True Worship With the Holy Spirit~ Isaiah 66:1-2 Bible Study
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Thus says the Lord:
“Heaven is My throne,
And earth is My footstool.
Where is the house that you will build Me?
And where is the place of My rest?
For all those things My hand has made,
And all those things exist,”
Says the Lord.
“But on this one will I look:
On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,
And who trembles at My word. (Isaiah 66:1-2)
Understanding the Book of Isaiah: Context and Significance
The book of Isaiah may be compared to the Bible. The Bible has sixty-six books; Isaiah has 66 chapters. The Old Testament has thirty-nine books; the first section of Isaiah has thirty-nine chapters. the New Testament has twenty-seven books; the last section of Isaiah has twenty-seven chapters, and many more similarities. One more to share with you, The New Testament ends by referring to the new heavens and the new earth. Isaiah ends his book by describing the same things. (Cp. Isaiah 66:22 with Revelation 21:1-3) It is quite an amazing book of the Bible!
A copy of this book was among the famous Dead Sea Scrolls discovery in 1947 in Cave One at Qumran. It was copied in the second century BC and consisted of seventeen sheets, twenty-four feet in length by ten inches high. This copy was amazingly similar to the standard Masoretic Text of the twelfth century AD.
Isaiah was the greatest of the Old Testament prophets, and one of the most eloquent writers who ever lived, at times even surpassing the literary abilities of Shakespeare, Milton or Homer.
Worship Song: Same God by Elevation Worship
Before diving into Isaiah 66:1-2, take a moment to worship "In Spirit and Truth" with Elevation Worship; Same God. This powerful worship song beautifully captures the unchanging nature of God—the same God who spoke through Isaiah is the same God we worship today! The lyrics remind us that our God who performed miracles throughout Scripture continues to work in our lives with the same power and faithfulness. As you listen, prepare your heart to receive the truth about authentic worship that Isaiah reveals in this passage.
Isaiah 66:1-2
Thus says the Lord:
1 “Heaven is My throne,
And earth is My footstool.
Where is the house that you will build Me?
And where is the place of My rest?
2 For all those things My hand has made,
And all those things exist,”
Says the Lord.
“But on this one will I look:
On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,
And who trembles at My word.
Why God Needs No Man Made Temple
The Lord has no need for a man-made temple because
heaven and earth -- the whole cosmos -- is His sanctuary (40:22).
The resting place for the "feet" of The Lord is extended beyond the ark of the covenant (60:13) to the whole earth.
Understanding God's Dwelling Place
"Where is the house": No place on earth can accommodate the transcendent God (1 Kings 8:27) The place of my rest refers to the temple (1 Chronicles 28:2; Psalms 132:8, 14)
"Those things" refers to everything in the universe.
Characteristics of True Worshipers God Seeks
"I look": God seeks true worshipers (John 4:24).
"Contrite spirit...trembles at My word" is similar to Jesus's phrase "In Spirit and Truth" (John 4:24)
Hallelujah! Thank you Holy Spirit for guiding me to this Scripture passage in Isaiah 66:1-2!
Worship With The Holy Spirit
the term, "He who", used four times in this verse, refers to those who worship according to the letter but not the spirit of the Law. Their worship in God's estimation is as unacceptable "as if" it consisted of abominable pagan practices (1:11-14; 65:3-5). God's harsh criticism of false liturgy is tempered with His promise of the coming true liturgy (vv 20,23).
Praise God in Spirit and Truth! You heard your children then, You hear your children now, You are the Same God! You were providing then, You are providing now, You are the Same God, You were a Healer then, You are a Healer now, You are the Same God, You are the Same God! (Lyrics from Same God by Elevation Worship)