the image God wants us to picture for ourselves. He will delight us with abundant provisions. His children will experience total comfort and complete provision. Peace will not be experienced sporadically or in little trickles. Rather peace shall flow like a river. God’s people shall experience complete comfort like a baby that is safe in mama’s arms. Their hearts shall rejoice and even their bones shall feel nourished because the Lord’s hand of blessing is upon them.
Like electricity that chooses the path of least resistance, we often choose the path of least conflict. We strive to have a quiet and enjoyable life by not running against the prevailing views of the day. But God has revealed Himself to us as our Creator and Redeemer. God has told us what He desires. And we must not be afraid of the consequences of living for Him, of living according to His truths.
Yes, letting people know our understanding of sin, marriage and gender roles may invite ridicule. Refusing to compromise our integrity and seeking to be sexually pure may invite scorn. But God promises comfort and joy whenever we suffer for His name’s sake. God promises comfort and joy to all who tremble at His word.
God will vindicate us at the right time and incorporate us into the new Jerusalem that He is establishing. We will experience peace like a river. Joy shall fill our hearts as we enjoy God’s glorious abundance. We shall be full of delight as we fellowship with God and enjoy Him as a child enjoys cuddling with his parent.
How does God’s promise of comfort and joy encourage you to press on in the faith?
Friends, how does God’s promise of comfort and joy encourage you to press on in the faith? Are His promises sufficient to stop you from being ashamed of His truths when you are with nonbelievers?
Although the future judgment of those who practice false worship and persecute true worshippers is severe, God graciously offers a chance to repent and experience His salvation. Warnings are given with the hope that people will heed them.
Consider the large plastic yellow bananas that cleaners set up whenever they are mopping the floor. Those who take heed of the warning that floors are slippery avoid injury. But those who ignore the warning and run invite danger upon themselves.
Similarly, God warns us of His wrath against sin so that we will change course whilst we can. And just in case we think that God is only interested in saving Israel, God assures us in the final verses of Isaiah that both His judgment of sin and offer of salvation extend to the nations.
Promise of Judgment and Salvation (Isa 66:15-24)
What we just read may come as a surprise. Not everyone will get to heaven. The Lord who sits enthroned in the heavens will be coming to judge every single one of us. He will come with great power to execute fiery judgments on those who practice false worship. Those who think they can purify themselves or those who think they are righteous will realise how sinful they are in God’s eyes. Those who have been committing abominations and dishonouring God shall come to an end. God’s holiness shall prevail and He will render the fury sinners deserve.
Isaiah 66:24 makes clear that those who experience divine fury have rebelled against the Lord. They are judged because they have not worshipped their Creator even though what can be known about Him has been made plain in creation.
The fact that they know that we cannot control the sun or stop the rain makes them culpable of their refusal to acknowledge God. They have wilfully suppressed the conscience God has given them and chosen to please themselves rather than honour God. Because they have ignored God’s warnings and persisted in their rebellion, they shall endure everlasting punishment. As Isaiah 66:24b writes, “For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”
Worms live off rotting bodies, so the reference to the worm not dying indicates that there shall be no respite for the wicked. They shall rot forever in judgment. The flames of judgement will neither cease. They shall be an abhorrence for eternity. This is a graphic description of the eternal punishment that awaits all who persist in their rebellion against God.
It is no wonder that many have struggled to accept the reality of hell. Some well-meaning folks have sought to explain away hell. Some say hell is figurative. Some say that the punishment will not be eternal. Still others have even sought to say that unbelievers will just cease to exist.
But friends, do these views do justice to what God has revealed about the punishment that awaits sinners? Do we have any warrant to rewrite God’s truths or make light of what He has declared?
God wants us to know the reality of hell and the severity of His judgment for a very important reason. Right in the opening of Isaiah, the Lord says in Isaiah 1:18-20, ““Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
God’s desire is our salvation. He desires us to heed His warnings and repent of our sins. He desires us to turn to His Anointed Servant who can save us from this evil age.
In contrast to the terrible fate that awaits rebellious sinners, God offers a beautiful future for His people. He states in Isaiah 65:17-25 and Isaiah 66:7-14 that He is preparing paradise for believers. They shall dwell in a new age that is filled with endless joy. Sin and death shall be no more. There shall be no more pain and suffering. No more conflict. No more futility. People shall enjoy the work of their hands and experience much fruitfulness.
Most importantly, God will be in their midst. People will enjoy God’s fellowship. They will enjoy His comfort and abundant provisions. They will enjoy worshipping God and feast with Him for eternity. In the same way that the experience of a soccer match is greatly enhanced by being in the midst of thousands cheering for the same team, so the enjoyment of God’s people will be enhanced by the presence of millions of believers from around the world.
God tells us in Isaiah 66:18-23 that He plans to fill the entire new world with true worshippers. Although an earthly dignitary may warrant a packed stadium of supporters, the King of the Universe deserves an entire planet full of worshippers. These worshippers, must then come from beyond ethnic Israel. Thus God explains in Isaiah 66:19 that He will set a sign among His people so that everyone will know that the time has come for Him to gather all nations and tongues to come and see His glory.
When we recall what took place on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2, we will note that the sign God is referring to must be the cross of Christ. For between the Isaiah prophecy and the coming of Jesus Christ, there was no gathering of nations. In fact, Old Testament Israel almost ceased to exist. The northern tribes were scattered, and all that remained was just the small southern kingdom of Judah. But then miraculous things began to happen when Jesus entered our world and lived amongst us. As Jesus taught people about the coming day of judgment and the need to repent and believe in Him, people began to listen and gather around him. As Jesus performed miracles, His fame spread and even the Samaritans and Gentiles heard the gospel. A Roman centurion, a Syrophoenician and a Samaritan were among the non-Jews who came to faith. On the day that Jesus died on the cross for the sins of His people, another Roman centurion declared that He is the Son of God. And after Jesus had risen from the dead and ascended into heaven. Still more came to faith.
After Peter preached the Good News of Jesus to a large gathering of folks from various countries on the Day of Pentecost, 3000 came to faith. And the gospel spread like wildfire. By the end of the New Testament, you would note how far the gospel had spread in just a short period of time. Churches had sprung up all over the Roman empire. And the apostle. Paul was even trying to raise financial support from Christians in Rome so that he could take the gospel to Spain, which was then considered the ends of the earth.
Today, there are churches in almost every nation. Even in closed countries, God is at work and seeds are being sown. Thus we already see the fulfilment of Isaiah 66:19 taking place. God has been gathering the nations to himself. Through Jesus Christ, people who speak different languages are being converted and sent out to be missionaries to other nations. Tarshish which is Spain, Put and Lud which is northern Africa, Javan which is Greece and the Mediterranean region have received the gospel. Even our tiny island of Singapore received missionaries who proclaimed the gospel to the Pioneer and Merdeka generations. And although there is sometimes opposition to the spread of the gospel, God’s glory will be declared among the nations.
All the various modes of transport known to the Israelites are placed at the disposal of Kingdom work. Horses, chariots, litters, mules and dromedaries which are Arabian camels are deployed to ferry true worshippers from every nation to the new Jerusalem.
Nothing will be able to impede the spread of the gospel. All of God’s children will hear the Good News of Jesus. God will make smooth their path to worship Him.
God’s point is simple. Nothing will be able to impede the spread of the gospel. All of God’s children will hear the Good News of Jesus. God will make smooth their path to worship Him. As envisioned in Isaiah 2, people from every nation shall go to the mountain of the Lord to worship their Creator, Redeemer and Friend.
What is also encouraging for those who are not Jews by birth is that everyone who believes in Jesus will experience the same glorious salvation. Whilst only a select few in Old Testament Israel could draw near to God as priests and only one representative was chosen to enter the holy of holiest, the Lord declares in Isaiah 66:21 that even Gentile converts can serve as priests and be considered as Levites set apart to draw near to Him.
1 Peter 2:9 says that through Christ, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”
In Isaiah 66:22-23, the Lord declares that His children shall dwell in the new heavens and new earth with Him for eternity — “From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, God’s people will worship Him.” In the Old Testament, Sabbaths refer to weekly worship and new moons to monthly religious feasts. Thus God communicates that worship will be week to week and month to month. Worship will be unending. Further, there will be no more mourning. God’s people will be entering a joyous festival. Worship and joy will be the eternal present.
Friends, how does this glorious future change your perspective of the trials you are presently facing? How does God’s desire for His glory to be declared among the nations and have many people worship Him challenge your involvement in evangelism and missions?
May the Spirit enable us to fulfill Christ’s command to make disciples of all nations. Although we might expect Isaiah to end the book with this glorious vision of people from every tribe worshipping God, the Lord has one more important point to make. He says in Isaiah 66:24, that believers who are living in paradise shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against Him. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.
The visible judgement of the rebellious serve as a somber reminder of the fate that all of us deserve and the fate that we shall meet if we do not repent and worship God. For all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. All of us have failed to honour God as creator. All of us have rejected His truths and not given Him the worship He deserves.
But God, being rich in mercy, sent Jesus to save us from experiencing this terrible fate. Jesus was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed.
How deep the Father’s love for us
How vast beyond all measure!
That He should give His only Son,
To make a wretch His treasure.
This truth alone should move us to worship God with all our heart, soul and mind. It should enable us to sing God’s praises with passion. It should fuel eternal worship and devotion. If you are exploring the faith, I pray that you will choose the joy of living in the wonderful kingdom of God rather than endure His terrifying judgement.
God graciously says in Isaiah 55:3, “Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live”. God’s desire is for you is to be with Him for eternity. Please talk to us or the person who invited you to find out more about the salvation Jesus offers.
You may not be a “special kid” who can’t sing well, but through Christ, you are a special child of God. You have a Great God who wields incomparable power for His glory and your good. You have a Holy God who will punish the wicked but show grace when you trust in Jesus’ saving work. You have a loving Father who has prepared a new dwelling for you that overflows with peace and provision. God has made smooth the path for you to share in His joy for eternity.
May these wonderful truths encourage us to gather regularly to praise God even if we are less gifted and self-conscious about our voices. We were created to worship God and we shall spend eternity worshipping Him. Remember that every time we sing heartily unto the Lord as a church, we are previewing what heaven will be like. May the glorious truths we have learned also strengthen your faith in Christ, give you a genuine desire to please Him, encourage you to evangelise the lost, and make you long for heaven.
Let us pray.