Isaiah 66

Isaiah 66:1

The Work of the LORD Is Wise

The third and last section of this chapter deals with what the LORD has to say to those individuals who have remained faithful in the time of great distress, when they are suffering for the sake of their faithfulness to Him. He speaks to them with a voice familiar to them and with comforting words (Isaiah 28:23). They are urged to listen attentively: “give ear … listen” (cf. Mark 4:3; 9).

Isaiah uses a parable for his comforting words. He uses the picture of a farmer, as also Paul does (1 Corinthians 3:7-9). The farmer is here a picture of the LORD. His ground represents the people of Israel. The hard ground is the apostate part of the people. The plow are the Assyrians. The different seeds are the scattered tribes of Israel who will be planted again in the land of Israel.

Just as the farmer does not always continue to plow (Isaiah 28:24), so will the LORD not endlessly scourge. Both plowing and disciplining are not the ultimate goal of the work. The farmer has another goal, a good goal, with the land in mind. So does the LORD. Therefore there is hope in the midst of tribulation. The LORD has a merciful purpose for all and the time of trial will come to an end.

The farmer knows exactly how to cultivate the land for the diverse types of seed and how to sow each kind (Isaiah 28:25). He does not have this from himself, but from his God who taught him in nature (Isaiah 28:26). Why then is man so reluctant to accept God’s teaching of spiritual things?

Just as the farmer cultivates the soil differently for the various kinds of seed, he also cultivates the harvest in a different way (Isaiah 28:27). He threshes the grain, but dill and cumin are too small to thresh. If he did, they would be crushed. So he has to beat them out. And in that he also works with wisdom. He doesn’t go on threshing or beating endlessly, he’s not out to crush the harvest, because then he destroys it and it’s worthless (Isaiah 28:28).

If the farmer deals with the fruit of his work with so much insight, would not God, Who created him and gave him that insight, act in the same way? The faithful and sorely tried believer may know that the LORD acts with him in the same manner and with the same wisdom. The LORD is concerned with the harvest, the result. With this in mind He works the ground of man’s heart with trouble, conviction of sin, sorrow. In it then falls the good seed, with the good fruit as a result.

Therefore, the wise believer exults in tribulation (Romans 5:3), for he knows that the Father is the Vinedresser, who prunes so that he may bring forth more and even much fruit (John 15:1-2; 8). He who has been trained by discipline receives “the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:11).

The LORD does not go on endlessly with discipline. The goal is clearly before Him in all actions with His people. The suffering of the God-fearing has a purpose. That purpose is the purification of his faith, that it may result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:6-7).

Everything is in the hands of “the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 28:29). Though it is not always clear to see, faith may trust that He “has made [His] counsel wonderful and [His] wisdom great” (Jeremiah 32:18b-19). His attention is constantly focused on the remnant He wants to save. In view of them, He acts with wisdom and with the greatest care.

In the process of plowing, sowing and harvesting everything is focused on the fruit. With the fruit, the chaff must be separated from the corn. The chaff of iniquity must be separated from the wheat of the person with whom is dealt. This is not a process that goes on and on. It applies to God’s actions and also to the activities of the farmer. The LORD of hosts, Who as Creator has given the farmer the necessary discernment for his work, knows how to act with perfect wisdom when He deals with His people. He will not destroy them. They remain His own property.

When the land has been plowed and levelled and when the seed has been sown, there is finally the harvest with the fruits of the land. Then the LORD will say to His people: “From Me comes your fruit” (Hosea 14:8d).

We may know that the Lord is also so busy with us. He chastises us “for [our] good, so that we may share His holiness” and that His chastisements “to those who have been trained by it, afterward” will give “the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:10-11). He knows exactly what His own are able to endure (1 Corinthians 10:13). He knows how to deal with each seed, with each of His own. Anyone who wishes to be used by the Lord must keep this principle in mind. Then he, who desires to help others, will deal with everyone he desires to help in a thoughtful and wise way.

What a comfort to know that the way of God is perfect (Psalms 18:30). It is true: He “has made [His] counsel wonderful and [His] wisdom great” (Isaiah 28:29b). Praised be His Name!

Isaiah 66:2

The Work of the LORD Is Wise

The third and last section of this chapter deals with what the LORD has to say to those individuals who have remained faithful in the time of great distress, when they are suffering for the sake of their faithfulness to Him. He speaks to them with a voice familiar to them and with comforting words (Isaiah 28:23). They are urged to listen attentively: “give ear … listen” (cf. Mark 4:3; 9).

Isaiah uses a parable for his comforting words. He uses the picture of a farmer, as also Paul does (1 Corinthians 3:7-9). The farmer is here a picture of the LORD. His ground represents the people of Israel. The hard ground is the apostate part of the people. The plow are the Assyrians. The different seeds are the scattered tribes of Israel who will be planted again in the land of Israel.

Just as the farmer does not always continue to plow (Isaiah 28:24), so will the LORD not endlessly scourge. Both plowing and disciplining are not the ultimate goal of the work. The farmer has another goal, a good goal, with the land in mind. So does the LORD. Therefore there is hope in the midst of tribulation. The LORD has a merciful purpose for all and the time of trial will come to an end.

The farmer knows exactly how to cultivate the land for the diverse types of seed and how to sow each kind (Isaiah 28:25). He does not have this from himself, but from his God who taught him in nature (Isaiah 28:26). Why then is man so reluctant to accept God’s teaching of spiritual things?

Just as the farmer cultivates the soil differently for the various kinds of seed, he also cultivates the harvest in a different way (Isaiah 28:27). He threshes the grain, but dill and cumin are too small to thresh. If he did, they would be crushed. So he has to beat them out. And in that he also works with wisdom. He doesn’t go on threshing or beating endlessly, he’s not out to crush the harvest, because then he destroys it and it’s worthless (Isaiah 28:28).

If the farmer deals with the fruit of his work with so much insight, would not God, Who created him and gave him that insight, act in the same way? The faithful and sorely tried believer may know that the LORD acts with him in the same manner and with the same wisdom. The LORD is concerned with the harvest, the result. With this in mind He works the ground of man’s heart with trouble, conviction of sin, sorrow. In it then falls the good seed, with the good fruit as a result.

Therefore, the wise believer exults in tribulation (Romans 5:3), for he knows that the Father is the Vinedresser, who prunes so that he may bring forth more and even much fruit (John 15:1-2; 8). He who has been trained by discipline receives “the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:11).

The LORD does not go on endlessly with discipline. The goal is clearly before Him in all actions with His people. The suffering of the God-fearing has a purpose. That purpose is the purification of his faith, that it may result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:6-7).

Everything is in the hands of “the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 28:29). Though it is not always clear to see, faith may trust that He “has made [His] counsel wonderful and [His] wisdom great” (Jeremiah 32:18b-19). His attention is constantly focused on the remnant He wants to save. In view of them, He acts with wisdom and with the greatest care.

In the process of plowing, sowing and harvesting everything is focused on the fruit. With the fruit, the chaff must be separated from the corn. The chaff of iniquity must be separated from the wheat of the person with whom is dealt. This is not a process that goes on and on. It applies to God’s actions and also to the activities of the farmer. The LORD of hosts, Who as Creator has given the farmer the necessary discernment for his work, knows how to act with perfect wisdom when He deals with His people. He will not destroy them. They remain His own property.

When the land has been plowed and levelled and when the seed has been sown, there is finally the harvest with the fruits of the land. Then the LORD will say to His people: “From Me comes your fruit” (Hosea 14:8d).

We may know that the Lord is also so busy with us. He chastises us “for [our] good, so that we may share His holiness” and that His chastisements “to those who have been trained by it, afterward” will give “the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:10-11). He knows exactly what His own are able to endure (1 Corinthians 10:13). He knows how to deal with each seed, with each of His own. Anyone who wishes to be used by the Lord must keep this principle in mind. Then he, who desires to help others, will deal with everyone he desires to help in a thoughtful and wise way.

What a comfort to know that the way of God is perfect (Psalms 18:30). It is true: He “has made [His] counsel wonderful and [His] wisdom great” (Isaiah 28:29b). Praised be His Name!

Isaiah 66:3

The Work of the LORD Is Wise

The third and last section of this chapter deals with what the LORD has to say to those individuals who have remained faithful in the time of great distress, when they are suffering for the sake of their faithfulness to Him. He speaks to them with a voice familiar to them and with comforting words (Isaiah 28:23). They are urged to listen attentively: “give ear … listen” (cf. Mark 4:3; 9).

Isaiah uses a parable for his comforting words. He uses the picture of a farmer, as also Paul does (1 Corinthians 3:7-9). The farmer is here a picture of the LORD. His ground represents the people of Israel. The hard ground is the apostate part of the people. The plow are the Assyrians. The different seeds are the scattered tribes of Israel who will be planted again in the land of Israel.

Just as the farmer does not always continue to plow (Isaiah 28:24), so will the LORD not endlessly scourge. Both plowing and disciplining are not the ultimate goal of the work. The farmer has another goal, a good goal, with the land in mind. So does the LORD. Therefore there is hope in the midst of tribulation. The LORD has a merciful purpose for all and the time of trial will come to an end.

The farmer knows exactly how to cultivate the land for the diverse types of seed and how to sow each kind (Isaiah 28:25). He does not have this from himself, but from his God who taught him in nature (Isaiah 28:26). Why then is man so reluctant to accept God’s teaching of spiritual things?

Just as the farmer cultivates the soil differently for the various kinds of seed, he also cultivates the harvest in a different way (Isaiah 28:27). He threshes the grain, but dill and cumin are too small to thresh. If he did, they would be crushed. So he has to beat them out. And in that he also works with wisdom. He doesn’t go on threshing or beating endlessly, he’s not out to crush the harvest, because then he destroys it and it’s worthless (Isaiah 28:28).

If the farmer deals with the fruit of his work with so much insight, would not God, Who created him and gave him that insight, act in the same way? The faithful and sorely tried believer may know that the LORD acts with him in the same manner and with the same wisdom. The LORD is concerned with the harvest, the result. With this in mind He works the ground of man’s heart with trouble, conviction of sin, sorrow. In it then falls the good seed, with the good fruit as a result.

Therefore, the wise believer exults in tribulation (Romans 5:3), for he knows that the Father is the Vinedresser, who prunes so that he may bring forth more and even much fruit (John 15:1-2; 8). He who has been trained by discipline receives “the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:11).

The LORD does not go on endlessly with discipline. The goal is clearly before Him in all actions with His people. The suffering of the God-fearing has a purpose. That purpose is the purification of his faith, that it may result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:6-7).

Everything is in the hands of “the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 28:29). Though it is not always clear to see, faith may trust that He “has made [His] counsel wonderful and [His] wisdom great” (Jeremiah 32:18b-19). His attention is constantly focused on the remnant He wants to save. In view of them, He acts with wisdom and with the greatest care.

In the process of plowing, sowing and harvesting everything is focused on the fruit. With the fruit, the chaff must be separated from the corn. The chaff of iniquity must be separated from the wheat of the person with whom is dealt. This is not a process that goes on and on. It applies to God’s actions and also to the activities of the farmer. The LORD of hosts, Who as Creator has given the farmer the necessary discernment for his work, knows how to act with perfect wisdom when He deals with His people. He will not destroy them. They remain His own property.

When the land has been plowed and levelled and when the seed has been sown, there is finally the harvest with the fruits of the land. Then the LORD will say to His people: “From Me comes your fruit” (Hosea 14:8d).

We may know that the Lord is also so busy with us. He chastises us “for [our] good, so that we may share His holiness” and that His chastisements “to those who have been trained by it, afterward” will give “the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:10-11). He knows exactly what His own are able to endure (1 Corinthians 10:13). He knows how to deal with each seed, with each of His own. Anyone who wishes to be used by the Lord must keep this principle in mind. Then he, who desires to help others, will deal with everyone he desires to help in a thoughtful and wise way.

What a comfort to know that the way of God is perfect (Psalms 18:30). It is true: He “has made [His] counsel wonderful and [His] wisdom great” (Isaiah 28:29b). Praised be His Name!

Isaiah 66:5

Introduction

While the king of the North is in Egypt, restoration will take place in Israel with the return of the remnant from the two tribes – and later from the ten tribes (Matthew 24:31). Through the intervention of the LORD, the enemy moving against Israel at that time will be destroyed and Israel will be redeemed.

Historically, a preliminary fulfillment and also illustration of this takes place through the miraculous destruction of the army of Assyria and later through the death of Sanherib, the king of Assyria (Isaiah 37:36-38).

The Siege of Jerusalem

In the beginning of Isaiah 28 Samaria is compared with a fading crown of flowers. This chapter begins with the announcement of a “woe” to “Ariel”, which is Jerusalem (Isaiah 29:1). Ariel means “lion of God”. Ariel is also translated as ‘[fire] hearth of God’ with the connotation ‘altar of God’. In that case it also means Jerusalem, but then seen as a place of sacrifice where the fire burns in the new temple (Ezekiel 43:15-16).

‘Lion of God’ points to the great power of the Lord Jesus as King (Matthew 28:18) which He will use to rule from Jerusalem. He is then the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Revelation 5:5). The ‘altar of God’ (Isaiah 31:9; Ezekiel 43:15-16) points to Jerusalem as the future center of service to God. The nations will come to worship the LORD there in the new temple.

The LORD denotes Jerusalem as “the city [where] David [once] camped”. This indicates His intimate connection with it and also points to the future when the great Son of David will dwell and reign there. Then the LORD will be for that city, but now He must turn against that city to purify it. The reason is their religiosity, which is still a purely formal matter, in which nothing is for Him.

He says in a mocking tone that they should continue with their formal religious obligations by observing their annual feasts. The expression ‘year to year’ makes it clear that these feasts have become a habit, yes, a rut, no more than a formal handling. To place their trust in this is foolish (cf. Jeremiah 7:4).

He Himself will bring distress to them (Isaiah 29:2). Ariel is not yet a lion here, but a hearth of massacre. Jerusalem undergoes a deeply humiliating treatment here, under the fire of God’s anger. The LORD shall besiege the city, a siege which He shall cause to take place by the enemy armies in the end time (Isaiah 29:3). This is about the second siege of the Assyrians of Jerusalem in the end time.

When the king of the North is in Egypt he will hear rumors from the east and from the north and therefore return from Egypt to Jerusalem (Daniel 11:44). The festive bustle and party cheer in the city of Jerusalem (cf. Isaiah 22:2) will turn in agony and deep mumbling over the disasters that are now imminent (Isaiah 29:4).

Isaiah 66:6

Introduction

While the king of the North is in Egypt, restoration will take place in Israel with the return of the remnant from the two tribes – and later from the ten tribes (Matthew 24:31). Through the intervention of the LORD, the enemy moving against Israel at that time will be destroyed and Israel will be redeemed.

Historically, a preliminary fulfillment and also illustration of this takes place through the miraculous destruction of the army of Assyria and later through the death of Sanherib, the king of Assyria (Isaiah 37:36-38).

The Siege of Jerusalem

In the beginning of Isaiah 28 Samaria is compared with a fading crown of flowers. This chapter begins with the announcement of a “woe” to “Ariel”, which is Jerusalem (Isaiah 29:1). Ariel means “lion of God”. Ariel is also translated as ‘[fire] hearth of God’ with the connotation ‘altar of God’. In that case it also means Jerusalem, but then seen as a place of sacrifice where the fire burns in the new temple (Ezekiel 43:15-16).

‘Lion of God’ points to the great power of the Lord Jesus as King (Matthew 28:18) which He will use to rule from Jerusalem. He is then the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Revelation 5:5). The ‘altar of God’ (Isaiah 31:9; Ezekiel 43:15-16) points to Jerusalem as the future center of service to God. The nations will come to worship the LORD there in the new temple.

The LORD denotes Jerusalem as “the city [where] David [once] camped”. This indicates His intimate connection with it and also points to the future when the great Son of David will dwell and reign there. Then the LORD will be for that city, but now He must turn against that city to purify it. The reason is their religiosity, which is still a purely formal matter, in which nothing is for Him.

He says in a mocking tone that they should continue with their formal religious obligations by observing their annual feasts. The expression ‘year to year’ makes it clear that these feasts have become a habit, yes, a rut, no more than a formal handling. To place their trust in this is foolish (cf. Jeremiah 7:4).

He Himself will bring distress to them (Isaiah 29:2). Ariel is not yet a lion here, but a hearth of massacre. Jerusalem undergoes a deeply humiliating treatment here, under the fire of God’s anger. The LORD shall besiege the city, a siege which He shall cause to take place by the enemy armies in the end time (Isaiah 29:3). This is about the second siege of the Assyrians of Jerusalem in the end time.

When the king of the North is in Egypt he will hear rumors from the east and from the north and therefore return from Egypt to Jerusalem (Daniel 11:44). The festive bustle and party cheer in the city of Jerusalem (cf. Isaiah 22:2) will turn in agony and deep mumbling over the disasters that are now imminent (Isaiah 29:4).

Isaiah 66:7

Introduction

While the king of the North is in Egypt, restoration will take place in Israel with the return of the remnant from the two tribes – and later from the ten tribes (Matthew 24:31). Through the intervention of the LORD, the enemy moving against Israel at that time will be destroyed and Israel will be redeemed.

Historically, a preliminary fulfillment and also illustration of this takes place through the miraculous destruction of the army of Assyria and later through the death of Sanherib, the king of Assyria (Isaiah 37:36-38).

The Siege of Jerusalem

In the beginning of Isaiah 28 Samaria is compared with a fading crown of flowers. This chapter begins with the announcement of a “woe” to “Ariel”, which is Jerusalem (Isaiah 29:1). Ariel means “lion of God”. Ariel is also translated as ‘[fire] hearth of God’ with the connotation ‘altar of God’. In that case it also means Jerusalem, but then seen as a place of sacrifice where the fire burns in the new temple (Ezekiel 43:15-16).

‘Lion of God’ points to the great power of the Lord Jesus as King (Matthew 28:18) which He will use to rule from Jerusalem. He is then the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Revelation 5:5). The ‘altar of God’ (Isaiah 31:9; Ezekiel 43:15-16) points to Jerusalem as the future center of service to God. The nations will come to worship the LORD there in the new temple.

The LORD denotes Jerusalem as “the city [where] David [once] camped”. This indicates His intimate connection with it and also points to the future when the great Son of David will dwell and reign there. Then the LORD will be for that city, but now He must turn against that city to purify it. The reason is their religiosity, which is still a purely formal matter, in which nothing is for Him.

He says in a mocking tone that they should continue with their formal religious obligations by observing their annual feasts. The expression ‘year to year’ makes it clear that these feasts have become a habit, yes, a rut, no more than a formal handling. To place their trust in this is foolish (cf. Jeremiah 7:4).

He Himself will bring distress to them (Isaiah 29:2). Ariel is not yet a lion here, but a hearth of massacre. Jerusalem undergoes a deeply humiliating treatment here, under the fire of God’s anger. The LORD shall besiege the city, a siege which He shall cause to take place by the enemy armies in the end time (Isaiah 29:3). This is about the second siege of the Assyrians of Jerusalem in the end time.

When the king of the North is in Egypt he will hear rumors from the east and from the north and therefore return from Egypt to Jerusalem (Daniel 11:44). The festive bustle and party cheer in the city of Jerusalem (cf. Isaiah 22:2) will turn in agony and deep mumbling over the disasters that are now imminent (Isaiah 29:4).

Isaiah 66:8

Introduction

While the king of the North is in Egypt, restoration will take place in Israel with the return of the remnant from the two tribes – and later from the ten tribes (Matthew 24:31). Through the intervention of the LORD, the enemy moving against Israel at that time will be destroyed and Israel will be redeemed.

Historically, a preliminary fulfillment and also illustration of this takes place through the miraculous destruction of the army of Assyria and later through the death of Sanherib, the king of Assyria (Isaiah 37:36-38).

The Siege of Jerusalem

In the beginning of Isaiah 28 Samaria is compared with a fading crown of flowers. This chapter begins with the announcement of a “woe” to “Ariel”, which is Jerusalem (Isaiah 29:1). Ariel means “lion of God”. Ariel is also translated as ‘[fire] hearth of God’ with the connotation ‘altar of God’. In that case it also means Jerusalem, but then seen as a place of sacrifice where the fire burns in the new temple (Ezekiel 43:15-16).

‘Lion of God’ points to the great power of the Lord Jesus as King (Matthew 28:18) which He will use to rule from Jerusalem. He is then the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Revelation 5:5). The ‘altar of God’ (Isaiah 31:9; Ezekiel 43:15-16) points to Jerusalem as the future center of service to God. The nations will come to worship the LORD there in the new temple.

The LORD denotes Jerusalem as “the city [where] David [once] camped”. This indicates His intimate connection with it and also points to the future when the great Son of David will dwell and reign there. Then the LORD will be for that city, but now He must turn against that city to purify it. The reason is their religiosity, which is still a purely formal matter, in which nothing is for Him.

He says in a mocking tone that they should continue with their formal religious obligations by observing their annual feasts. The expression ‘year to year’ makes it clear that these feasts have become a habit, yes, a rut, no more than a formal handling. To place their trust in this is foolish (cf. Jeremiah 7:4).

He Himself will bring distress to them (Isaiah 29:2). Ariel is not yet a lion here, but a hearth of massacre. Jerusalem undergoes a deeply humiliating treatment here, under the fire of God’s anger. The LORD shall besiege the city, a siege which He shall cause to take place by the enemy armies in the end time (Isaiah 29:3). This is about the second siege of the Assyrians of Jerusalem in the end time.

When the king of the North is in Egypt he will hear rumors from the east and from the north and therefore return from Egypt to Jerusalem (Daniel 11:44). The festive bustle and party cheer in the city of Jerusalem (cf. Isaiah 22:2) will turn in agony and deep mumbling over the disasters that are now imminent (Isaiah 29:4).

Isaiah 66:9

The LORD Delivers Jerusalem

Then there is a sudden reversal. The enemies are unexpectedly so crushingly defeated that they become like fine dust that can be blown away (Isaiah 29:5; Daniel 11:45). Isaiah addresses the inhabitants of Jerusalem and wants to share with them what he sees his spiritual eyes. With a sudden intervention the LORD intervenes. He intervenes by thunder and lightning (Isaiah 29:6) in order to free Jerusalem from distress. The multitude of all the nations who wage war disappear as in a dream the appeared figures disappear (Isaiah 29:7).

For the enemies it is also like a dream, but a terrible nightmare. They dream of victory, that they have Jerusalem in their hands, but they wake up and see that they have achieved nothing (Isaiah 29:8). That will happen when the Lord Jesus is back in Zion. A fulfillment of this prophecy will take place in the short term when Jerusalem is enclosed by the Assyrians (Isaiah 37:33) and the Assyrian army is beaten by the LORD (Isaiah 37:36).

Isaiah 66:10

The LORD Delivers Jerusalem

Then there is a sudden reversal. The enemies are unexpectedly so crushingly defeated that they become like fine dust that can be blown away (Isaiah 29:5; Daniel 11:45). Isaiah addresses the inhabitants of Jerusalem and wants to share with them what he sees his spiritual eyes. With a sudden intervention the LORD intervenes. He intervenes by thunder and lightning (Isaiah 29:6) in order to free Jerusalem from distress. The multitude of all the nations who wage war disappear as in a dream the appeared figures disappear (Isaiah 29:7).

For the enemies it is also like a dream, but a terrible nightmare. They dream of victory, that they have Jerusalem in their hands, but they wake up and see that they have achieved nothing (Isaiah 29:8). That will happen when the Lord Jesus is back in Zion. A fulfillment of this prophecy will take place in the short term when Jerusalem is enclosed by the Assyrians (Isaiah 37:33) and the Assyrian army is beaten by the LORD (Isaiah 37:36).

Isaiah 66:11

The LORD Delivers Jerusalem

Then there is a sudden reversal. The enemies are unexpectedly so crushingly defeated that they become like fine dust that can be blown away (Isaiah 29:5; Daniel 11:45). Isaiah addresses the inhabitants of Jerusalem and wants to share with them what he sees his spiritual eyes. With a sudden intervention the LORD intervenes. He intervenes by thunder and lightning (Isaiah 29:6) in order to free Jerusalem from distress. The multitude of all the nations who wage war disappear as in a dream the appeared figures disappear (Isaiah 29:7).

For the enemies it is also like a dream, but a terrible nightmare. They dream of victory, that they have Jerusalem in their hands, but they wake up and see that they have achieved nothing (Isaiah 29:8). That will happen when the Lord Jesus is back in Zion. A fulfillment of this prophecy will take place in the short term when Jerusalem is enclosed by the Assyrians (Isaiah 37:33) and the Assyrian army is beaten by the LORD (Isaiah 37:36).

Isaiah 66:12

The LORD Delivers Jerusalem

Then there is a sudden reversal. The enemies are unexpectedly so crushingly defeated that they become like fine dust that can be blown away (Isaiah 29:5; Daniel 11:45). Isaiah addresses the inhabitants of Jerusalem and wants to share with them what he sees his spiritual eyes. With a sudden intervention the LORD intervenes. He intervenes by thunder and lightning (Isaiah 29:6) in order to free Jerusalem from distress. The multitude of all the nations who wage war disappear as in a dream the appeared figures disappear (Isaiah 29:7).

For the enemies it is also like a dream, but a terrible nightmare. They dream of victory, that they have Jerusalem in their hands, but they wake up and see that they have achieved nothing (Isaiah 29:8). That will happen when the Lord Jesus is back in Zion. A fulfillment of this prophecy will take place in the short term when Jerusalem is enclosed by the Assyrians (Isaiah 37:33) and the Assyrian army is beaten by the LORD (Isaiah 37:36).

Isaiah 66:13

The Judgment of Blinding

In Isaiah 29:9 Isaiah again describes the condition of God’s people, the sad moral condition that makes God’s intervention by the Assyrians necessary two times. In the previous chapter he denounced the mocking spirit and unbelief (Isaiah 28:14), here he points to the spirit of blindness. He tells them to continue in blindness on their foolish, self-chosen path. In spite of all the revelations of God’s will, and in spite of the constant messages of His prophets, they have turned away and followed the counsels and imaginations of their own hearts.

As if drunk by wine, they are intoxicated by human traditions that invalidate the Word of God. Thus the Word has become unintelligible to them. This is not because the Word of God lacks clear statements or because teaching is too complicated, but because they have become blind because of their unbelief (cf. Matthew 13:14-15). It is the path of hardening. In their spiritual intoxication they stagger toward judgment.

The blindness and numbness are also a judgment of the LORD (Isaiah 29:10). After the people have chosen to be blind and have hardened their hearts, the moment comes when the LORD respects their choice as it were and says to them: ‘If you choose to be blind, you will be blind. If you choose to harden your heart, I will harden your heart.’

This verse is quoted by Paul to show that the hardening of the people still exists in the present day (Romans 11:7-8; 2 Corinthians 3:14). They do not want to understand, therefore they shall not understand. Their spiritual state is like a deep sleep, through which voices do not penetrate them. Their prophets, those who are the eyes of the people to see what the LORD wants from His people, have closed their eyes. Their heads, the seers, cannot see anything either. Those who are to lead the blind people are blind themselves. And how can a blind man lead a blind man (Matthew 15:14-15)?

The revealed will of God has become for them like a sealed book. The one who can read does not understand its message (Isaiah 29:11). The other cannot read and does not understand its message either (Isaiah 29:12).

Many Christians are in such a state when it comes, for example, to the prophetic book of the New Testament par excellence, the book of Revelation. It is considered a sealed book that one cannot read, or the reader sees himself as incapable of reading it, despite the name of the book, ‘Revelation’ or ‘unveiling’. People who believe they have found an excuse not to read in God’s Word show that the blindness does its work.

The lip religion, in which the heart is estranged from God (Isaiah 29:13), is the result of traditions, learned commandments of men. The heart is the birthplace of thoughts (Matthew 15:19). It “is more deceitful than all else” and only “I, the LORD, search the heart” to its deepest hiding places (Jeremiah 17:9-10). The Lord Jesus quotes these words of Isaiah when He reproaches the religious leaders for making the Word of God powerless by teaching doctrines that are commandments of men (Matthew 15:3-9; Mark 7:6-9).

The result is the loss of wisdom and the concealment of the will of God (Isaiah 29:14). This is the result of a marvelous act of God, marvelous because it is a judgment on His own people. He is against His people. Therefore the LORD continues to act in the same way as in the past two thousand years.

The word of Isa 29:14 is also a word quoted by Paul in connection with the preaching of the word of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:18-19). It shows that in its application it also has authority for professing Christianity today. This judgment of hardening announced by Isaiah also applies to professing Christianity, although fortunately not yet in full. However, it will happen fully after the rapture of the church (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12). In professing Christianity one also has the Bible in one’s hands, while one is not able to read or understand what God has to say, because the heart is alienated from God. He will exhibit the so-called wisdom of liberal theologians as foolishness.

How deep the apostate can sink, is shown in Isaiah 29:15. It is the greatest foolishness to suppose that one can hide from the LORD as long as one does so deep enough. This is where the third “woe” comes in. The prophet is deeply shocked by it. He expresses his great indignation at their folly to suppose that they are wiser than the LORD (Isaiah 29:16). The LORD says to them: “You turn [things] around.” Everything is turned upside down. Instead of putting their trust in the LORD in heaven, they put their trust in people on earth. It is foolishness at the top.

In their minds they have turned the relationship between the puny little creature and the sovereign Creator upside down (cf. Isaiah 45:9; Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 18:1-6; Romans 9:19-21; Job 33:13). They deny their relationship with Him or attribute inferior qualities to Him. They deny what the psalmist joyfully acknowledges, namely, that the LORD knows him through and through (Psalms 139:1-4).

They are like the clay that claims to be on the same level as the potter and in its folly claims that the potter did not make a pot of him (Romans 9:21). We also recognize it in the folly of the big bang and evolutionary theory which are invented to deny God as Creator.

This is the error of all who want to act independent from God. They do not take into account that they were not created to live for themselves, but to serve Him. They deny that He created them or blame Him for having dealt without understanding. It’s the kind of people that blames God for all the misery, as if He worked it through His actions. Such foolishness shows that they are blind to the fact that they have brought all the misery upon themselves through their unbelief and obstinacy. The only way to blessing for man is to bow down to the absolutely wise Creator and submit to His holy will.

Isaiah 66:14

The Judgment of Blinding

In Isaiah 29:9 Isaiah again describes the condition of God’s people, the sad moral condition that makes God’s intervention by the Assyrians necessary two times. In the previous chapter he denounced the mocking spirit and unbelief (Isaiah 28:14), here he points to the spirit of blindness. He tells them to continue in blindness on their foolish, self-chosen path. In spite of all the revelations of God’s will, and in spite of the constant messages of His prophets, they have turned away and followed the counsels and imaginations of their own hearts.

As if drunk by wine, they are intoxicated by human traditions that invalidate the Word of God. Thus the Word has become unintelligible to them. This is not because the Word of God lacks clear statements or because teaching is too complicated, but because they have become blind because of their unbelief (cf. Matthew 13:14-15). It is the path of hardening. In their spiritual intoxication they stagger toward judgment.

The blindness and numbness are also a judgment of the LORD (Isaiah 29:10). After the people have chosen to be blind and have hardened their hearts, the moment comes when the LORD respects their choice as it were and says to them: ‘If you choose to be blind, you will be blind. If you choose to harden your heart, I will harden your heart.’

This verse is quoted by Paul to show that the hardening of the people still exists in the present day (Romans 11:7-8; 2 Corinthians 3:14). They do not want to understand, therefore they shall not understand. Their spiritual state is like a deep sleep, through which voices do not penetrate them. Their prophets, those who are the eyes of the people to see what the LORD wants from His people, have closed their eyes. Their heads, the seers, cannot see anything either. Those who are to lead the blind people are blind themselves. And how can a blind man lead a blind man (Matthew 15:14-15)?

The revealed will of God has become for them like a sealed book. The one who can read does not understand its message (Isaiah 29:11). The other cannot read and does not understand its message either (Isaiah 29:12).

Many Christians are in such a state when it comes, for example, to the prophetic book of the New Testament par excellence, the book of Revelation. It is considered a sealed book that one cannot read, or the reader sees himself as incapable of reading it, despite the name of the book, ‘Revelation’ or ‘unveiling’. People who believe they have found an excuse not to read in God’s Word show that the blindness does its work.

The lip religion, in which the heart is estranged from God (Isaiah 29:13), is the result of traditions, learned commandments of men. The heart is the birthplace of thoughts (Matthew 15:19). It “is more deceitful than all else” and only “I, the LORD, search the heart” to its deepest hiding places (Jeremiah 17:9-10). The Lord Jesus quotes these words of Isaiah when He reproaches the religious leaders for making the Word of God powerless by teaching doctrines that are commandments of men (Matthew 15:3-9; Mark 7:6-9).

The result is the loss of wisdom and the concealment of the will of God (Isaiah 29:14). This is the result of a marvelous act of God, marvelous because it is a judgment on His own people. He is against His people. Therefore the LORD continues to act in the same way as in the past two thousand years.

The word of Isa 29:14 is also a word quoted by Paul in connection with the preaching of the word of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:18-19). It shows that in its application it also has authority for professing Christianity today. This judgment of hardening announced by Isaiah also applies to professing Christianity, although fortunately not yet in full. However, it will happen fully after the rapture of the church (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12). In professing Christianity one also has the Bible in one’s hands, while one is not able to read or understand what God has to say, because the heart is alienated from God. He will exhibit the so-called wisdom of liberal theologians as foolishness.

How deep the apostate can sink, is shown in Isaiah 29:15. It is the greatest foolishness to suppose that one can hide from the LORD as long as one does so deep enough. This is where the third “woe” comes in. The prophet is deeply shocked by it. He expresses his great indignation at their folly to suppose that they are wiser than the LORD (Isaiah 29:16). The LORD says to them: “You turn [things] around.” Everything is turned upside down. Instead of putting their trust in the LORD in heaven, they put their trust in people on earth. It is foolishness at the top.

In their minds they have turned the relationship between the puny little creature and the sovereign Creator upside down (cf. Isaiah 45:9; Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 18:1-6; Romans 9:19-21; Job 33:13). They deny their relationship with Him or attribute inferior qualities to Him. They deny what the psalmist joyfully acknowledges, namely, that the LORD knows him through and through (Psalms 139:1-4).

They are like the clay that claims to be on the same level as the potter and in its folly claims that the potter did not make a pot of him (Romans 9:21). We also recognize it in the folly of the big bang and evolutionary theory which are invented to deny God as Creator.

This is the error of all who want to act independent from God. They do not take into account that they were not created to live for themselves, but to serve Him. They deny that He created them or blame Him for having dealt without understanding. It’s the kind of people that blames God for all the misery, as if He worked it through His actions. Such foolishness shows that they are blind to the fact that they have brought all the misery upon themselves through their unbelief and obstinacy. The only way to blessing for man is to bow down to the absolutely wise Creator and submit to His holy will.

Isaiah 66:15

The Judgment of Blinding

In Isaiah 29:9 Isaiah again describes the condition of God’s people, the sad moral condition that makes God’s intervention by the Assyrians necessary two times. In the previous chapter he denounced the mocking spirit and unbelief (Isaiah 28:14), here he points to the spirit of blindness. He tells them to continue in blindness on their foolish, self-chosen path. In spite of all the revelations of God’s will, and in spite of the constant messages of His prophets, they have turned away and followed the counsels and imaginations of their own hearts.

As if drunk by wine, they are intoxicated by human traditions that invalidate the Word of God. Thus the Word has become unintelligible to them. This is not because the Word of God lacks clear statements or because teaching is too complicated, but because they have become blind because of their unbelief (cf. Matthew 13:14-15). It is the path of hardening. In their spiritual intoxication they stagger toward judgment.

The blindness and numbness are also a judgment of the LORD (Isaiah 29:10). After the people have chosen to be blind and have hardened their hearts, the moment comes when the LORD respects their choice as it were and says to them: ‘If you choose to be blind, you will be blind. If you choose to harden your heart, I will harden your heart.’

This verse is quoted by Paul to show that the hardening of the people still exists in the present day (Romans 11:7-8; 2 Corinthians 3:14). They do not want to understand, therefore they shall not understand. Their spiritual state is like a deep sleep, through which voices do not penetrate them. Their prophets, those who are the eyes of the people to see what the LORD wants from His people, have closed their eyes. Their heads, the seers, cannot see anything either. Those who are to lead the blind people are blind themselves. And how can a blind man lead a blind man (Matthew 15:14-15)?

The revealed will of God has become for them like a sealed book. The one who can read does not understand its message (Isaiah 29:11). The other cannot read and does not understand its message either (Isaiah 29:12).

Many Christians are in such a state when it comes, for example, to the prophetic book of the New Testament par excellence, the book of Revelation. It is considered a sealed book that one cannot read, or the reader sees himself as incapable of reading it, despite the name of the book, ‘Revelation’ or ‘unveiling’. People who believe they have found an excuse not to read in God’s Word show that the blindness does its work.

The lip religion, in which the heart is estranged from God (Isaiah 29:13), is the result of traditions, learned commandments of men. The heart is the birthplace of thoughts (Matthew 15:19). It “is more deceitful than all else” and only “I, the LORD, search the heart” to its deepest hiding places (Jeremiah 17:9-10). The Lord Jesus quotes these words of Isaiah when He reproaches the religious leaders for making the Word of God powerless by teaching doctrines that are commandments of men (Matthew 15:3-9; Mark 7:6-9).

The result is the loss of wisdom and the concealment of the will of God (Isaiah 29:14). This is the result of a marvelous act of God, marvelous because it is a judgment on His own people. He is against His people. Therefore the LORD continues to act in the same way as in the past two thousand years.

The word of Isa 29:14 is also a word quoted by Paul in connection with the preaching of the word of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:18-19). It shows that in its application it also has authority for professing Christianity today. This judgment of hardening announced by Isaiah also applies to professing Christianity, although fortunately not yet in full. However, it will happen fully after the rapture of the church (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12). In professing Christianity one also has the Bible in one’s hands, while one is not able to read or understand what God has to say, because the heart is alienated from God. He will exhibit the so-called wisdom of liberal theologians as foolishness.

How deep the apostate can sink, is shown in Isaiah 29:15. It is the greatest foolishness to suppose that one can hide from the LORD as long as one does so deep enough. This is where the third “woe” comes in. The prophet is deeply shocked by it. He expresses his great indignation at their folly to suppose that they are wiser than the LORD (Isaiah 29:16). The LORD says to them: “You turn [things] around.” Everything is turned upside down. Instead of putting their trust in the LORD in heaven, they put their trust in people on earth. It is foolishness at the top.

In their minds they have turned the relationship between the puny little creature and the sovereign Creator upside down (cf. Isaiah 45:9; Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 18:1-6; Romans 9:19-21; Job 33:13). They deny their relationship with Him or attribute inferior qualities to Him. They deny what the psalmist joyfully acknowledges, namely, that the LORD knows him through and through (Psalms 139:1-4).

They are like the clay that claims to be on the same level as the potter and in its folly claims that the potter did not make a pot of him (Romans 9:21). We also recognize it in the folly of the big bang and evolutionary theory which are invented to deny God as Creator.

This is the error of all who want to act independent from God. They do not take into account that they were not created to live for themselves, but to serve Him. They deny that He created them or blame Him for having dealt without understanding. It’s the kind of people that blames God for all the misery, as if He worked it through His actions. Such foolishness shows that they are blind to the fact that they have brought all the misery upon themselves through their unbelief and obstinacy. The only way to blessing for man is to bow down to the absolutely wise Creator and submit to His holy will.

Isaiah 66:16

The Judgment of Blinding

In Isaiah 29:9 Isaiah again describes the condition of God’s people, the sad moral condition that makes God’s intervention by the Assyrians necessary two times. In the previous chapter he denounced the mocking spirit and unbelief (Isaiah 28:14), here he points to the spirit of blindness. He tells them to continue in blindness on their foolish, self-chosen path. In spite of all the revelations of God’s will, and in spite of the constant messages of His prophets, they have turned away and followed the counsels and imaginations of their own hearts.

As if drunk by wine, they are intoxicated by human traditions that invalidate the Word of God. Thus the Word has become unintelligible to them. This is not because the Word of God lacks clear statements or because teaching is too complicated, but because they have become blind because of their unbelief (cf. Matthew 13:14-15). It is the path of hardening. In their spiritual intoxication they stagger toward judgment.

The blindness and numbness are also a judgment of the LORD (Isaiah 29:10). After the people have chosen to be blind and have hardened their hearts, the moment comes when the LORD respects their choice as it were and says to them: ‘If you choose to be blind, you will be blind. If you choose to harden your heart, I will harden your heart.’

This verse is quoted by Paul to show that the hardening of the people still exists in the present day (Romans 11:7-8; 2 Corinthians 3:14). They do not want to understand, therefore they shall not understand. Their spiritual state is like a deep sleep, through which voices do not penetrate them. Their prophets, those who are the eyes of the people to see what the LORD wants from His people, have closed their eyes. Their heads, the seers, cannot see anything either. Those who are to lead the blind people are blind themselves. And how can a blind man lead a blind man (Matthew 15:14-15)?

The revealed will of God has become for them like a sealed book. The one who can read does not understand its message (Isaiah 29:11). The other cannot read and does not understand its message either (Isaiah 29:12).

Many Christians are in such a state when it comes, for example, to the prophetic book of the New Testament par excellence, the book of Revelation. It is considered a sealed book that one cannot read, or the reader sees himself as incapable of reading it, despite the name of the book, ‘Revelation’ or ‘unveiling’. People who believe they have found an excuse not to read in God’s Word show that the blindness does its work.

The lip religion, in which the heart is estranged from God (Isaiah 29:13), is the result of traditions, learned commandments of men. The heart is the birthplace of thoughts (Matthew 15:19). It “is more deceitful than all else” and only “I, the LORD, search the heart” to its deepest hiding places (Jeremiah 17:9-10). The Lord Jesus quotes these words of Isaiah when He reproaches the religious leaders for making the Word of God powerless by teaching doctrines that are commandments of men (Matthew 15:3-9; Mark 7:6-9).

The result is the loss of wisdom and the concealment of the will of God (Isaiah 29:14). This is the result of a marvelous act of God, marvelous because it is a judgment on His own people. He is against His people. Therefore the LORD continues to act in the same way as in the past two thousand years.

The word of Isa 29:14 is also a word quoted by Paul in connection with the preaching of the word of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:18-19). It shows that in its application it also has authority for professing Christianity today. This judgment of hardening announced by Isaiah also applies to professing Christianity, although fortunately not yet in full. However, it will happen fully after the rapture of the church (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12). In professing Christianity one also has the Bible in one’s hands, while one is not able to read or understand what God has to say, because the heart is alienated from God. He will exhibit the so-called wisdom of liberal theologians as foolishness.

How deep the apostate can sink, is shown in Isaiah 29:15. It is the greatest foolishness to suppose that one can hide from the LORD as long as one does so deep enough. This is where the third “woe” comes in. The prophet is deeply shocked by it. He expresses his great indignation at their folly to suppose that they are wiser than the LORD (Isaiah 29:16). The LORD says to them: “You turn [things] around.” Everything is turned upside down. Instead of putting their trust in the LORD in heaven, they put their trust in people on earth. It is foolishness at the top.

In their minds they have turned the relationship between the puny little creature and the sovereign Creator upside down (cf. Isaiah 45:9; Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 18:1-6; Romans 9:19-21; Job 33:13). They deny their relationship with Him or attribute inferior qualities to Him. They deny what the psalmist joyfully acknowledges, namely, that the LORD knows him through and through (Psalms 139:1-4).

They are like the clay that claims to be on the same level as the potter and in its folly claims that the potter did not make a pot of him (Romans 9:21). We also recognize it in the folly of the big bang and evolutionary theory which are invented to deny God as Creator.

This is the error of all who want to act independent from God. They do not take into account that they were not created to live for themselves, but to serve Him. They deny that He created them or blame Him for having dealt without understanding. It’s the kind of people that blames God for all the misery, as if He worked it through His actions. Such foolishness shows that they are blind to the fact that they have brought all the misery upon themselves through their unbelief and obstinacy. The only way to blessing for man is to bow down to the absolutely wise Creator and submit to His holy will.

Isaiah 66:17

The Judgment of Blinding

In Isaiah 29:9 Isaiah again describes the condition of God’s people, the sad moral condition that makes God’s intervention by the Assyrians necessary two times. In the previous chapter he denounced the mocking spirit and unbelief (Isaiah 28:14), here he points to the spirit of blindness. He tells them to continue in blindness on their foolish, self-chosen path. In spite of all the revelations of God’s will, and in spite of the constant messages of His prophets, they have turned away and followed the counsels and imaginations of their own hearts.

As if drunk by wine, they are intoxicated by human traditions that invalidate the Word of God. Thus the Word has become unintelligible to them. This is not because the Word of God lacks clear statements or because teaching is too complicated, but because they have become blind because of their unbelief (cf. Matthew 13:14-15). It is the path of hardening. In their spiritual intoxication they stagger toward judgment.

The blindness and numbness are also a judgment of the LORD (Isaiah 29:10). After the people have chosen to be blind and have hardened their hearts, the moment comes when the LORD respects their choice as it were and says to them: ‘If you choose to be blind, you will be blind. If you choose to harden your heart, I will harden your heart.’

This verse is quoted by Paul to show that the hardening of the people still exists in the present day (Romans 11:7-8; 2 Corinthians 3:14). They do not want to understand, therefore they shall not understand. Their spiritual state is like a deep sleep, through which voices do not penetrate them. Their prophets, those who are the eyes of the people to see what the LORD wants from His people, have closed their eyes. Their heads, the seers, cannot see anything either. Those who are to lead the blind people are blind themselves. And how can a blind man lead a blind man (Matthew 15:14-15)?

The revealed will of God has become for them like a sealed book. The one who can read does not understand its message (Isaiah 29:11). The other cannot read and does not understand its message either (Isaiah 29:12).

Many Christians are in such a state when it comes, for example, to the prophetic book of the New Testament par excellence, the book of Revelation. It is considered a sealed book that one cannot read, or the reader sees himself as incapable of reading it, despite the name of the book, ‘Revelation’ or ‘unveiling’. People who believe they have found an excuse not to read in God’s Word show that the blindness does its work.

The lip religion, in which the heart is estranged from God (Isaiah 29:13), is the result of traditions, learned commandments of men. The heart is the birthplace of thoughts (Matthew 15:19). It “is more deceitful than all else” and only “I, the LORD, search the heart” to its deepest hiding places (Jeremiah 17:9-10). The Lord Jesus quotes these words of Isaiah when He reproaches the religious leaders for making the Word of God powerless by teaching doctrines that are commandments of men (Matthew 15:3-9; Mark 7:6-9).

The result is the loss of wisdom and the concealment of the will of God (Isaiah 29:14). This is the result of a marvelous act of God, marvelous because it is a judgment on His own people. He is against His people. Therefore the LORD continues to act in the same way as in the past two thousand years.

The word of Isa 29:14 is also a word quoted by Paul in connection with the preaching of the word of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:18-19). It shows that in its application it also has authority for professing Christianity today. This judgment of hardening announced by Isaiah also applies to professing Christianity, although fortunately not yet in full. However, it will happen fully after the rapture of the church (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12). In professing Christianity one also has the Bible in one’s hands, while one is not able to read or understand what God has to say, because the heart is alienated from God. He will exhibit the so-called wisdom of liberal theologians as foolishness.

How deep the apostate can sink, is shown in Isaiah 29:15. It is the greatest foolishness to suppose that one can hide from the LORD as long as one does so deep enough. This is where the third “woe” comes in. The prophet is deeply shocked by it. He expresses his great indignation at their folly to suppose that they are wiser than the LORD (Isaiah 29:16). The LORD says to them: “You turn [things] around.” Everything is turned upside down. Instead of putting their trust in the LORD in heaven, they put their trust in people on earth. It is foolishness at the top.

In their minds they have turned the relationship between the puny little creature and the sovereign Creator upside down (cf. Isaiah 45:9; Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 18:1-6; Romans 9:19-21; Job 33:13). They deny their relationship with Him or attribute inferior qualities to Him. They deny what the psalmist joyfully acknowledges, namely, that the LORD knows him through and through (Psalms 139:1-4).

They are like the clay that claims to be on the same level as the potter and in its folly claims that the potter did not make a pot of him (Romans 9:21). We also recognize it in the folly of the big bang and evolutionary theory which are invented to deny God as Creator.

This is the error of all who want to act independent from God. They do not take into account that they were not created to live for themselves, but to serve Him. They deny that He created them or blame Him for having dealt without understanding. It’s the kind of people that blames God for all the misery, as if He worked it through His actions. Such foolishness shows that they are blind to the fact that they have brought all the misery upon themselves through their unbelief and obstinacy. The only way to blessing for man is to bow down to the absolutely wise Creator and submit to His holy will.

Isaiah 66:18

The Judgment of Blinding

In Isaiah 29:9 Isaiah again describes the condition of God’s people, the sad moral condition that makes God’s intervention by the Assyrians necessary two times. In the previous chapter he denounced the mocking spirit and unbelief (Isaiah 28:14), here he points to the spirit of blindness. He tells them to continue in blindness on their foolish, self-chosen path. In spite of all the revelations of God’s will, and in spite of the constant messages of His prophets, they have turned away and followed the counsels and imaginations of their own hearts.

As if drunk by wine, they are intoxicated by human traditions that invalidate the Word of God. Thus the Word has become unintelligible to them. This is not because the Word of God lacks clear statements or because teaching is too complicated, but because they have become blind because of their unbelief (cf. Matthew 13:14-15). It is the path of hardening. In their spiritual intoxication they stagger toward judgment.

The blindness and numbness are also a judgment of the LORD (Isaiah 29:10). After the people have chosen to be blind and have hardened their hearts, the moment comes when the LORD respects their choice as it were and says to them: ‘If you choose to be blind, you will be blind. If you choose to harden your heart, I will harden your heart.’

This verse is quoted by Paul to show that the hardening of the people still exists in the present day (Romans 11:7-8; 2 Corinthians 3:14). They do not want to understand, therefore they shall not understand. Their spiritual state is like a deep sleep, through which voices do not penetrate them. Their prophets, those who are the eyes of the people to see what the LORD wants from His people, have closed their eyes. Their heads, the seers, cannot see anything either. Those who are to lead the blind people are blind themselves. And how can a blind man lead a blind man (Matthew 15:14-15)?

The revealed will of God has become for them like a sealed book. The one who can read does not understand its message (Isaiah 29:11). The other cannot read and does not understand its message either (Isaiah 29:12).

Many Christians are in such a state when it comes, for example, to the prophetic book of the New Testament par excellence, the book of Revelation. It is considered a sealed book that one cannot read, or the reader sees himself as incapable of reading it, despite the name of the book, ‘Revelation’ or ‘unveiling’. People who believe they have found an excuse not to read in God’s Word show that the blindness does its work.

The lip religion, in which the heart is estranged from God (Isaiah 29:13), is the result of traditions, learned commandments of men. The heart is the birthplace of thoughts (Matthew 15:19). It “is more deceitful than all else” and only “I, the LORD, search the heart” to its deepest hiding places (Jeremiah 17:9-10). The Lord Jesus quotes these words of Isaiah when He reproaches the religious leaders for making the Word of God powerless by teaching doctrines that are commandments of men (Matthew 15:3-9; Mark 7:6-9).

The result is the loss of wisdom and the concealment of the will of God (Isaiah 29:14). This is the result of a marvelous act of God, marvelous because it is a judgment on His own people. He is against His people. Therefore the LORD continues to act in the same way as in the past two thousand years.

The word of Isa 29:14 is also a word quoted by Paul in connection with the preaching of the word of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:18-19). It shows that in its application it also has authority for professing Christianity today. This judgment of hardening announced by Isaiah also applies to professing Christianity, although fortunately not yet in full. However, it will happen fully after the rapture of the church (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12). In professing Christianity one also has the Bible in one’s hands, while one is not able to read or understand what God has to say, because the heart is alienated from God. He will exhibit the so-called wisdom of liberal theologians as foolishness.

How deep the apostate can sink, is shown in Isaiah 29:15. It is the greatest foolishness to suppose that one can hide from the LORD as long as one does so deep enough. This is where the third “woe” comes in. The prophet is deeply shocked by it. He expresses his great indignation at their folly to suppose that they are wiser than the LORD (Isaiah 29:16). The LORD says to them: “You turn [things] around.” Everything is turned upside down. Instead of putting their trust in the LORD in heaven, they put their trust in people on earth. It is foolishness at the top.

In their minds they have turned the relationship between the puny little creature and the sovereign Creator upside down (cf. Isaiah 45:9; Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 18:1-6; Romans 9:19-21; Job 33:13). They deny their relationship with Him or attribute inferior qualities to Him. They deny what the psalmist joyfully acknowledges, namely, that the LORD knows him through and through (Psalms 139:1-4).

They are like the clay that claims to be on the same level as the potter and in its folly claims that the potter did not make a pot of him (Romans 9:21). We also recognize it in the folly of the big bang and evolutionary theory which are invented to deny God as Creator.

This is the error of all who want to act independent from God. They do not take into account that they were not created to live for themselves, but to serve Him. They deny that He created them or blame Him for having dealt without understanding. It’s the kind of people that blames God for all the misery, as if He worked it through His actions. Such foolishness shows that they are blind to the fact that they have brought all the misery upon themselves through their unbelief and obstinacy. The only way to blessing for man is to bow down to the absolutely wise Creator and submit to His holy will.

Isaiah 66:19

The Judgment of Blinding

In Isaiah 29:9 Isaiah again describes the condition of God’s people, the sad moral condition that makes God’s intervention by the Assyrians necessary two times. In the previous chapter he denounced the mocking spirit and unbelief (Isaiah 28:14), here he points to the spirit of blindness. He tells them to continue in blindness on their foolish, self-chosen path. In spite of all the revelations of God’s will, and in spite of the constant messages of His prophets, they have turned away and followed the counsels and imaginations of their own hearts.

As if drunk by wine, they are intoxicated by human traditions that invalidate the Word of God. Thus the Word has become unintelligible to them. This is not because the Word of God lacks clear statements or because teaching is too complicated, but because they have become blind because of their unbelief (cf. Matthew 13:14-15). It is the path of hardening. In their spiritual intoxication they stagger toward judgment.

The blindness and numbness are also a judgment of the LORD (Isaiah 29:10). After the people have chosen to be blind and have hardened their hearts, the moment comes when the LORD respects their choice as it were and says to them: ‘If you choose to be blind, you will be blind. If you choose to harden your heart, I will harden your heart.’

This verse is quoted by Paul to show that the hardening of the people still exists in the present day (Romans 11:7-8; 2 Corinthians 3:14). They do not want to understand, therefore they shall not understand. Their spiritual state is like a deep sleep, through which voices do not penetrate them. Their prophets, those who are the eyes of the people to see what the LORD wants from His people, have closed their eyes. Their heads, the seers, cannot see anything either. Those who are to lead the blind people are blind themselves. And how can a blind man lead a blind man (Matthew 15:14-15)?

The revealed will of God has become for them like a sealed book. The one who can read does not understand its message (Isaiah 29:11). The other cannot read and does not understand its message either (Isaiah 29:12).

Many Christians are in such a state when it comes, for example, to the prophetic book of the New Testament par excellence, the book of Revelation. It is considered a sealed book that one cannot read, or the reader sees himself as incapable of reading it, despite the name of the book, ‘Revelation’ or ‘unveiling’. People who believe they have found an excuse not to read in God’s Word show that the blindness does its work.

The lip religion, in which the heart is estranged from God (Isaiah 29:13), is the result of traditions, learned commandments of men. The heart is the birthplace of thoughts (Matthew 15:19). It “is more deceitful than all else” and only “I, the LORD, search the heart” to its deepest hiding places (Jeremiah 17:9-10). The Lord Jesus quotes these words of Isaiah when He reproaches the religious leaders for making the Word of God powerless by teaching doctrines that are commandments of men (Matthew 15:3-9; Mark 7:6-9).

The result is the loss of wisdom and the concealment of the will of God (Isaiah 29:14). This is the result of a marvelous act of God, marvelous because it is a judgment on His own people. He is against His people. Therefore the LORD continues to act in the same way as in the past two thousand years.

The word of Isa 29:14 is also a word quoted by Paul in connection with the preaching of the word of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:18-19). It shows that in its application it also has authority for professing Christianity today. This judgment of hardening announced by Isaiah also applies to professing Christianity, although fortunately not yet in full. However, it will happen fully after the rapture of the church (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12). In professing Christianity one also has the Bible in one’s hands, while one is not able to read or understand what God has to say, because the heart is alienated from God. He will exhibit the so-called wisdom of liberal theologians as foolishness.

How deep the apostate can sink, is shown in Isaiah 29:15. It is the greatest foolishness to suppose that one can hide from the LORD as long as one does so deep enough. This is where the third “woe” comes in. The prophet is deeply shocked by it. He expresses his great indignation at their folly to suppose that they are wiser than the LORD (Isaiah 29:16). The LORD says to them: “You turn [things] around.” Everything is turned upside down. Instead of putting their trust in the LORD in heaven, they put their trust in people on earth. It is foolishness at the top.

In their minds they have turned the relationship between the puny little creature and the sovereign Creator upside down (cf. Isaiah 45:9; Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 18:1-6; Romans 9:19-21; Job 33:13). They deny their relationship with Him or attribute inferior qualities to Him. They deny what the psalmist joyfully acknowledges, namely, that the LORD knows him through and through (Psalms 139:1-4).

They are like the clay that claims to be on the same level as the potter and in its folly claims that the potter did not make a pot of him (Romans 9:21). We also recognize it in the folly of the big bang and evolutionary theory which are invented to deny God as Creator.

This is the error of all who want to act independent from God. They do not take into account that they were not created to live for themselves, but to serve Him. They deny that He created them or blame Him for having dealt without understanding. It’s the kind of people that blames God for all the misery, as if He worked it through His actions. Such foolishness shows that they are blind to the fact that they have brought all the misery upon themselves through their unbelief and obstinacy. The only way to blessing for man is to bow down to the absolutely wise Creator and submit to His holy will.

Isaiah 66:20

The Judgment of Blinding

In Isaiah 29:9 Isaiah again describes the condition of God’s people, the sad moral condition that makes God’s intervention by the Assyrians necessary two times. In the previous chapter he denounced the mocking spirit and unbelief (Isaiah 28:14), here he points to the spirit of blindness. He tells them to continue in blindness on their foolish, self-chosen path. In spite of all the revelations of God’s will, and in spite of the constant messages of His prophets, they have turned away and followed the counsels and imaginations of their own hearts.

As if drunk by wine, they are intoxicated by human traditions that invalidate the Word of God. Thus the Word has become unintelligible to them. This is not because the Word of God lacks clear statements or because teaching is too complicated, but because they have become blind because of their unbelief (cf. Matthew 13:14-15). It is the path of hardening. In their spiritual intoxication they stagger toward judgment.

The blindness and numbness are also a judgment of the LORD (Isaiah 29:10). After the people have chosen to be blind and have hardened their hearts, the moment comes when the LORD respects their choice as it were and says to them: ‘If you choose to be blind, you will be blind. If you choose to harden your heart, I will harden your heart.’

This verse is quoted by Paul to show that the hardening of the people still exists in the present day (Romans 11:7-8; 2 Corinthians 3:14). They do not want to understand, therefore they shall not understand. Their spiritual state is like a deep sleep, through which voices do not penetrate them. Their prophets, those who are the eyes of the people to see what the LORD wants from His people, have closed their eyes. Their heads, the seers, cannot see anything either. Those who are to lead the blind people are blind themselves. And how can a blind man lead a blind man (Matthew 15:14-15)?

The revealed will of God has become for them like a sealed book. The one who can read does not understand its message (Isaiah 29:11). The other cannot read and does not understand its message either (Isaiah 29:12).

Many Christians are in such a state when it comes, for example, to the prophetic book of the New Testament par excellence, the book of Revelation. It is considered a sealed book that one cannot read, or the reader sees himself as incapable of reading it, despite the name of the book, ‘Revelation’ or ‘unveiling’. People who believe they have found an excuse not to read in God’s Word show that the blindness does its work.

The lip religion, in which the heart is estranged from God (Isaiah 29:13), is the result of traditions, learned commandments of men. The heart is the birthplace of thoughts (Matthew 15:19). It “is more deceitful than all else” and only “I, the LORD, search the heart” to its deepest hiding places (Jeremiah 17:9-10). The Lord Jesus quotes these words of Isaiah when He reproaches the religious leaders for making the Word of God powerless by teaching doctrines that are commandments of men (Matthew 15:3-9; Mark 7:6-9).

The result is the loss of wisdom and the concealment of the will of God (Isaiah 29:14). This is the result of a marvelous act of God, marvelous because it is a judgment on His own people. He is against His people. Therefore the LORD continues to act in the same way as in the past two thousand years.

The word of Isa 29:14 is also a word quoted by Paul in connection with the preaching of the word of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:18-19). It shows that in its application it also has authority for professing Christianity today. This judgment of hardening announced by Isaiah also applies to professing Christianity, although fortunately not yet in full. However, it will happen fully after the rapture of the church (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12). In professing Christianity one also has the Bible in one’s hands, while one is not able to read or understand what God has to say, because the heart is alienated from God. He will exhibit the so-called wisdom of liberal theologians as foolishness.

How deep the apostate can sink, is shown in Isaiah 29:15. It is the greatest foolishness to suppose that one can hide from the LORD as long as one does so deep enough. This is where the third “woe” comes in. The prophet is deeply shocked by it. He expresses his great indignation at their folly to suppose that they are wiser than the LORD (Isaiah 29:16). The LORD says to them: “You turn [things] around.” Everything is turned upside down. Instead of putting their trust in the LORD in heaven, they put their trust in people on earth. It is foolishness at the top.

In their minds they have turned the relationship between the puny little creature and the sovereign Creator upside down (cf. Isaiah 45:9; Isaiah 64:8; Jeremiah 18:1-6; Romans 9:19-21; Job 33:13). They deny their relationship with Him or attribute inferior qualities to Him. They deny what the psalmist joyfully acknowledges, namely, that the LORD knows him through and through (Psalms 139:1-4).

They are like the clay that claims to be on the same level as the potter and in its folly claims that the potter did not make a pot of him (Romans 9:21). We also recognize it in the folly of the big bang and evolutionary theory which are invented to deny God as Creator.

This is the error of all who want to act independent from God. They do not take into account that they were not created to live for themselves, but to serve Him. They deny that He created them or blame Him for having dealt without understanding. It’s the kind of people that blames God for all the misery, as if He worked it through His actions. Such foolishness shows that they are blind to the fact that they have brought all the misery upon themselves through their unbelief and obstinacy. The only way to blessing for man is to bow down to the absolutely wise Creator and submit to His holy will.

Isaiah 66:21

Joy for the Afflicted and Needy

The LORD will exhibit their folly. At His coming, He will reverse the reverse and set things right again (Isaiah 29:17). He does so through the remnant. He will make the forests of the Lebanon fertile and make the fertile field a forest. In other words: He will work a total reversal of things.

He will do so after “just a little while” of the great tribulation (cf. Isaiah 10:25). That is what “on that day” (Isaiah 29:18) connects to. That is the period that the Lord Jesus will reign publicly over the earth, a period that is still to come. Then He will make sure that the (spiritually) deaf will be able to hear the Scriptures and that the (spiritually) blind will be able to see (Isaiah 35:5-6). That is the time when no one has to say to the other ‘know the LORD’, for they will all know Him, from the least of them to the greatest of them (Jeremiah 31:34). Deafness and blindness are the two characteristics of the spiritual state of the people of Israel (cf. Isaiah 6:9; Isaiah 42:19; Matthew 12:22; Matthew 11:5).

What He does to a remnant is in contrast to the judgment of hardening and blinding that He brings on the mass (Isaiah 29:11-12). This remnant consists of “the afflicted” and “the needy” (Isaiah 29:19). They have become that because they have learned it from the LORD Himself, Who is the Lord Jesus (Matthew 11:28-29). They will rejoice in “the LORD” and in “the Holy One of Israel”.

So it is now. The afflicted and the needy, or the meek and the poor, are they among the believers who are aware of their spiritual need. They have the greatest joy in the Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit ministers the glory of Christ especially to them (Isaiah 61:1; Zephaniah 3:12; Matthew 5:3; 5).

At that time, “the ruthless”, that is the Assyrians, and “the scorner”, that is the man of sin, the antichrist, will be eliminated (Isaiah 29:20). Their taunting, God degrading language will no longer be heard. “All who are intent on doing evil”, all those who follow them and are therefore animated by the same evil, that is, the wicked mass, will be exterminated. The corruptness of their mind is manifested in their rejection and distortion of all that is just and right (Isaiah 29:21). “The gate” is the place of justice and government (Deuteronomy 21:19-21; Rth 4:1).

The basis of blessing for the remnant, “the house of Jacob,” is the covenant of the LORD with Abraham, whom He redeemed from his heathen environment (Isaiah 29:22; Isaiah 51:2). Once the house of Jacob – that is, all twelve tribes – has been freed from shame and violence, it will rejoice in all the redeemed children who have been spared by the work of the LORD’s hands (Isaiah 29:23).

Jacob and his children will sanctify “My Name”, which is the Name of the LORD, that is make His Name great above all names. The Name of the LORD will be sanctified when Israel returns to his land and is restored (cf. Matthew 6:9; Ezekiel 36:20-24). In the same way, they will also sanctify “the Holy One of Jacob”, exalt that Name above all names as incomparable. They will also stand in awe of “the God of Israel”. These three Names relate to one Person: the Lord Jesus.

Besides physical ailments such as deafness and blindness (Isaiah 29:18), the remnant will also be cured of illnesses of their mind (Isaiah 29:24). Instead of an erring mind they will have the right insight and instead of being animated by a grumbling mind that complains about the in their eyes difficult or foolish teachings of God’s Word, they will gladly accept instruction from God’s Word. At last the moment has come for them to return to the LORD and the veil or covering that is still there at the time of reading the Old Testament will be removed (2 Corinthians 3:14-16). This will find its glorious fulfillment in the realm of peace.

Isaiah 66:22

Joy for the Afflicted and Needy

The LORD will exhibit their folly. At His coming, He will reverse the reverse and set things right again (Isaiah 29:17). He does so through the remnant. He will make the forests of the Lebanon fertile and make the fertile field a forest. In other words: He will work a total reversal of things.

He will do so after “just a little while” of the great tribulation (cf. Isaiah 10:25). That is what “on that day” (Isaiah 29:18) connects to. That is the period that the Lord Jesus will reign publicly over the earth, a period that is still to come. Then He will make sure that the (spiritually) deaf will be able to hear the Scriptures and that the (spiritually) blind will be able to see (Isaiah 35:5-6). That is the time when no one has to say to the other ‘know the LORD’, for they will all know Him, from the least of them to the greatest of them (Jeremiah 31:34). Deafness and blindness are the two characteristics of the spiritual state of the people of Israel (cf. Isaiah 6:9; Isaiah 42:19; Matthew 12:22; Matthew 11:5).

What He does to a remnant is in contrast to the judgment of hardening and blinding that He brings on the mass (Isaiah 29:11-12). This remnant consists of “the afflicted” and “the needy” (Isaiah 29:19). They have become that because they have learned it from the LORD Himself, Who is the Lord Jesus (Matthew 11:28-29). They will rejoice in “the LORD” and in “the Holy One of Israel”.

So it is now. The afflicted and the needy, or the meek and the poor, are they among the believers who are aware of their spiritual need. They have the greatest joy in the Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit ministers the glory of Christ especially to them (Isaiah 61:1; Zephaniah 3:12; Matthew 5:3; 5).

At that time, “the ruthless”, that is the Assyrians, and “the scorner”, that is the man of sin, the antichrist, will be eliminated (Isaiah 29:20). Their taunting, God degrading language will no longer be heard. “All who are intent on doing evil”, all those who follow them and are therefore animated by the same evil, that is, the wicked mass, will be exterminated. The corruptness of their mind is manifested in their rejection and distortion of all that is just and right (Isaiah 29:21). “The gate” is the place of justice and government (Deuteronomy 21:19-21; Rth 4:1).

The basis of blessing for the remnant, “the house of Jacob,” is the covenant of the LORD with Abraham, whom He redeemed from his heathen environment (Isaiah 29:22; Isaiah 51:2). Once the house of Jacob – that is, all twelve tribes – has been freed from shame and violence, it will rejoice in all the redeemed children who have been spared by the work of the LORD’s hands (Isaiah 29:23).

Jacob and his children will sanctify “My Name”, which is the Name of the LORD, that is make His Name great above all names. The Name of the LORD will be sanctified when Israel returns to his land and is restored (cf. Matthew 6:9; Ezekiel 36:20-24). In the same way, they will also sanctify “the Holy One of Jacob”, exalt that Name above all names as incomparable. They will also stand in awe of “the God of Israel”. These three Names relate to one Person: the Lord Jesus.

Besides physical ailments such as deafness and blindness (Isaiah 29:18), the remnant will also be cured of illnesses of their mind (Isaiah 29:24). Instead of an erring mind they will have the right insight and instead of being animated by a grumbling mind that complains about the in their eyes difficult or foolish teachings of God’s Word, they will gladly accept instruction from God’s Word. At last the moment has come for them to return to the LORD and the veil or covering that is still there at the time of reading the Old Testament will be removed (2 Corinthians 3:14-16). This will find its glorious fulfillment in the realm of peace.

Isaiah 66:23

Joy for the Afflicted and Needy

The LORD will exhibit their folly. At His coming, He will reverse the reverse and set things right again (Isaiah 29:17). He does so through the remnant. He will make the forests of the Lebanon fertile and make the fertile field a forest. In other words: He will work a total reversal of things.

He will do so after “just a little while” of the great tribulation (cf. Isaiah 10:25). That is what “on that day” (Isaiah 29:18) connects to. That is the period that the Lord Jesus will reign publicly over the earth, a period that is still to come. Then He will make sure that the (spiritually) deaf will be able to hear the Scriptures and that the (spiritually) blind will be able to see (Isaiah 35:5-6). That is the time when no one has to say to the other ‘know the LORD’, for they will all know Him, from the least of them to the greatest of them (Jeremiah 31:34). Deafness and blindness are the two characteristics of the spiritual state of the people of Israel (cf. Isaiah 6:9; Isaiah 42:19; Matthew 12:22; Matthew 11:5).

What He does to a remnant is in contrast to the judgment of hardening and blinding that He brings on the mass (Isaiah 29:11-12). This remnant consists of “the afflicted” and “the needy” (Isaiah 29:19). They have become that because they have learned it from the LORD Himself, Who is the Lord Jesus (Matthew 11:28-29). They will rejoice in “the LORD” and in “the Holy One of Israel”.

So it is now. The afflicted and the needy, or the meek and the poor, are they among the believers who are aware of their spiritual need. They have the greatest joy in the Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit ministers the glory of Christ especially to them (Isaiah 61:1; Zephaniah 3:12; Matthew 5:3; 5).

At that time, “the ruthless”, that is the Assyrians, and “the scorner”, that is the man of sin, the antichrist, will be eliminated (Isaiah 29:20). Their taunting, God degrading language will no longer be heard. “All who are intent on doing evil”, all those who follow them and are therefore animated by the same evil, that is, the wicked mass, will be exterminated. The corruptness of their mind is manifested in their rejection and distortion of all that is just and right (Isaiah 29:21). “The gate” is the place of justice and government (Deuteronomy 21:19-21; Rth 4:1).

The basis of blessing for the remnant, “the house of Jacob,” is the covenant of the LORD with Abraham, whom He redeemed from his heathen environment (Isaiah 29:22; Isaiah 51:2). Once the house of Jacob – that is, all twelve tribes – has been freed from shame and violence, it will rejoice in all the redeemed children who have been spared by the work of the LORD’s hands (Isaiah 29:23).

Jacob and his children will sanctify “My Name”, which is the Name of the LORD, that is make His Name great above all names. The Name of the LORD will be sanctified when Israel returns to his land and is restored (cf. Matthew 6:9; Ezekiel 36:20-24). In the same way, they will also sanctify “the Holy One of Jacob”, exalt that Name above all names as incomparable. They will also stand in awe of “the God of Israel”. These three Names relate to one Person: the Lord Jesus.

Besides physical ailments such as deafness and blindness (Isaiah 29:18), the remnant will also be cured of illnesses of their mind (Isaiah 29:24). Instead of an erring mind they will have the right insight and instead of being animated by a grumbling mind that complains about the in their eyes difficult or foolish teachings of God’s Word, they will gladly accept instruction from God’s Word. At last the moment has come for them to return to the LORD and the veil or covering that is still there at the time of reading the Old Testament will be removed (2 Corinthians 3:14-16). This will find its glorious fulfillment in the realm of peace.

Isaiah 66:24

Joy for the Afflicted and Needy

The LORD will exhibit their folly. At His coming, He will reverse the reverse and set things right again (Isaiah 29:17). He does so through the remnant. He will make the forests of the Lebanon fertile and make the fertile field a forest. In other words: He will work a total reversal of things.

He will do so after “just a little while” of the great tribulation (cf. Isaiah 10:25). That is what “on that day” (Isaiah 29:18) connects to. That is the period that the Lord Jesus will reign publicly over the earth, a period that is still to come. Then He will make sure that the (spiritually) deaf will be able to hear the Scriptures and that the (spiritually) blind will be able to see (Isaiah 35:5-6). That is the time when no one has to say to the other ‘know the LORD’, for they will all know Him, from the least of them to the greatest of them (Jeremiah 31:34). Deafness and blindness are the two characteristics of the spiritual state of the people of Israel (cf. Isaiah 6:9; Isaiah 42:19; Matthew 12:22; Matthew 11:5).

What He does to a remnant is in contrast to the judgment of hardening and blinding that He brings on the mass (Isaiah 29:11-12). This remnant consists of “the afflicted” and “the needy” (Isaiah 29:19). They have become that because they have learned it from the LORD Himself, Who is the Lord Jesus (Matthew 11:28-29). They will rejoice in “the LORD” and in “the Holy One of Israel”.

So it is now. The afflicted and the needy, or the meek and the poor, are they among the believers who are aware of their spiritual need. They have the greatest joy in the Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit ministers the glory of Christ especially to them (Isaiah 61:1; Zephaniah 3:12; Matthew 5:3; 5).

At that time, “the ruthless”, that is the Assyrians, and “the scorner”, that is the man of sin, the antichrist, will be eliminated (Isaiah 29:20). Their taunting, God degrading language will no longer be heard. “All who are intent on doing evil”, all those who follow them and are therefore animated by the same evil, that is, the wicked mass, will be exterminated. The corruptness of their mind is manifested in their rejection and distortion of all that is just and right (Isaiah 29:21). “The gate” is the place of justice and government (Deuteronomy 21:19-21; Rth 4:1).

The basis of blessing for the remnant, “the house of Jacob,” is the covenant of the LORD with Abraham, whom He redeemed from his heathen environment (Isaiah 29:22; Isaiah 51:2). Once the house of Jacob – that is, all twelve tribes – has been freed from shame and violence, it will rejoice in all the redeemed children who have been spared by the work of the LORD’s hands (Isaiah 29:23).

Jacob and his children will sanctify “My Name”, which is the Name of the LORD, that is make His Name great above all names. The Name of the LORD will be sanctified when Israel returns to his land and is restored (cf. Matthew 6:9; Ezekiel 36:20-24). In the same way, they will also sanctify “the Holy One of Jacob”, exalt that Name above all names as incomparable. They will also stand in awe of “the God of Israel”. These three Names relate to one Person: the Lord Jesus.

Besides physical ailments such as deafness and blindness (Isaiah 29:18), the remnant will also be cured of illnesses of their mind (Isaiah 29:24). Instead of an erring mind they will have the right insight and instead of being animated by a grumbling mind that complains about the in their eyes difficult or foolish teachings of God’s Word, they will gladly accept instruction from God’s Word. At last the moment has come for them to return to the LORD and the veil or covering that is still there at the time of reading the Old Testament will be removed (2 Corinthians 3:14-16). This will find its glorious fulfillment in the realm of peace.