What does it mean that heaven is God’s throne and earth his footstool?

This picture shows how big God is compared to everything we see. Heaven is called his throne and earth his footstool to say that all creation is like a royal room where he already rules. It corrects the idea that God somehow lives only in a temple or church building. If heaven and earth belong to him, no house people build can contain him or control him. The point is that God is not impressed by buildings, but by people who are humble, sorry for their sin, and who take his word seriously.

Why does God compare sacrifices to murder and unclean acts here?

The strong language about killing an ox being like killing a man, or offering a lamb being like cutting off a dog’s neck, shows how God views worship without a sincere heart. The people kept the outward rituals but chose their own ways and loved what God calls abominations. So even the sacrifices he once commanded became disgusting to him when offered without faith or repentance. The passage warns that religious acts cannot cover a stubborn heart, and that God sees through hypocrisy and will answer it with judgment.

Who are the people that God looks to as poor and of a contrite spirit?

These are people who know they are small before God and grieve over their sin instead of making excuses. They do not come boasting in what they have built or what they have done, but come broken and teachable, trembling at God’s word. In the passage they are also the ones cast out and hated by their own brethren for God’s name. God promises to pay attention to them, comfort them, and give them joy when he shows his glory, even while the proud and stubborn are put to shame.

What is the picture of Zion giving birth to a nation in a day about?

The birth picture describes how suddenly God will grow and restore his people. Zion, which stands for God’s people and city, is pictured as a woman who brings forth children before labor pains even begin. The questions about a nation being born at once show how surprising this is. It points to God’s power to gather many children to himself very quickly, beyond what anyone expects. The idea is that when God decides to save and restore, he will not stop halfway but will bring his plan to full birth.

How does God promise to comfort his people like a mother?

God invites everyone who loves and mourns for Jerusalem to rejoice, using the gentle picture of a mother with her child. He promises peace like a river and the wealth of nations like a flowing stream. His people will be carried on the hip, played with on the knees, and nursed and satisfied. This shows close, tender care, not distant rule. When God’s work is seen, hearts will rejoice and even bodies will feel renewed. God’s hand will be clearly seen on his servants, even as his anger falls on his enemies.

What does this passage teach about God’s view of ritual and true worship?

The passage makes it clear that God is not impressed by outward acts when the heart is wrong. He reminds the people that he made everything, so he does not need a house or sacrifices as if he were lacking something. He calls empty offerings as bad as terrible sins when they come from people who ignore his call and delight in evil. At the same time, he promises to look kindly on those who are humble, contrite, and who tremble at his word. True worship is about a surrendered heart, not just religious habits.

How will God deal with his enemies and with those who serve him?

The text shows both sides. For his servants, there is comfort, joy, and flourishing, like new growth of plants. They will see God’s hand for them and will be gathered from all nations to worship. For his enemies and hypocrites, there is fire, sword, and shame. Those who secretly practice idolatry and eat what God forbids are warned that they will be consumed. The final picture of unquenchable fire and undying worm shows a lasting judgment that becomes a warning to everyone who sees it.

What does it mean that God will gather all nations and tongues to see his glory?

Here God looks beyond Israel and speaks of a time when people from every language and nation will come and see his glory. Some survivors from his judged people will be sent out to faraway lands to speak of him. Through their witness, people from those nations will come to God, bringing others with them like an offering. God even says he will take some of them as priests and Levites. This shows that his plan is not limited to one nation, but opens the way for many peoples to belong to him.

What are the new heavens and new earth mentioned in this passage?

The new heavens and new earth describe a renewed order where God’s people and their name remain before him forever. It points to a lasting kingdom where worship is regular and shared, with all flesh coming to bow before God. The old pattern of limited times and places gives way to ongoing, faithful worship. At the same time, the contrast with the fate of those outside, whose bodies and torment are seen, underlines that this new creation holds both lasting joy for God’s servants and lasting shame for those who rebelled.

Isa.66.1

Isaiah 66:1

KJV GOD

Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

Heaven Is My Throne

Heaven Is God’s Throne

1 Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Hypocrisy Rebuked

3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine’s blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.

4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

5 ¶ Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

6 A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the Lord that rendereth recompence to his enemies.

Rejoice with Jerusalem

7 Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.

8 Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.

9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth? saith the Lord: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy God.

Joy in Jerusalem’s Future

10 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:

11 That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.

12 For thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.

13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.

14 And when ye see this, your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like an herb: and the hand of the Lord shall be known toward his servants, and his indignation toward his enemies.

Final Judgments against the Wicked

15 For, behold, the Lord will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.

16 For by fire and by his sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many.

17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord.

18 For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.

19 And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.

20 And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the Lord out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord.

21 And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the Lord.

22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.

23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.

24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

Cross References

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