The Conclusion of Isaiah

Isaiah 63-66

            Isaiah 64 longs for an appearance from the Lord similar to the theophany on Sinai: thunder, lightning, billowing smoke, you know, the rending of the heavens. I’ve addressed this in sermons over the years, but that’s not really the Lord’s style. He does it on occasion, but He usually intervenes more quietly than that. This chapter is read in the Advent season, and it makes the point beautifully: when the Messiah appears, it looks quite ordinary, just another baby boy born to poor parents—and with the smell of scandal and illegitimacy about it. In some ways, Christmas is the most ordinary story you ever heard. Of course, the Lord is doing something extraordinary in that ordinary story. After all, this baby is hailed in terms usually reserved for Caesar: bringer of peace, savior, even lord are all titles Caesar appropriated for himself. So, God does come down from the heavens, but not in a Sinai kind of way.

            Isaiah is reminded that at Sinai, Israel fell into terrible sin, namely, the incident with the golden calf. So, he turns immediately to repentance, that Israel’s finest acts are so many dirty rags (the phrase literally refers to a use menstrual clothes). His prayer is marked by humility, that the Lord is the potter and that Israel is the clay. They are nothing before Him, but Isaiah prays that He would look on them with favor.

            In chapter 65, the Lord responds in terms of law and gospel. He will punish Israel for her covenant unfaithfulness, but He will remember His mercy and bring them back. The vision of restoration expands to a vision of the final restoration, the creation of a new heavens and a new earth. There is the promise of very long life (in the New Testament expanded to everlasting life), and there is the return of the wolf and the lamb lying down together, indicating that natural enemies will set aside their animosity and become companions, even friends.