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 these things my hand has made,

and so all these things came to be,

declares the LORD.

God Almighty has made for Himself the place of His rest. He doesn’t need man to do anything for Him, as if He needs us to feed Him, house Him, or burp Him like a baby. He is the all-sufficient and self-existent God who accomplishes all of His will and does all of His good pleasure [Isa 46:10]. He doesn’t need man to satisfy justice, for He did that on the cross. He doesn’t need us to earn favor, because He saves by grace. He doesn’t need us to do anything for Him, for He works in us, both to will and to do according to His good pleasure [Phil 2:13].

Get your mind off the god who needs you, and believe on the self-sufficient God who gives grace to sinners. Believe Him to uphold you and keep you, lest you become consumed with self-righteousness and self-trust. Look to Him to be saved, and He will save you! He will give us everlasting righteousness, joy, and peace. He’ll give us power over sin.

He doesn’t need to be carried [Isa 46:1-4]. He needs no one to protect Him from being stolen out of the temple. Unlike Mohammed, He needs no one to kill in His name. He’ll render His own vengeance in due time!

Secondly, God will punish those who don’t worship Him properly. vs2-4

“These have chosen their own ways,

and their soul delights in their abominations;

I also will choose harsh treatment for them

and bring their fears upon them,”

They are offering pig’s blood, because they don’t worship Him with poverty of spirit, helplessness, and trembling at His word!

But this is the one to whom I will look:

he who is poor and lame in spirit

and trembles at my word.

“He who slaughters an ox is like one who kills a man;

he who sacrifices a lamb, like one who breaks a dog’s neck;

he who presents a grain offering, like one who offers pig’s blood;

he who makes a memorial offering of frankincense, like one who blesses an idol.

They don’t care what He has to say, and they won’t be obedient. They’ll use scripture to twist scripture, and they’ll block out plain commandments and exhortations. They’d rather have the pride of self-righteousness and human ability. They’d rather talk about what they can do, instead of their helplessness!

Oh, how horrible it will be for those who despise grace. He was willing to save them, but they refused [Luke 13:34-35]. They’ll have to answer at the Judgment… and for all of eternity… for disrespecting the mercy of God! They refused to come, refused to admit their need, and they stood like the Pharisee, saying, “Thank God that I’m not like this person. I chose to believe. You gave me a chance, and I took it. I’m so much better, because I’ve made the decision.” They won’t be HELPLESS sinners that needed 100% grace, so they worship the creature and despise the Creator, setting themselves up as strong, mighty, and able.

Oh, the wretchedness of man-centered / self-centered religion. Oh, the violence to God’s word when religion has no obedience!

Thirdly, God will put them to shame. vs5-6

Hear the word of the LORD,

you who tremble at his word:

“Your brothers who hate you

and cast you out for my name’s sake

have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified,

that we may see your joy’;

but it is they who shall be put to shame.

They despised you and hated you, but God will make them answer! He’ll take your side at the Judgment, so rest a little while in His love, while they persecute you and cast you out [John 16:2]. They don’t want the gospel in the Holy Spirit, but you do. They don’t want obedience, but you must have it. They don’t want to be helpless, but you confess it. They don’t want Christ’s grace, but you must have Him more than life itself. God knows, and He will answer. God knows, and He will respond.

You will rejoice, when they are ashamed! You will glorify Him, when they are punished.

2 Thess 1:8-10, “In blazing fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the penalty of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and the glory of His might, on the day He comes to be glorified in His saints and regarded with wonder by all who have believed, including you who have believed our testimony.”

Endure hardship now, while they cast you out. Endure the hatred and the mockery. Endure death, if it must come. Your Master knows who serves Him, and He knows the persecutions that you endure. He is with us now by faith, and we’ll be with Him forever in Paradise. It is coming, and it will not tarry. The promise is sure!

Finally, we are to rejoice and be comforted in the salvation of the church. vs7-11

“Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her,

all you who love her;

rejoice with her in joy,

all you who mourn over her;

that you may nurse and be satisfied

from her consoling breast;

that you may drink deeply with delight

from her glorious abundance.”

God will get the upper hand! Just like Israel rejected Him, but He saved the Gentiles, even so, the church is born out of the agony of the cross. The rejection of one has brought the reception of a multitude, and nothing can stop it. Men may hate God, but He will save the church. Men may hate us, but He will save the many that He ordained to eternal life [Acts 13:48].

Nothing can stop God’s mission in the gospel. Persecution will not ruin it. The popes held Europe in bondage, murdering those who preached the scriptures, but eventually, revival took place in Germany, France, and Switzerland. Eventually, the Reformation enlightned millions to hear the gospel, and it spread to the Islands and then to the colonies of the United States… only to spread from the West to the world! Nothing can stop Him, and He is victorious! The church is comforted by the cross: The darkest moment in history is the shining light of salvation. God is in charge. God rules, and salvation is of the Lord.