Isaiah 64, 65 & 66

The final chapters of this great book. Isaiah has to rate as one of the giants of faith up there with Moses and Elijah.

These chapters put things in perspective for me and especially help me to understand my relationship with God. As it says in 64:6

"All of us have become like one who is unclean"
and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; ..."

We are like clay to be moulded in His hands (64:8):

"Yet, O Lord, you are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter,
we are all the work of your hand."

All this could make you feel nothing more than a worm to be squashed, but the Father has a special place for us vv 65:13 ff

"My servants will eat,
but you will go hungry;
My servants will drink,
but you will go thirsty; ..."

Isaiah contrast those who rebel against God with those that choose to follow God and how they will be treated. There is the promise of a new heaven and a new earth 65:17ff

"Behold, I will create
new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
nor will they come to mind. ..."

God creates a new start for those that love Him. I remember having a conversation with some Jehovah's Witnesses - many years ago now. They argued that the Earth would be redecorated and spring cleaned - but that's now what it says here (or anywhere else I've seen in the Scriptures). I remember saying to them at the time; "what would you rather have? Something old that's been tarted up a bit or the brand-new latest upto date version with all the latest features?" They have these verses in their version of the Bible, but they seem to have a different interpretation of them - or they ignore them, I'm not sure which?

Chapter 66 finishes as the rest of the book has continued; contrasting curses with blessings: curses for those that turn their backs on God and blessings for those that love Him 66:2 & 3:

"This is the one I esteem:
he who is humble and contrite in spirit,
and trembles at my word.
But whoever sacrifies a bull
is like one who kills a man, ..."

The final three verses sum it all up:

"'As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me' declares the Lord, 'so will your name and descendants endure. From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me.' says the Lord. 'An they will go out and look upon the dead bodies of those who rebelled against me; their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind."