Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.” – Isaiah 66:1
They were a chosen people, intended to be a light to the world in their faithfulness to the God who had created them. Their tabernacle in the wilderness and their temple in Jerusalem were the physical places where they could meet with God. They would bring sacrifices and the Lord would respond with forgiveness, revelation, and answered prayers.
Why could He demand strict obedience to the ordinances He had laid out? Because He had established Israel through Abraham, blessed them as His people, and set before them privileges given to none other peoples. But the most important reason is that He is God. “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool” (Isaiah 66:1). He is “the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy” (Isaiah 57:15).
He had chosen Israel for a covenant relationship, but Israel continued to defy Him, to put false gods as their idols, and to be faithless in spite of His faithfulness. Their unbelief shifted their future to judgment and away from blessing, from independence under God’s power to subservience under pagan nations, from peace and strength in His promises to unrest and weakness socially, physically, and religiously.
God inhabits eternity, but His loving promise is that He dwells “with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit” (Isaiah 57:15). His highest regard is for the repentant one whose worship is heartfelt and sincere. Idolatry, covetousness, and pride – sins of Israel – exist today in this nation. Exalt God in your worship. Pray for civility among people, a humility of spirit, and receptive hearts to His authority and guidance. He awaits your call.
Today’s Verse: Isaiah 66:1
Thus says the Lord:
“Heaven is my throne,
and the earth is my footstool;
what is the house that you
would build for me,
and what is the place of my rest?
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Isaiah 57:15-21, 58:1, 9-11
For thus says the One who is high and lifted
up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in the high and holy
place,
and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the
lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.
16 For I
will not contend forever,
nor will I always be angry;
for the spirit would grow faint
before me,
and the breath of life that I made.
17 Because
of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry,
I struck him; I hid my face and was angry,
but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart.
18 I have
seen his ways, but I will heal him;
I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his
mourners,
19 creating the fruit of the lips.
Peace, peace, to the far
and to the near,” says the Lord,
“and I will heal him.
20 But the
wicked are like the tossing sea;
for it cannot be quiet,
and its waters toss up mire and dirt.
21 There is
no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”
1“Cry aloud; do not hold back;
lift up your voice like a trumpet;
declare to my people their transgression,
to the house of Jacob their sins.
9Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’
If you take away the yoke from your midst,
the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
10 if you pour yourself out for the hungry
and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
and your gloom be as the noonday.
11 And the Lord will guide you continually
and satisfy your desire in scorched places
and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
like a spring of water,
whose waters do not fail.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
